Compiling a list of Canadian summer festivals is next to impossible--a festival exists for every cause, community or music style. Tiny Giant has composed a profile of several festivals which reflect the diversity of the Canadian summer festival scene. Whether it be a folk festival, a jazz festival, a festival for a cause or a benefit concert, Canadian towns and cities have them all.
If you don't find what you're looking for here, check out the links provided to several Canadian festival web sites. We've also included the contact information for popular travel aids, such as bus and rail information, so that if a festival is not in your back yard, it is only a bus ride or train ride away.
Newfoundland
Peace A chord
peacefestival@yahoo.com
Held in early August in Bannerman Park, St. John's.
A new website is in the works so for contact info, use email.
This festival is free, 2 days long and alot of fun.
There is not only music but free workshops and displays by community groups such as planned parenthood.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival (709) 576-8508
Always held the first weekend of August in Bannerman Park, there are admission costs to many folk festival events. Note however, students recieve reduced rates (5 bucks a day) and there are some free concerts associated with the festival. There is a youth division of the festival as well.
The Sound Symposium
St John's, Newfoundland
July 5-15, 2000
A must for film makers, visual artists, dancers, musicians of all
kinds.
(709) 753-4360
Call if you want further schedule details on their many free concerts
and workshops of various kinds!
Nova Scotia
Halifax International Busker Fest
Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 3-13 2000
Wanna know more? Email buskers@ns.sympatico.ca
This is an annual event. and buskers from all walks of busking life
will appear!
Quebec
The Montreal Jazz Festival
June 29-July 9 2000
www.montrealjazzfestival.com
The Montreal Jazz Festival includes a number of free performances,
many of which are outdoor. This year will see the 21st Festival in
its duration.
*Please note not all concerts at the Jazz Festival are free, however many are. The best advice is to check out the website!
Festival Memoire et Racine
Parc Bosco
July 2000
www.memoireracines.qc.ca festival@memoireracines.qc.ca
Festival International des arts traditionnels
Quebec, Centre de Valorisation du Patrimoine Vivant
Festival info number 1-418-647-1598
The music at the festival is no longer limited to simply folk music, there are various kinds of music from solo and group acts.
British Columbia
Vancouver
Festival of Art and Social Change.
Cates Park, North Vancouver
Admission by donation only.
254-8782
Over twenty five acts!
Midsummer Festivals
Smithers, British Columbia
80 local and regional acts plus on site camping.
No liquor sales here, due to family events.
More info? Email perform@bvfms.org