It was 50 years ago this summer when over 400,000 music lovers descended upon a little-known dairy farm nestled amongst the Catskill Mountains for three days of peace and music. Since then, Max Yasgur’s 600-acre farm in Bethel, New York has become the stuff of legend, with the Woodstock Music & Art Fair serving as both a pivotal moment in popular music and zeitgeist to the ’60s hippie era. A half-century later, performances by Santana, Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker still stand as some of the best concert footage ever recorded. To commemorate the milestone anniversary, we’ve selected six of Ontario’s summer music festivals which best preserve the spirit of the original Woodstock. While you’re unlikely to watch the sun rise as the world’s greatest guitar slinger riffs on the Star-Spangled Banner, there will be plenty of good vibes, great music, and — weather permitting — a very real chance of mud. So take your time, pick a place to go, and just keep truckin’ on.
THE MARIPOSA FOLK FESTIVAL
TUDHOPE PARK, ORILLIA, JULY 5 – 7
Mariposa Folk Festival is an exciting, vibrant and storied music happening! Often called the Grande Dame of North American music festivals, Mariposa is now entering its 56th year with a line-up and program that befits its illustrious legacy. At its heart, Mariposa is a celebration of music, dance, story and craft. Located in a beautiful lakeside setting, the festival features some of the most renowned artists from North America and abroad, as well as emerging artists. It is a three day getaway with 150+ performances on 12 stages. For those camping at Mariposa, the fun starts the day before the festival opens and finishes the day after it closes.
HILLSIDE FESTIVAL
GUELPH LAKE CONSERVATION AREA, JULY 12 – 14
Set in a beautiful, accessible conservation area with campgrounds on Guelph Lake, the Hillside summer festival is world-renowned as one of Canada’s most progressive, environmentally conscious, completely non-commercial community celebrations. The festival brings innovative music, indigenous drumming, children’s entertainment, environmental learning, and glorious food to thousands of people. At the festival (and throughout the year in schools and camps), it offers educational workshops in indigenous culture, song writing, peacemaking, health & wellness, and environmental projects. As a 34-year-old grassroots organization that promotes creativity, altruism, equality, environmentalism and peacemaking, Hillside has won many awards for its programming and green initiatives.
RIVER & SKY
WEST NIPISSING, JULY 18 – 21
RIVERANDSKY.CA
River & Sky presents music in nature and celebrates the culture of camping in Northeastern Ontario, while trying to keep things simple and sustainable. Since its inception in 2009, the festival has worked to support regional emerging artists in Northeastern Ontario and showcase their talents alongside amazing artists from across Canada and beyond. The venue partner, Fishers’ Paradise, is located between River Valley and Field in West Nipissing, Ontario. R&S works with its hosts to shape new campsites, trails and more, while volunteers build fun things like saunas that add to the experience. The property features the Sturgeon River and a private oxbow lake — both semi-private and group campsites — and lots of trees for shade. Attendees are welcome to bring bikes, canoes and dogs!
ELECTRIC ECLECTICS
MEAFORD, AUGUST 2 – 4
Electric Eclectics takes place on a farm overlooking the scenic Big Head Valley, just outside of Meaford, Ontario. The farm features some of the best sunsets you will ever see. Each year, organizers assemble an eclectic program of avant-garde and crossover musicians, as well as art installations, DJs, and films. Past highlights have included Suzanne Ciani, Dreamcrusher, Mykki Blanco, Silver Apples, Lido Pimienta, Lydia Lunch & Weasel Walter, and US Girls. $80 gets you three days and nights of camping and festival attendance, while supplies last. That is hard to beat!
RIVERFEST ELORA
BISSELL PARK, ELORA, AUGUST 16 – 18
Get ready for a full weekend of music, arts, food and culture! The festival, held along the banks of the Grand River, has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a backyard festival just 11 years ago. Today, Elora’s annual music festival has become a must-stop experience for music lovers of all ages, having attracted such iconic acts as The Flaming Lips, Carly Rae Jepsen, Blue Rodeo, Walk Off The Earth, Serena Rider, Sam Roberts Band, The Sheepdogs, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Bruce Cockburn, Hey Rosetta!, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and The New Pornographers. This year’s lineup features City & Colour, Jessie Reyez, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and A Tribe Called Red.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
BURK’S FALLS, SEPTEMBER 13 – 15
As summer ends, the season wraps in memorable fashion with a unique festival experience. Spread throughout the grounds of Burk’s Falls fantastical Midlothian Castle and its 300 acres of sculpture gardens, best known as Screaming Heads, the colourful lights and magnificent art installations set the backdrop for electro DJ beats. As per the website: We individually and as a group have a responsibility to: “Eat” good food, get good “Sleep”, “Drink lots of Water” and “Leave No Trace” because “Excess Makes a Mess” so please “Moderate Yourself and Friends!” The 2019 festival is already sold out, but it was too cool not to mention. Be sure to get in line early for 2020!
