Festival Hours:

Friday:

Gates Open: 4:30pm
Performances: 5:00pm

Saturday:

Gates Open: 10:30am
Performances: 11:00am

Sunday:

Gates Open: 10:00am
Performances: 10:30am

Getting to the Festival:

Kelso Beach Park is located on the shores of Georgian Bay in the city of Owen Sound. Just one kilometer from downtown on The Eddie Sargent Parkway, 2nd Avenue West and 19th Street West.

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General Info

TICKETS:   Tickets are non-refundable. The festival goes on rain or shine.  Tickets can be purchased in advance through Ticketpro by calling 1-888-655-9090 or online at www.summerfolk.org/tickets or by contacting the GBFS office in person or by calling 519-371-2995.  The on-site ticket booth will open starting at 4:30 pm on the Friday of the festival. 
Tickets for evening concerts go on sale at 8:00 pm on the evening of the concert; only if there is space  available.  There is no advance sales on evening concert tickets.  Friday night ticket prices are $28.00 / $20.00 for students and youth.

WHAT TO BRING:  Suitable clothing for a range of temperatures.  Temperatures range from hot August days to cool and sometimes cold nights.  Definitely bring rain gear, as umbrellas are not permitted in the Amphitheatre as they block the view of patrons.  You may bring your own food; there are picnic tables situated throughout the park.  However, there is an extensive food court offering a multitude of selections including vegetarian.

ENTERING THE SITE:  Volunteers from the Security and Front Gate crews are available to facilitate easy and safe access to the site for everyone.  Line ups form early.  The gate line up will be 2 people wide.  For those who wish to go directly to the Amphitheatre when the gate opens to set up seating for the evening concerts, groups of 30 patrons at a time will be escorted to the entrance of the theatre.  There will be no running.  Runners will be escorted to the end of the line.  Patrons are asked to remain at their selected seat in the Amphitheatre until the opening line has cleared.

AMPHITHEATRE SEATING POLICY:  One person can save seating space for a maximum of 4 people in the Amphitheatre.  Lawn chairs are permitted but must be single seat, standard size only.  No gravity chairs, high backs, combination cooler/chairs, chairs with extending foot rests, leg rests or canopies allowed. Tarps 5’ x 7’ may be used to save up to 4 spaces, however, in the tiered section they must be confined to one level.  Aisles in the Amphitheatre must be kept clear of chairs; coolers and bags must be stored under chairs.

Parking

The curb lanes of the main road servicing the park are designated for parking free of charge. There is also free parking on the residential streets surrounding the park. Please respect the residents and neighbourhood.

Disabled Parking – There will be 10 parking spaces reserved for those with valid parking permits clearly displayed. These spaces will be located within 100 feet on the South side of the main gate.

Greening Initiatives for 2011

The GBFS and the Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival are great supporters of the environment and in the past years have initiated many greening initiatives.

For this 2011 season, the festival is happy to introduce COMPOSTING to go along with our recycling efforts.

There will be clearly marked bins to be used strictly for the purpose of composting.

The Summerfolk Committee supplies bins for regular garbage disposal as well as, bins for paper products, recycling (plastic and metal) and now for composting. Please use the bins accordingly and help us keep the festival and the planet clean and green!

This season, we are also bringing back the FREE potable water for drinking. The Quench Buggy will be on site this year with their crystal clear and refreshing set up providing eight spigots for easy accessibility and no line ups. Look for the Quench Buggy in the Food Village and REMEMBER… bring your own reusable water bottle to the festival for refilling.

Accommodation - Hotels, Motels,& Camping      

ACCOMODATIONS: There are no accommodations within easy walking distance.  All accommodations fill up very early for Summerfolk weekend and it is recommended that people reserve their accommodations first – it can always be cancelled later.  There are an array of hotel/motel/bed and breakfast available throughout the City and surrounding area ranging from inexpensive to luxury.  Contact the Owen sound tourism office for details.

Other links to accommodations:

• http://www.visitgrey.ca/accommodation/

• http://www.explorethebruce.com/places-to-stay-accommodation.php

CAMPING: There is no camping on site except for volunteers. There is a City run campground across the street from the site at the Kelso Beach Campground. This site is not recommended for families.
Campers are not permitted to bring their own firewood into the campground in an attempt to curtail non-indigenous insects. The 2008 rate for camping was $32.00/ night.

Camping is also available at Harrison Park or further away from town the KOA Campground and Whispering Pines.
These campgrounds take reservations. Kelso Park and Harrison Park: 519-371-9734
KOA Campground: 519-371-1331
Whispering Pines: 519-371-9833

Festival Rules and Guidelines:

A FEW GOLDEN RULES

Sound & Video Taping:
Copyright laws prohibit the videotaping or recording of festival performances without the explicit written permission from the artist.
 
Pets:
Pets are NOT allowed on the site.  Properly harnessed service animals are permitted only.

Bicycles:
Bicycles are NOT allowed into the festival site.  Bike racks are provided at the South gate for your convenience.

Alcohol & Drugs:
Festival goers are prohibited from bringing alcohol or drugs onto the festival site.  Festival security has the right to search containers and to require materials be removed from the festival site.

Amphitheatre Seating Policy:
Please consider your neighbours and respect the following rules and policies which are necessary to accommodate everyone.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

• One (1) person can save a maximum seating space for four (4) people in the Amphitheatre.

• Lawn chairs in the Amphitheatre must be single seat/standard size only.  No gravity chairs, high-backs, combination cooler, extended leg rests, footstools or canopies are allowed.

• Tarps of a reasonable size to reserve four spaces may be used; however, in the tiered sections, they must be confined to the lower levels.

• Aisles in the amphitheatre must be kept clear of chairs.  Coolers and bags are to be tucked under your chair to allow efficient use of space.

Security volunteers may compact the seating in order to maximize the seating capacity of the amphitheatre.

SAFETY & FAIRNESS GUIDELINES

Volunteers on Security and the Front Gate are available to facilitate easy and safe access to the site for everyone.  In the interest of ensuring an enjoyable weekend for everyone, we ask that you respect these guidelines and policies.  If you require assistance with advance seating or entry, please discuss your needs with the Security volunteers at the gate.

1. When you arrive at the gate, please join the end of the line.  The gate line up will be only (2) two people wide and butting is not acceptable.  If you butt in, you will be asked to move to the end of the line.

2. When the gates open, Security Volunteers will escort groups of patrons who wish to reserve seating for the concerts in the Amphitheatre entrance in an orderly fashion.  Since we take your safety seriously, any runners will be escorted back to the end of the line. When groups are let in to the festival grounds at opening, patrons may choose to head directly to the food or artisan  village instead, if they prefer.

3. We ask that you remain at your selected seat in the Amphitheatre until the opening line has cleared.

If you need assistance, please speak to a Security volunteer.

SMOKING LIMITATIONS at SUMMERFOLK

There is no smoking in the Amphitheatre during concerts, in the Children’s Area and in the Cafe of the Senses.  The entire licensed (Down By the Bay tent and Backstage Bar) areas are smoke free as well.

LOST KIDS/PARENTS: Children may be registered free of charge at the First Aid Trailer.  Children and adults will have a corresponding number written on their wristbands.  If there was no admission charge for a child, a wristband will be given at the time.  If a child is lost, Security crews are notified and a volunteer will stay with the child and take them to the First Aid/Lost Kids area.  The identification number only will be broadcast from the stages to inform the adults.  If the child has not been registered, the proper identification will be required to the satisfaction of volunteer security or a police officer before the child is released to any adult.  We do not offer babysitting services and children are not permitted to be left alone while participating in Children’s village activities.

CHILDREN’S VILLAGE

We have a very active and fun-filled children’s area.  Bring your child for an afternoon to remember!

Crafts for All Ages:
There are always lots of exciting crafts for children of all ages in the Children’s Craft area: this year kid’s will enjoy making wind chimes, wine cork ponies, fake fur-covered containers, space ships and bathroom animals.   Games to play, face painters, a play dough table, a wood and glue area, gimping and bead work are just a few of the neat things your child can participate in and bring home as a souvenir from Summerfolk.

Music Workshops:
Again, we will offer a unique and highly creative music-learning experience for children.   Catch Todd Crowley’s Musical Petting Zoo; instruments from everywhere for everyone to pet and play.  Many of the main stage performers will be sharing their music in the Children’s Area over the weekend.

Play Area:

We also offer a Toddler’s play area with swings and slides.

Visit Summerfolks Flickr Site for a look back at Summerfolk 2011