Somewhere on the border between Saanich and Highlands, tucked against the forested slopes of Mount Work Regional Park and in the coziness of Junction Orchard & Cidery, a threshold opened overnight into Saturday — a gateway into another world. The community, under the auspices of eagles circling above the venue and a rainbow serving as a bridge for archaic energies, paid homage to the Gaelic celebration of Beltane. Ritual greetings, performances, live music, and a selection of snacks and cider — what more could you need for a successful evening? Unless, of course, a higher purpose — and indeed there was one — but first things first…

People arrived dressed for the occasion, making the entire place feel pulled into the same atmosphere.

Early in the evening, GWIZ appeared as a solo presence that immediately set the tone — a moving performance of greeting, release from constraints, and acceptance of the universe's diversity in a gracefully defiant way — this was what opened the artistic part of the night.

Shortly after, Lilith Delight unfolded a different kind of presence — a quiet, vulnerable image breaking through to the audience to declare its own being, such as it is, exactly as it is.

Soon after, there was another shift in register and tone — a vivid expression of Gaelic culture, drawn not from a preserved archive or polished folk templates, but from an inner experience that broke through irrepressibly and enchantingly. The performance by Q became a synthesis of Gaelic tradition and contemporary interpretation, classical motifs and personal reinvention. Q’s violin functioned like another sense organ, opening pathways into other worlds.

Together, these performances formed the emotional and sensory core of the first half of the Beltane Ball — not as separate acts, but as layers overlapping one another, simultaneously, one by one, peeling back the fabric of everyday life and revealing the essence of those present. Because only in such a state — stripped of layers and pretense — is one capable of crossing the threshold. And beyond that threshold… well, that is something to discover by attending the next Beltane Ball.

Alongside the artistic program, the Beltane Ball also served as a fundraiser for Let’s Talk Access, a local initiative focused on improving access to mental health education. The initiative includes group learning, storytelling and podcasting, free educational resources, and financial support for people seeking care.

You can donate to this charitable cause by following the link on the official event website. But be careful not to let the fairies spirited you away, for they say that in their world, a single day equals a year in ours. See you in a year at The Beltane Ball!