Summerfolk40 President’s Message
Presidents Message on the Anniversary Bash Summerfolk 40 Summerfolk 40 and the Anniversary Birthday Bash certainly exceeded all expectations in every sense of the word. It was a special weekend […]
The View From Stage Right
By David Newland The other day, my teenage daughter confronted me: “Dad, why are you still wearing that t-shirt? It’s ten years old!” I looked down, stunned. “What?! This is […]
Workshops and Festival Magic
By James Keelaghan We have a lot of people who buy tickets to the festival before we announce even one name from the lineup. They know that what happens at […]
Fruitful artists have roots in tradition
By James Keelaghan Several years ago, I was teaching at a music camp in New Jersey. I had a group of about 16 songwriters as students. On the first night […]
Putting the Crafts into Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival
By Jon Farmer When the first Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival was held in 1976, organizers intended to promote folk music and folk arts. They filled the space between musical […]
Q & A with the Wareham Forge
The Artisan Village puts the ‘Craft’ into the Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival. Recently, we asked Darrell Markewitz of the Wareham Forge about his over 20 years of Summerfolk experience. […]
Building on Musical Mentors
By James Keelaghan In April this year, I lost a good friend. Ron Casat had been one of my earliest mentors. He taught me pretty well everything I know about […]
Trout Fishing in America

By James Keelaghan Nineteen eighty-eight was the first year I played Summerfolk with my own band. The festival, as usual, supplied rooms to out of town performers. Our rooms were […]
The Story Behind the Logo
By James Keelaghan Performers live for stickers and lanyards. They are the campaign medals of the touring circuit. I’ve got a wall full of them in my office. I had one […]
Deep Roots at Summerfolk
By James Keelaghan The other day, I was doing research into Canadian folk festivals. Every now and again, I like to go old school on the fact finding. I went […]
Claire Lynch Has The Voice
By James Keelaghan Every now and again I play a little game with myself. I imagine which musician I would like to be. Sometimes I’d like to be Phil Ochs, […]
In the Spirit of Camping

If we were going to explain the spirit of Summerfolk in one sentence it would look something like this: “People gathering outside to share music and art”. Visitors find folks […]
General Information 2015
GATES OPEN: Thursday ~ 7pm – music from 8 – 11pm Friday ~ 4:30 pm – music from 6pm – 1 am Saturday ~ 10:30 am – music from 11:00am […]
Alysha Brilla Warmed a Windy April Night
Alysha Brilla brought a taste of the Summerfolk spirit to the Roxy stage on a blustery April night. The Georgian Bay Folk Society partnered with the Roxy Theatre to bring […]
Fiddlefern celebrates the Country Dance and Song Society’s Centenary,April 28-May 3rd
Dance has always been a part of what Summerfolk and the GBFS do. We’re getting behind the Fiddlefern Country dancers as they help celebrate the centenary of the Country Dance […]
Youth Discoveries Finals- 1 PM at the Harmony centre

It’s time for the finals of the Youth Discoveries showcases. Starting at 1 pm on Sunday the 29th , 11 acts will appear before 3 judges and we will […]
The Birthday Bash – Because 40 Years is a Big Deal
SUMMERFOLK is turning forty. The Georgian Bay Folk Society is throwing a party to celebrate and you are invited. The festival you know and love will start one day earlier in […]
Fiddlefern Country Dancers Workshops & Contra Dance
Calling all traditional music and dance lovers! The Georgian Bay Folk Society is proud to sponsor the Fiddlefern Country Dancers as they present their monthly workshop and Contra Dance this […]
Now with even more Thursday
Lordy Lordy Look Who’s Forty That would be Summerfolk. Forty years is a significant milestone whether you are a festival, a human or even a sea turtle. That’s why, this […]
Folk School 2015

First Session of the 2015 term- Sunday February 15 Hosted by Tara MacKenzie Our first session will be at the Harmony Centre on Sunday February 15th at 2:00-4:00pm we can […]