Canada’s largest free outdoor music festival is in trouble. Here’s what’s happening with Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival
For the last 45 years, the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, Ontario, has been packing in fans, brining in up to 400,000 fans every year to see more then four dozen acts across multiple stages. I’ve attended many times, including as an event MC.
Besides being an artistic triumph, the event brings in around $25 million in economic benefits with 42% of attendees coming from outside the city
Now, though, there’s a problem.
The issue is funding cuts. The federal Heritage Fund, which used to provide $200,000 annually, now tops out at $50,000. The Experience Ontario Fund, another financial supporter, has cut its funding in half. Sponsorship dollars have quietly slipped away, too.
Dave Shepherd, the head of the festival’s board of directors, says
“We’ve done everything possible to run lean without sacrificing safety or the quality of the experience. We’ve trimmed costs – over $500k has been removed in the last 2 years, streamlined operations, and maximized efficiencies. But we are now at the edge—without new partners stepping in, we don’t know if we can keep
“The festival is run and managed professionally, but the real magic happens with our dedicated volunteers who clock an impressive 6000 hours, over the festival weekend. We provide a great opportunity for summer youth employment each year as well, for some of the students in our community.”
Beyond the impact on Canadian music, hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses are worried.
What’s the solution? Organizers have put out a plea for community leaders, philanthropists, corporate partners, and anyone who loves music and arts. The festival urgently needs a major sponsor or group of sponsors if the event is to survive.
If you want to get involved, contact Dave Shepherd or Brent Kinnaird, the VP of Festival Operations.
