Picture this: musicians performing within arm’s reach, music filling the air, surrounded by community and sweet summer jams. Rideau Lakes is the rural home of live music every summer with festivals, concert series and artist performances ready to add some new tunes to your summer playlist.
Get your toes tapping at these summer shows in Rideau Lakes!
Gary Raspberry at the Elgin Heritage Park
Sunday, July 7, 2024
Bring a blanket and your dancing shoes – Gary Raspberry is taking over Heritage Park in Elgin with Rideau Lakes Public Library in partnership with the Elgin and Area CEC! This is a free family event with snacks and drinks provided. In case of bad weather, the concert moves indoors to the Elgin Community Hall. Be sure to pop by the library tent for free TD Summer Reading Club kits and to sign up for the club. See you and the kids there!
Elgin Days
July 13 to 14, 2024
Elgin Days is an annual community-wide celebration featuring loads of yard sales, family activities and much more! Look for a book sale, chicken dinner, epic sales, comedy night, bake sales, car wash, bouncy castles, touch a truck, petting zoo, barbecues, bingo, a parade and so much more! From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 13 there will be live music in Heritage Park:
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Wright & Lowe
10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. – Evan Carlson
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Rideau Lakes Ramblers
12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Alex and Sean Price Pat Johnson and Billy MacInnis will also perform at The Tipped Ship from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Photo: Elgin Municipal Complex
Chaffey’s Lock & Area Summer Concert Series
It’s summer and that means the Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall is rocking! The annual summer concert series kicked off in the spring and carries on with The Wanted in July and Emilie Steele and The Deal in August. Find the hall at 1661 Chaffey’s Lock Road in Rideau Lakes – doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. for both events.
The Wanted
When: Saturday, July 27, 2024
Genre: Folk and Alt Country – with a Canadian edge!
Cost: Advance tickets $35, or $40 at the door
When: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Genre: Indie-folk band, animated retro and alt country
Cost: Advance tickets $35, or $40 at the door
Photo: Chaffey's Locks Community HallBastard Coffee House
This cozy and vibrant coffee house does more than keep folks in Rideau Lakes caffeinated. Not only are the goodies delicious and the beverages top notch, but it’s also home to a flourishing live music scene. Musicians perform at the stunning heritage coffee house in Delta several times a week and an open mic night is a favourite of locals and visitors alike. Enjoy beautiful music in an inspiring setting.
Photo: Bastard Coffee House Facebook Page
Turpins Trail
July 21, 2024
Free summer performance with Turpin’s Trail! With a dozen instruments and a wealth of great original and traditional songs and tunes, Turpin’s Trail is a Kingston-based quartet consisting of Jess Wedden, Jon McLurg, Chris Murphy and Noah St. Amand. See them live at the annual summer concert at beautiful Shillington Park in North Crosby, starting at 1 p.m. Admission is free! Find the park at 875 Concession Road 8, Westport.
Photo: Turpins Trail Facebook Page
Bach on the Beverley
August 24 and 25, 2024
Think Chamber Music is hard to understand or boring? Come out to this musical event and experience active listening to the chamber music of Johann Sebastian Bach. We will give a brief explanation of each selection with some listening suggestions for musical ideas that will make the music easy for first time listeners to follow. We will add some background on each piece and explain what we believe Bach wanted each of us to experience during the performances of his music. This will be a fun and informal time put on by the Lower Beverley Lake Association. The event is free, although donations are accepted with all proceeds going to local organizations. The event on August 24 is at Kendrick’s Park near Lyndhurst from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., while the event on August 25 is taking place at the Red Brick School in Elgin from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo: Red Brick School by Diane Haskins
Cloud 9 Electronic Music and Eco Art Festival
September 2024
Experience a multi-sensory celebration of a sustainable future! Now in its third year, the festival at No. 9 Gardens at 1516 Summers Road in Rideau Lakes is organized by youth, for youth to foster inspiration and creativity. On Saturday the day will be filled with live music, workshops, local food vendors, a pop-up craft and merch market, an outdoor eco-art exhibit and the chance to contribute to an interactive mosaic sculpture. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect – be sure to get tickets early as only a limited number are available.
Festival of Small Halls
October 2024
Sharing a love of music in a beloved place! The Ontario Festival of Small Halls is once again bringing exceptional Canadian musicians to small venues across eastern Ontario and Rideau Lakes. In fall 2024, Small Halls artists will be performing at the Old Town Hall in Delta, Morton Community Hall, Elgin United Church, Newboro Community Hall and Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall. Be there to witness some of Canada’s best musicians stepping off the big stage and hitting the scenic back roads!
Saturday, October 5, 2024: Jeff Rogers | Elgin United Church
Sunday, October 6, 2024: Kellylee Evans | Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall
Thursday, October 10, 2023: Meredith Moon | Morton Hall
Saturday, October 12, 2024: East Coast Experience | Newboro Community Hall
Friday, October 18, 2024: Lynne Hanson | Delta Old Town Hall
