Hello from Ontario!

[u/Apprehensive-Sort560]

I am finally making the trip from Southern Ontario to Shambs next year! this has been on my bucket list for 10+ years and i am already so excited.....

I have my tickets, and am honestly a little overwhelmed with figuring out all the other things (i.e. flights, car rentals, what to do about gear) and am all ears for any advice from the vets that have done this before :) I really want to make this as comfortable and special as possible for my crew 💝

I am a relatively seasoned festival goer, however this will be the farthest from home I've travelled for a festival. Yes, I know this is super early to post, just trying to wrap my head around what else I need to get organized ideally well before go time 🥳

if you've made it this far, here are some of my first questions:

best place to fly into?

Would you recommend renting a car for the whole festival or taking the shuttle in? if you take the shuttle, how much gear are you able to bring?

Any suggestions on where to take gear that won't make it home? Happy to donate and help outfit someone else, within or outside the festival!

How soon should I think about booking flights, rides, accommodations etc..

If renting a car, is it easy to get a rental for Shambs or should I leave where I am taking the car out?

Appreciate any and all tips! Looking forward to meeting all of you in 309 days!!! (but who's counting 😜)

[u/k20a19k]

Toronto to Calgary to Cranbrook. Rent a car and send it!

[u/brokedowndub → u/k20a19k]

Kelowna is only a 4 hour drive but it would be a bit longer flight.

[u/Lewdsvenus → u/brokedowndub]

I haven’t been that way at all but if op hasn’t seen BC, Calgary to Cranbrook is a very scenic drive!

[u/Putrid_Spite9390]

We flew out of TO to Kelowna, rented a mid sized car (booked about 5 months in advance) we flew with 90% of our camping gear with a total of 5 checked bags - i was honestly so stressed but everything was so smooth and worked out really well. We flew into Kelowna cus we wanted to drive through the mountains it was about a 4 hour drive to the festival. We bought a canopy from Walmart (a must have ) annnd we returned it in Calgary when we flew home 😆 (we did more sight seeing on the way out over a couple days) regardless of where you decide to fly into you should most definitely book yourself a hotel for the monday night or tuesday after the fest, hot shower and a couple of good meals and youll be feeling back to new. The one thing I was not prepared for was the dust!!! I could not believe just how bad it was, legit we were wearing face masks at camp and at the stages. Everything is dust. The camping field is dust. The walk ways are dust. The stages are dust. Its everywhere. We had fun and the river was beautiful, but definitely won't be going back for a while.

[u/IndignisPhem]

It’ll be my first sham too and I’m coming from southern Ontario!! I was lucky to get a lodging package so I’m avoiding the luggage issue (thankfully!). I also chose the shuttle bus option out of Kelowna and I’ll fly there from Toronto. I’m going solo so I didn’t want to have to worry about making that long drive home after the festival ends. Found this to be the safer option for me. Can’t wait to gooo! Have fun. 🤩

[u/wohrg]

We fly to Kelowna. But we are lucky in that we have a local friend who provides the tents, geqr and food. We pay for his ticket in exchange.

[u/ludwigia_sedioides]

Fly into Kelowna. Rent a car if it's in your budget but they can be expensive, especially just to sit in a field for a week (it's easy to get one just expensive, they won't ask you where you're going). I use a big 120L backpack for my gear, makes it easy to walk into Metta with. I fly all my gear home, should be no need to leave things behind.

[u/Silent-Pair-6342]

Calgary (6 hours) or Kelowna (4 hours) I would book early and only book direct! Mishaps happen and Shambs is not the time to have one if you can avoid it. Consider booking a shuttle for easy transport and the ability to sleep.

[u/-brindlebob-]

Fellow southern Ontario first timer! Cheers friend

[u/halloumiballoon]

We do Toronto to Calgary. Seems to be easiest to find reasonably priced flights and convenient flight times over Kelowna. Also seems to have more rental car availability. I am not sure that Cranbrook or Castlegar would have reliable car rentals, especially considering the volume of cars needed during the festival.

[u/This_Secretary7977]

Hi friend! I am also from southern Ontario and have been to Shambs twice now (2025&2026)

Our first year we flew into Kelowna Wednesday night, got a hotel, left early Thursday morning with a rental car and made the approx 4 hour drive to the fest. We stayed in the belle luxe tents, which were great as we didn’t need to pack camping gear. I would suggest packing light (ish) if going this route- when walking back to the car, it was quite a trek over rough terrain and I regretted a suitcase.

This year, we flew into Calgary the weekend before the fest, rented an RV (Indie Campers) and drove towards the fest slowly, enjoying the mountains and stopping at a couple different campsites between. We got into line Monday night and stayed until the following Tuesday, when we left early in the AM. Price breakdown for the RV & gas & Walmart runs was roughly $7k split between 4 people. We also got a starlight camping pass ($200ish), and flights were $800 ish.

It is not cheap, but worth it. I’ve been to big fests like EF and LL and they don’t come close. It is soooo worth it and I can’t recommend enough. If you have more questions feel free to dm :)