Northern Lights Festival Boreal, held at Bell Park in Sudbury, is one of Canada’s oldest continuous music festivals, having been staged every year since 1972, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the festival hosted a car concert the first year, and a very small-scale festival in the second year.
One of the highlights of the festival are the workshop stages, where invited musicians gather to jam and improvise together, often leading to unexpected and incredible results. Such was the case when Canadian folk musician Stan Rogers wrote one of his most famous songs, “Barrett’s Privateers”, while at the festival. The song was written for a joint workshop session with the band Friends of Fiddler’s Green.
“The workshop sessions really are special, but really, so is the whole festival,” reflected festival Executive Director, Michelle Murray. “The outdoor vibe, on the shores of Ramsey Lake, the diverse array of over 40 musical acts, the family area, the artisans and food vendors, the arts village…all of it makes for a really magical, special experience for the whole family.”
This year, the diverse lineup includes traditional, Francophone, Indigenous, indie rock, hip-hop, LGBTQ+, and experiential music artists. “We have programmed lots of different styles of music, as we usually do,” said Murray.
“Our headliners this year include Lights, Fateh Doe, Shad, Jamie Fine, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, The Weather Station, Destroyer, Klo Pelgag, and Begonia, who is returning for the first time since 2022,” added Murrary. “The diversity of our lineup is obvious even in our headliners, but really they just reflect what is going on all day long, on all of our stages.”
Murray added that many festival attendees don’t even wait until the lineup is announced, to buy their tickets. “They know we will provide fantastic music, and often, they come with an open mind, not knowing many of the bands, and leave with a new favourite. That happened to me this year, Lights just gained a new fan as I listened to their music!”
The festival is a wonderful weekend for the whole family to enjoy, with the children’s area running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday July 5 and Sunday July 6. “We have face painting, family performers, lots of arts and crafts, and of course the whole family is enjoying a day together, outdoors, by the lake. Families come back year after year, it’s a tradition for many locals,” said Murray. “We often gain new fans from the people enjoying the inflatables on Ramsey Lake, as well!”
Northern Lights Festival Boreal runs from July 4 to 6 this year, at Bell Park on Ramsey Lake.
Passes are just $100 for youth and $135 for adults, for the whole festival of fun. Children under 14 are free when accompanied by a ticket-bearing adult.
For the whole festival schedule and to purchase passes, visit the festival website here.
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