The Home County Music & Art Festival is run and managed by the Home Country Folk League, a community organization founded in 1973 to discover and promote talented Canadian musicians and artisans. Alongside the annual festival, the League organizes a series of concerts and an educational program named Artists in the Schools throughout the year.
The festival is a non-profit event administered by a volunteer Board Directors and over 300 volunteers who make everything run smoothly without getting a penny for it. The Home County Music & Art Festival does not charge an admission fee, but attendees are encourage to donate a minimum of $10 per day to support the festival. Part of the festival’s cost is covered by these donations, but the event is also supported by corporate sponsors and the city administration.
All concerts and other events are held in Victoria Park. It is a 18-acre park located in downtown London. The park hosts many community events, all of which are part of the movement of greening music festivals. During the Home County Music & Art Festival, Victoria Park hosts performances by over 25 folk musicians and bands from all over Canada. The festival encompasses several music genres and styles including folk, traditional music, indie folk, indie pop, and others.
Alongside live performances, the festival hosts a juried craft show. In the festival’s craft area, there are booths showcasing work by Canadian artisans, including jewelry, pottery, glass, metal, wood, textile, photography, fine art, and event gourmet foods. There also are about 30 food vendors and a Family Area offering exciting activities for kids.
Since its inception, the Home County Music & Art Festival has become a staple of the Southwestern Ontario scene. It attracts about 60,000 visitors over three days, offering great live performances and the wide variety of craft and food vendors.
In 2020, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: homecounty.ca
