From July 17–19, downtown Perth will once again come alive with three days of music and community as the popular Stewart Park Festival (SPF) returns for its 35th year. Featuring a diverse lineup of Canadian and international artists, an eclectic artisan marketplace, delicious food vendors, a licensed patio, kids’ activities, and after-hours shows, there’s certainly something for everyone! To find out what makes this year’s event extra-special, theHumm caught up with Festival Committee Chair Shawn Vernier.
theHumm: What are some of the highlights of this year’s musical line-up?
Shawn Vernier: We have a real all-star lineup this year as well as an incredibly diverse range of genres. Our headliners on Friday are the Cowboy Junkies. They will be performing a career-spanning show, taking audiences from their landmark 1988 recording The Trinity Session all the way through to their most recent album, Such Ferocious Beauty. Saturday will feature Ron Sexsmith, whose music has been described as a hybrid of Canadian folk heroes such as Gordon Lightfoot and Leonard Cohen, mingled with the influence of The Kinks, The Beatles and other British Invasion acts. And Sunday we have Valdy with us, who brings such a deep Canadian folk root sensibility to the lineup.
Our full lineup has over 25 performers, right down to the Perth Citizens Band, the longest continuous running town band in Canada. There’s sure to be something you love in the lineup!
How does the vibe of the after-hours shows differ from the daytime festival? When and where are those shows happening, and how can people partake?
The after-hours brings a touch of nightlife to the Festival — the setting is 18+ adults only to keep the vibe lively and dancing! We open most of the Crystal Palace as a dance floor to shake out those legs from sitting in the park all day, and as a licensed venue with Perth Brewery and TopShelf you can expect to have a good time.
The after-hours is happening in the Crystal Palace from 8–11pm on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $15 per night.
The Perth and District Union Library is also hosting a licensed and more intimate Library After Dark Saturday evening featuring Suzie Vinnick at 8:30pm, and tickets for that are $30.
In addition to the music, SPF always features fun activities and a fabulous marketplace. What can festival-goers look forward to this year?
We really like to have a little something for everyone! The longtime favourite YAK duck race is back again this year, as well as Boats on the Tay from Rideau Nautical Modellers. New this year is the Community Circle on Saturday where local organizations will showcase their work in the community. And of course our marketplace — we have everything from stained glass to woodworking, crafts, face painting, and plenty of food from chip trucks to perogies and cotton candy.
And if that’s not enough, the Festival is right in the heart of Heritage Perth, with shopping, dining and plenty to experience!
In addition to being a terrific place to hear live music, I understand that SPF is also a “green” festival. How does your partnership with Climate Network Lanark work to keep the park beautiful and keep stuff out of landfill?
Yes, we’re quite proud of our green initiative. In addition to presenting great music, we want to be good stewards of the park and our community. We have a great relationship with Climate Network Lanark, who work with the Festival and attendees to reduce our waste and ensure everything is appropriately collected and recycled. The reception has been marvelous, and the park is cleaner than ever.
Besides attending the festival and making a generous donation, are there other ways that local people and businesses can help ensure that Stewart Park Festival carries on for at least another 35 years?
Absolutely! We very much live by and as a part of the community. The Festival relies on that community for donations, sponsorships, and volunteer hours to make the magic happen. And every year for 35 years the community has said “yes, we want you to do this again!” We strive to keep SPF accessible, but every dollar donated helps, and for large sponsors we have promotions and advertising packages. Our entire Festival is volunteer-based and we can really use the extra help — from day volunteers to committee members. We’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join! Our website has information on how you can be involved, and if you want to say yes to another 35 years we would love to have your support!
Find out more at stewartparkfestival.com!
