Originally named the Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights, the festival was founded in 1986 by Fred Anderson. Anderson insisted that all concerts be free to the public because his ultimate goal was to provide access to top-notch entertainment for all. The first Peterborough Festival of Lights Concert was held on July 1, 1987 with famous jazz saxophonist and flutist Moe Koffman as the headliner.
Concerts were held every Wednesday and Saturday night, followed by a spectacular illuminated boat show and a fireworks display. The boat show was discontinued in 2005 in favor of improving the fireworks display and inviting more famous performers. Subsequent cuts to the festival’s budget led to the cancellation of the fireworks in 2009. The festival was renamed Little Lake Music Fest the following year and later rebranded as Peterborough Musicfest.
Peterborough Musicfest is the longest free summer music festival in Canada and one of the most important cultural events in the province of Ontario. In 2015, it was recognized as a Top 100 Festival and Event in Ontario by Festivals & Events Ontario, a professional organization that represents the festivals and events industry in Ontario. The event is funded through private donations, fundraising events, government support at all levels and corporate sponsorship.
For two months every summer, downtown Peterborough becomes galvanized with exciting performances by popular artists and bands from Canada and abroad. The festival aims to introduce its audience to high-quality music of all genres so it encompasses rock, pop, country, blues and other music styles. Past performers include Lighthouse, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Proclaimers, Sloan, Tegan and Sara, Platinum Blonde, Kiefer Sutherland, Chad Brownlee, Randy Bachman, Emerson Drive, Wall Off the Earth, and many more.
Artists perform on the Frank Anderson Stage at Del Crary Park. Admission is free and people are encouraged to arrive early to get a good view of the stage. Peterborough Musicfest has generally been lucky in terms of the weather but concerts are subject to cancellation if a storm occurs.
Photo: ptbomusicfest.ca
