Here we go, the moment I’ve been waiting for all year is finally here: festival season! Woot! Woot! Now you have to understand that I have two favorite times of year: Christmas and Festival Season in the National Capital Region and I look forward to both with great anticipation 
Not only are the usual suspects back for their annual rounds but new festivals are surfacing in the region which is a good thing!
For example, this Thursday, June 7 is the unveiling of a new festival called Arboretum celebrating the best and most progressive forms of art, music and food of the Ottawa-Gatineau region. The event description sounds promising and I look forward to finding out more at Thursday’s reveal which will include a line-up announcement, food, drinks, music and the chance to chat with the founders who will be on hand. With the growing number of festivals taking place in the region, I’m curious to see if Arboretum will be able to define and distinguish itself as a must-attend for festival goers.
This Friday, June 8, the monthly edition of Grillz and Glam is planning a special tribute night in memory of MCA of the Beastie Boys who recently passed away. You can expect to hear everything from Licensed to Ill to The Mix-Up without forgetting hits from Hello Nasty. A must event for Beastie Boys connoisseurs. More details available below.
Starting this Friday, June 8 and running until Sunday, June 10 is Westfest, Westboro Village’s free festival of music, arts and life. Claiming to be the ‘biggest free street party in Canada” no less, this cultural gathering’s programming includes Hidden Cameras, Steven Page, Liam Titcomb, DJ Lakes District and Ottawa’s-own Amos the Transparent. Now in its 9th year, Westfest is growing, evolving and more and more interesting You can get more details if you click on the image below.
Also starting this Friday June 8 is the Canada Dance Festival which will held at the National Arts Centre, La Nouvelle Scene and the Arts Court. This annual festival is a great way to experience dance in many shapes and forms at an affordable price. You can grab the entire program and more by clicking below.
This Friday, June 8, There’s a Knew? Disco! event at Ritual with Ottawa’s-own DJ Illo, Kid SL, and Matt Tamblyn playing the best in disco house and knew disco starting at 10pm.
This weekend, there’s also an Electric Pow-Wow with the boys from A Tribe Called Red Saturday, June 9 at Babylon. This is always a fun night and definitely the place to be if you want to dance it up!
Last but not least, Piknic Electronik Gatineau starts on Sunday, June 10 and goes until September 16 in the park behind the Museum of Civilization. The weekly-outdoor family-friendly gathering allows you to dance in the grass while listening to electro DJs from the region and beyond while perhaps enjoying a refreshing beer and taking advantage of the BBQ or even say, a picnic! The first edition features Isa Ghio, Steve Martin, Zoltan Kontes and Daily 2%. The full programming is available online by clicking the below poster. Enjoy!
