'It's like family': South Country Fair kicks off 37th year
The musicians are back and campers are ready for the 37th South Country Fair.
The event started back in 1987 and, since then, has only had two years without a festival due to the pandemic but still held online events those years.
It features live music, an artisan market, food trucks and fun for the whole family.
"So you will see acts from as far away as Spain, Mexico City, Mongolia and as close as Lethbridge and kind of everywhere in between," said Gillian Moranz, South Country Fair's artistic director, who's been attending the festival since before she was one.
The popular, long-running folk music festival is entirely volunteer-run with more than 300 people working hard to make the weekend possible.
"All the volunteers are super keen and, even in this heat, they were coming into the hospitality tent at eight in the morning to get their jobs, asking, 'What can we do to help, what can we do to help?'" said April Hutchinson, South Country Fair's volunteer co-ordinator.
Some festival-goers showed up two days ago to set up camp, while most arrived Friday.
Some festival-goers showed up two days ago to set up camp, while most arrived Friday.
Many have been coming for decades.
"Just the feeling when you come here, the friendship, the love, the music, the energy -- you just can't really explain it," said Norman Blais, who's back for the 11th time.
"South Country Fair has been a really important part of my life and I did not expect that when I first started but I'm very happy that I've been able to come along for the ride," said 30-year attendee Laurie Blakeman.
"It's like family, it really is," said Mark Sadlier-Brown, who's been coming to South Country Fair for more than 25 years.
"It's not like a big, impersonal fair, it's home."
Mark Sadlier-Brown has been coming to South Country Fair for more than 25 years.
However, organizers say next year's festival will have a new home.
Exactly where that will be is yet to be announced.
"We have been here for 25 years and we've been operating for 37, so change is really healthy, it's really important." Moranz told CTV News.
"This is something that's been talked about for over 10 years, maybe 15, and it just felt like it was time."
Attendees say they've enjoyed the spot they're at, but look forward to what the future holds.
"It's part of our summer, so it will be sad to miss this location but I'm really excited for what's coming next because I think what's coming next will be bigger and better," said Maxine Henry, the fair’s medical director and an attendee for the past 19 years.
Opening ceremonies start at 6 p.m. Friday and the fair runs through the weekend until 6 p.m. Sunday.
Day and weekend passes are still available and you can purchase them at the gate.
Some festival-goers showed up two days ago to set up camp, while most arrived Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation is the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.