When it comes to the sights and sounds of summer, it’s hard to beat the joy of an outdoor music festival.
Sitting in the grass on a sunny day, or letting mud squish through your toes if it rains. Hearing tunes from your favourite band, an exciting musician from halfway around the world, or a young local artist just getting their start. Sipping a fresh lemonade and enjoying a tasty food truck treat. Browsing creative crafts, and making new friends while trying new dance moves.
The 2022 festival circuit is in full swing, and there’s still plenty of summer left to soak up some good vibes. Grab your guitar, hop in your camper van and go!
Aug. 5 to 7: Edge of the World Music Festival, Haida Gwaii, B.C.
An eight-hour ferry from Prince Rupert lies the other-worldly archipelago called Haida Gwaii. Most people know that these islands nurture an exotic mix of flora and fauna, but did you know that they’re also an incredible incubator for artistic talent? The Edge of the World Music Festival takes place in the folksy hamlet of Tlell, presenting local musicians alongside big-name acts looking for an excuse to visit a once-in-a-lifetime place.
2022 Line-up: Born Ruffians, The New Groovement, Twin Flames, Old Soul Rebel, plus local talent including Rusty Mould and the Sugar Agates and many more.
Haisla hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids, aka Young D and Yung Trybez, performed at the Edge of the World Music Festival in 2018. Catch them at Salmon Arm Roots & Blues this summer. (Andrew Hudson/Haida Gwaii Observer)
Aug. 18 to 21: Salmon Arm Roots & Blues, Salmon Arm, B.C.
On the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds near Shuswap Lake, the 30th annual Roots & Blues promises to put on a great show for all ages. The thoughtfully run festival has a welcoming mix of music, art, activities and amenities, and all that organization makes it much easier to enjoy the weekend.
2022 Line-up: Tom Cochrane, Jann Arden, Antibalas, Ruthie Foster, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and more.
NimbleFingers Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festiva attendees enjoy music at one of the event’s concert stages. (Kayleigh Seibel/Salmon Arm Observer)
Aug. 20: NimbleFingers Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, Sorrento, B.C.
Between two weeks of workshops where amateur musicians can learn from the biggest names in bluegrass, NimbleFingers Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival hosts a one-day festival in tiny Sorrento, B.C. The “small but mighty festival” is a magnet for talented pickers, and a great place to find kindred spirits.
2022 Line-up: Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Reischman, The Barrel Boys, Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones, Sarah Jane Scouten and more.
Aug. 26 to 28: Thing: Music & Arts & Other Things, Port Townshend, WA
More than just music, THING is a festival for making discoveries, exploring new ideas and enjoying an eclectic mix of music, comedy, visual arts, speakers and other community programs. It all takes place inside historic Fort Worden, a former military base (and film set) with saltwater beaches, forested hiking trails and jaw-dropping views of Puget Sound. The first ever festival was only in 2019, but they started off with a bang, and a sell-out.
2022 Line-up: Father John Misty, Modest Mouse, Freddie Gibbs, Jerrod Carmichael, Architects of the Air Luminarium and more.
The inaugural THING festival in 2019 drew thousands to Fort Worden State Park and was then postponed by the pandemic until 2022. The three-day event is scheduled to return to the fort in August. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)
Sep. 30 to Oct. 2: Sisters Folk Festival, Sisters, OR
Keep the summer spirit going well past Labour Day at the Sisters Folk Festival. No, it’s not a women-only festival, that’s just the name of this lovely Oregon city just outside Bend. Unlike other outdoor festivals tucked into parks, amphitheatres and fields, the tag line for Sisters is ‘All the Town’s A Stage.’ From saloons to cafés to galleries, the festival takes over the downtown core, making the whole place buzz.
2022 Line-up: The Milk Carton Kids, Le Vent Du Nord, Rainbow Girls, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and many more!
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10 fun + fabulous Vancouver-area events for the dog days of summer 2022