Fall Fairwell to Nelly

After fourteen years of  programming and coordinating the Fall Fair music stage, islander Nelly Kostelijk is hanging up her hat and moving on to other pursuits. Island musicians who have played the Fall Fair over the years have enjoyed a good quality sound stage and system, and a professional performance environment that is a pleasure to perform on. And audiences have been entertained by some fantastic local musicians who donate their time to the event. But before Nelly came along – there was no music stage at the fair.

“In 1995,  I went to my first Fall Fair meeting with my neighbors Margaret and Robin Reid.  Margaret invited me along as I was new to the island and she knew I wanted to meet some more of the locals,” said Kostelijk.  “I had no idea what was about to happen.  During the meeting I asked where the band stand was.  Everyone looked at me and said ‘we don’t have one.’ or something to that effect.  There is so much musical talent here I just assumed there would be one.  The next moment,  someone said ‘all in favor of having Nelly as the Fall Fair Entertainment Co-Coordinator please put up your hand.’ The vote was unanimous!  It happened so fast I thought:  ‘what just happened?’

One of the first things we discussed was that we would have to give the musicians a good place to play and provide a spot to make it worth their while.  And since it’s all volunteer they should be allowed in free and have a space to park and be allowed to sell any CD’s they might have to help make it more appealing as some do this for a living. That first year they  got volunteers to put up someone’s flat deck trailer and palettes and tarps and away we went.”

Along the way infrastructure was built to ensure the music would continue to be part of the fair.  “Tony Threlfall and the gang got the stage built and made benches happen so the wet hay bales were used elsewhere.”

Kostelijk says she has enjoyed her work programming the music stage over the years:  “I love Salt Spring Island and wanted to make a contribution to it in some way and this was something I would enjoy,” she explains. ” I enjoy live music.  I enjoyed the spirit of cooperation and people willing to come and do a gig and just being part of helping make the Fair a success — making something else to contribute to it.

The Fall Fair is run by tons of volunteers; it’s always so rewarding to be with a group of people who do this to make a contribution to the community for the joy of doing it.  This is totally volunteer and not paid except for the satisfaction of the job well done at the end.  I think that’s great don’t you?”

Local musicians agree it has been great to have Nelly orchestrating the music at the fair all these years. Thanks Nelly!