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New northern B.C. music festival supports boys school in Nicaragua

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(via Shutterstock)

You won't find Lake Haabanagan on the map, but you will find it on the property of Steven and Viriginia Haab overlooking the Beatton River valley, complete with a private beach and picnic area, and good for some fishing and swimming, too.

It's also the backdrop for the upcoming North Vale Music Festival July 20, featuring a collection of local bands and songwriters, and headlined by Canadian folk artists Peter Katz and Del Barber.

"People have been telling us for years, 'your land is perfect for a music festival, you should do a music festival', and this year we said, OK, let's do it," says Virginia Haab.

"Our goal is to just enjoy the music community and put on a community event that puts people on the land enjoying culture and the outdoors."

Locals bands Last Horse Standing, Rose Prairie Romance, and Tantrum are scheduled to perform, as are Adam Winn, Lorissa Scriven, and the Willms Family.

Proceeds from the event will go to support Light & Salt Ministries Nicaragua, run by the Haab's friend, Tara Germain. The ministry runs a number of educational programs for boys, seniors, the disabled, and single mothers to help lift them out of poverty.

"We've seen good things come of it," Haab says.

"It's cool to see this community up here is such a part of that community down there. We thought it would be cool to connect more people than who she already has, to raise more awareness."

The festival takes place Saturday, July 20, at 12276 255 Road. Gates open at 1:30 p.m., music starts at 2.

- Matt Preprost, Alaska Highway News