Cultivate Festival marks 10 years in Port Hope this weekend

You’re invited to have some fun on the farm as the Cultivate Festival marks its 10^th year this weekend with three days of celebrations at Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope. / Jeanette Breward photo 

By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt

The 10^th edition of the Cultivate Festival is all set to transform the picturesque Haute Goat Farm for three straight days in Port Hope.

Featuring live performances and a spotlight on the arts and community, the festival will light up the farm starting today through to Sunday, Sept. 27.

With the introduction of a first-ever pay-what-you-can model, this year’s festival also marks another important milestone when it comes to knocking down barriers to accessibility and inclusion.

“We want people to come spend the weekend with us,” said Jeff Bray, Cultivate’s executive and artistic director. “Bring the kids, bring your parents, discover a band you’ve never heard before, make something, eat something great and slow down for a while.

“Pay-what-you-can is really simple – if you can contribute, amazing. If you can’t, we want you to come anyway.”

This weekend about 30 Canadian acts will perform on multiple stages. There will also be hands-on workshops, art-making, an art hive, kids’ activities, cultural programming, local food and drink, camping and campfire fun, the “Cultivate Carnival,” lots of chances to just wander the farm, and more, noted organizers.

Cultivate organizers said musical highlights will include Terra Lightfoot, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, A Sharon, Lois and Bram Sing Along, Ahmed Moneka, Cuff the Duke, the Jimmy Bowskill Band, Durham County Poets, Melissa Payne, Polky, WAAHLI, Nimkii Osawamick, Päter, Less Tøches and many more.

Hosted in the rolling hills at the farm, Cultivate is also designed as a festival for all generations to slow down, explore and experience something together, added organizers.

And while the all-ages event is now a pay-what-you-can model, it is still a ticketed event for capacity purposes. Residents can learn more via cultivatefestival.ca.

The festival is 100 per cent powered by volunteers.