FernFest is back this coming weekend and will be bigger than ever, featuring a brand new stage and more.
The highly-anticipated neighbourhood festival will take place between Friday, June 13th and Saturday, June 14th, and will see a ton of live music, art and food come to the streets of Fernwood.
The free-to-attend festival first took place in 1996, and this year marks the 28th celebration of the community it takes place in.
“This year’s event is set to be more exciting than ever with the addition of a third stage—a brand-new performance space located behind the Fernwood Community Centre, offering another venue for artists to showcase their talents,” wrote the Fernwood Neighbourhood House (Fernwood NRG) in a media release.
“This new Big Fernwood Stage will feature a curated lineup of dance music, funk, soul, country, blues, acoustic, plus dance, magic, and more!”
Fernwood NRG added that the new stage will join the high-energy of the Fernwood Square Stage and the Little Fernwood Stage in the Fernwood Community and Arts Association.
There will be over 40 performances through the two-day festivities with artists such as Pastel Blank, Garret T. Willie, Hank Pine, Paris Pick and the Pricks and more.
Pastel Blank is a local band that saw an incredible rise to popularity until frontman Angus Watt moved away to Montreal.
The reunion show is bound to get people dancing, as the band is known for their eclectic mix of genres the band self-describes as “groovecore.”
Click here to see the full list of performers and to learn more about them.
In addition to the music, FernFest will bring the community countless opportunities to explore, connect, and indulge.
The festival is also kid-friendly, with a Kid’s Zone set up in Stevenson Park that will include face painting, crafts, and interactive performances for children of all ages.
Furthermore, there will be a ‘Non-profit Hub’ that will feature local organizations, sharing with the community what they do and offering ways for festival-goers to engage with the meaningful causes they support.
An artisan market will also be active on the grounds, taking over Gladstone Avenue wil over 85 vendors.
Fernwood NRG warns those coming out that parking is extremely limited, but a free bike valet will be available in the basketball court at Vic High, just off of Fernwood Road.
Additionally, they suggest bringing a water bottle that can be refilled at their on-site water station.
FernFest
- Where: Fernwood Square
- When: Friday, June 13th, from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, June 14th from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Admission: Free!
