Canadian Festivals by the National Post

A feast of festivals this summer
National Post Published: Friday, June 27, 2008

From west to east, here's a roundup of some of this year's biggest fetes:
BRITISH COLUMBIA
• The summer-long Bard on the Beach festival in Vancouver (through Sept. 21, bardonthebeach.org) stages waterfront productions of Shakespeare. This year's plays include Twelfth Night, King Lear, The Tempest and Titus Andronicus.
• Festival Vancouver (Aug. 13-17, festivalvancouver.bc.ca) showcases classical, world music and jazz; headliners include the Bill Charlap Trio and Salsa Dura.
• At Tlell, the Queen Charlotte Islands' Edge of the World Music Festival (Aug. 8-10, edgefestival.com) brings performers from across Canada to play a mix of blues, Celtic, folk, rock and world music.
• In the Interior, the Okanagan Summer Wine Festival (Aug. 8-9, owfs.com) in Vernon is a must for oenophiles, with tastings of local wines, food and music.
• On Vancouver Island, the Filberg Festival (Aug. 1-4, filbergfestival.com ) in the Comox Valley is one of the finest arts-and-crafts festivals in the Pacific Northwest, with works by B.C. artists.
• On Vancouver Island, the Filberg Festival (Aug. 1-4, filbergfestival.com ) in the Comox Valley is one of the finest arts-and-crafts festivals in the Pacific Northwest, with works by B.C. artists.
NORTHERN TERRITORIES (travelyukon.com; explorenwt.com)
• Part of Dawson City's Discovery Days weekend, the Yukon Riverside Arts Festival (Aug. 15-17, kiac.org/artsfest) is held in parkland adjacent to the Yukon River, with participating artists from across the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
• Act fast: The 30th annual Dawson City Music Festival (July 18-20, dcmf.com) is nearly sold out. This year's edition features the Good Brothers, Ken Whiteley, the Sadies and others.
• Other must-dos: the Yukon Gold Panning Championships (July 1, dawsoncity.ca) and the Great Klondike International Outhouse Race (Aug. 31, dawsoncity.ca), with porta-potties for rent for those who left theirs at home.
• In Yellowknife, Folk on the Rocks (July 18-20, folkontherocks.com) has a "global-fusion" mandate, with music from Northern and Southern traditions.
• Finally, Inuvik hosts the Great Northern Arts Festival (July 11-20, gnaf.org), a celebration of the artistic diversity of the North.
ALBERTA
• The annual Wild West hoedown known as the Calgary Stampede (July 4-13, calgarystampede.com) returns with cattle roping, steer rasslin' and pancake breakfasts served up by your favourite politicians.
• At Reggae Fest 5 (Aug. 14-16, calgaryreggaefestival.com), Calgarians trade their Stetsons for dreadlocks as the city mellows out for some jammin'.
• The Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival (Aug. 1-3, blueberrybluegrass.com) and the Edmonton Folk Festival (Aug. 7-10, edmontonfolkfest.org) offer a double helping of old-time country and roots.
• All summer long, the Fringe Festival works its way westward until it hits Edmonton (Aug. 14-24, fringetheatreadventures.ca), the original Canadian Fringe, and still the best.
• The biennial Leonard Cohen International Festival (July 23-28, festivalcity.ca) pays tribute to Canada's most beloved troubadour with concerts and spoken-word performances by Serena Ryder, Jann Arden and others.
• The Banff Summer Arts Festival (through Aug. 28, banffcentre.ca) features daily programs of classical and jazz concerts, readings and art exhibitions, with skiers always welcome.
SASKATCHEWAN
• The Festival of Words (July 17-20, festivalofwords.com) presents a host of Canadian writers, including Elizabeth Hay, Ted Barris and children's author Sheree Fitch, for a series of workshops and readings.
• Rosin the bow for the John Arcand Fiddle Fest (Aug. 7-10, johnarcandfiddlefest.com), a four-day marathon of workshops, competitions and fiddling to rival Nero.
• Moose Jaw attracts visitors from all over the world who come for the heritage buildings, galleries, restaurants and mineral springs. The Prairie Arts Festival (Aug. 14-16, prairieartsfestival.com) showcases all of the above, plus music, dance, art and children's activities.
MANITOBA
• Folklorama (Aug. 3-16, folklorama.ca) tips the hat to the city's many ethnic groups with pavilions offering traditional food and displays of costume and dancing.
• Shakespeare in the Ruins (shakespeareintheruins.com) presents productions by the Bard at outdoor locations throughout the city.
• At the National Ukrainian Festival (Aug. 1-3, cnuf.ca) in Dauphin, costumed revellers gather from all over the world for a giant zabava (party).
• Bet you didn't know that Gimli is known as "the heart of New Iceland." This year's Islendingadagurinn, or Icelandic Festival (Aug. 1-4, icelandicfestival.com), celebrates the largest Icelandic community outside the homeland; get there early and take in the Gimli Film Festival (July 25-29, gimlifilmfestival.com).
ONTARIO
• For theatre lovers, the Shaw Festival (shawfest.com), in the dollhouse-quaint (some would say twee) Niagara-on-the-Lake, presents works from the classic and modern repertoire. Highlights this year: Mrs. Warren's Profession, A Little Night Music and the detective drama An Inspector Calls.
• Ottawa, meanwhile, presents two sides of the classics with the international Chamber Music Festival (July 25-Aug. 9, chamberfest.com) and Ottawa Bluesfest (July 3-13, ottawabluesfest.ca), featuring Steely Dan, Brian Wilson, Taj Mahal, Jakob Dylan, Cassandra Wilson and more.
• In cottage country, the Festival of the Sound, in Parry Sound (July 18-Aug. 10, festivalofthesound.ca) is celebrating its 29th season with a program of chamber music.
• At Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay, the world's largest fur-trade post celebrates the anniversary of the Great Rendezvous (July 10-14, fwhp.ca), recalliing the days of the voyageurs.
• In lovely Fergus, along the Grand River, thrill to the massed bands, caber tossing and Highland dancing, at the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games (Aug. 8-10, fergusscottishfestival.com).
• And, of course, Toronto has far too many festivals not to list a few. At Summerworks (Aug. 7-17, summerworks.ca) or the Fringe (July 5-16, fringetoronto.com), the chances of catching a future hit show run high.
• The Beaches Jazz Festival (July 18-27, beachesjazz.com) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with Louisiana blues man Tab Benoit, Canada's Roxane Potvin and dozens of street performances.
• Summerlicious (July 4-20) offers a chance to sample fare at some of the city's finest restaurants, with special prix-fixe menus.
• And Caribana (July 31-Aug. 4, caribanatoronto.com), North America's largest Caribbean festival, gyrates its way along Lake Shore Boulevard with soca bands, spectacular costumes and dancing.
QUEBEC
• Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin and Craig Ferguson are among the headliners at this year's Just for Laughs (July 10-20, hahaha.com) in Montreal, which has been keeping 'em rolling in the aisles for years.
• Hot on the heels of Toronto's gay-pride week is Montreal's Divers/Cité (July 29-Aug. 3, diverscite.org), a week-long celebration that winds up with a spectacular parade.
• With its world-famous music camp, Joliette has long been an important musical centre in Canada; it is also home to the Festivale de Lanaudière (July 5-Aug. 3, lanaudiere.org), a month-long program of orchestras, chamber groups and soloists.
NOVA SCOTIA
• The quiet town of Digby wakes up in August for the 33rd annual Digby Scallop Days (Aug. 6-10, digbyscallopdays.com), a weekend of parades, woodsmen competitions and fresh bivalves.
• In Halifax, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (July 1-8, nstattoo.ca) is a week-long extravaganza of marching, piping, drumming and miles of tartan featuring more than 2,000 performers from around the world.
• If you missed Pride Week in your city, you can still wave the rainbow flag at the Halifax Pride Week Festival (July 20-27), Atlantic Canada's largest pride celebration, with daily events leading up to the big parade at week's end.
• At Canso, on the Eastern Shore, the Stan Rogers Folk Festival (July 4-6) pays tribute to the singer/songwriter with folk concerts, jazz, Celtic, gospel and bluegrass by the seaside.
• For history buffs, the Fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island (pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/louisbourg/Index_e.asp) commemorates the 250th anniversary of the second siege of Louisbourg (July 25-27), a turning point in the Seven Years War, with re-enactments and celebrations.
NEW BRUNSWICK
• In Fredericton, the Highland Games and Scottish Festival (July 25-27, highlandgames.ca) marks its 27th anniversary with concerts, ceilidhs and a ceremonial tattoo.
• In Saint John, the Salty Jam (July 10-12, saltyjam.ca) presents jaz• and blues artists at venues around the city, while the Loyalist Heritage Festival (July 14-18, loyalistheritagefestival.ca) celebrates some of the few remaining Loyalists with historic re-enactments, walking tours and traditional Maritime food.
• The Lamèque International Baroque Festival (July 24-27, festivalbaroque.com) is dedicated to music from the period 1600-1760. Highlights this year include a performance by Quebec harpsichordist Luc Beauséjour.
• The Baie-des-Chaleurs Chamber Music Festival (July 10-13, fmcbc.nb.ca) presents concerts by Alain and David Lefèvre, Quartetto Gelato and an intriguing program titled Beethoven Seen Through Science.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
• This is the big year - the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables - and Islanders have a summer's worth of activities at the L.M. Montgomery Festival in Cavendish (July 3-Aug. 31, lmmontgomeryfestival.com). Enjoy ice-cream socials, barn dances, stories, music and more wholesome fun.
• Can't get enough Anne? There's always the annual Charlottetown Festival's production of the musical that bears her name (confederationcentre.com).
• You don't need a white sports coat to enjoy a pink crustacean at the Summerside Lobster Carnival (July 5-11, exhibitions-festivalspeiae.com). Grab your bib and crackers and dig into a traditional lobster supper.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
• Every year some 50,000 spectators cram into St. John's for the Royal St. John's Regatta (stjohnsregatta.org), the oldest sporting event in North America. This year's race is on Aug. 6 at Quidi Vidi Lake.
• Also in St. John's, the George Street Festival (July 31-Aug. 5) features live music every night in the heart of the city
• The 14th-annual Sound Symposium (July 3-13, soundsymposium.com) presents an eclectic mix of daily concerts including a must-attend daily Harbour Symphony.
• Join a host of authors including Michael Crummey and Paulette Bourgeois at this year's Winterset in Summer Literary Festival on the Eastport Peninsula (Aug. 8-10, wintersetinsummer.ca).
• Finally, to partake of some traditional Newfoundland Irish music and culture, get your toes tapping to the Avalon Peninsula and the Southern Shore Shamrock Festival (July 26-27, ssfac.com).