Guelph’s Hillside Festival is offering free tickets for Ukrainians who have settled in Canada after being forced to flee their homes.
The annual three-day, five-stage summer festival from July 28-30 will bring artists, music lovers, and everyone in between to Guelph for a vibrant celebration of diversity and culture.
This year, Ukrainian refugees and their hosts will be given free admission to the weekend full of festivities.
“We know music has the power to heal and console,” Executive Director Marie Zimmerman said in a press release.. “Offering free entry “is a small gesture to connect people to the music of their culture and to the caring community at the festival,” she added.
Complimentary tickets can be obtained by following these steps.
Hillside Festival is set in a conservation area with camping facilities on Guelph Lake, and is revered as one of the world’s most environmentally conscious festivals. Every year, Hillside builds an enclave for artists and festival-goers to enjoy, with pop-up artisan market stalls, music, crafts, food and more.
The Hillside Festival turns 40 this year, and continues to pride itself on propelling the artistic talents of Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and women, into the limelight.
On Saturday night, Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha will take the Main Stage, followed by a performance on Sunday at the Sun Stage where Hillside will serve borscht, at the request of the band.
DakhaBrakha is originally from Kyiv and its music is heavily influenced by the flair and nuance of Ukrainian folk.
Ukrainian band Balaklava Blues will perform on the Island Stage on Sunday. The band has been described as “folk-noir trench-fighters” at the cultural frontier of Ukraine’s battle for democracy and freedom.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 28, and programming starts at 5:30 p.m. with anIndigenous Welcome. Festival hours areFriday 4:30-11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
