Hillside Festival 2026
HillSites [SOLD OUT]
These sites include prime locations close to the island (limited number of campsites in Lookout Point, Sandy Bay, and Lakeview) and are available for July 16th – 20th. All proceeds go towards helping support Hillside Festival as a not-for-profit. HillSites will be on sale for $400 CAD, tax included (with a $196 donation tax receipt for all buyers). To maintain a fair and stress-free check out process, booking a HillSite will be offered randomly to those who register for one within the outlined registration period.
About registration: The link to register for a HillSite will be available on this page starting on February 17th at 6:00 PM EST and will remain open for 24 hours. After the registration period, all who entered will be in a draw for 1 of 24 available sites. If your name is drawn, you will be contacted on February 18th and have until February 20th at 12:00 PM EST to purchase your site. Any unpurchased sites will be drawn for from the remaining list of entrants.
Campsites in Lookout Point and Lakeview will also be available to book through the GRCA as usual. Campsites in all other campground areas will be also available to book on the GRCA website.
Registration is now closed. All HillSites have been purchased.
Campground Campsites
If you are looking to book a campsite—either campground campsite or festival field campsite—please check the Grand River Conservation Area website. Campground campsites for all Grand River Conservation Area locations (including the Guelph Lake Conservation Area on the Hillside Festival weekend) will open for reservation on February 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET.
Festival Field Campsites (Overflow)
If you are unable to get a campground campsite (either on our website or on the GRCA website), festival field campsites (previously called “overflow camping”) are available to book online or over the phone. Festival field campsites are located in the fields near the intersection of Hall Rd and Conservation Rd. These do not sell out, so you can get a festival field campsite when you arrive on the festival weekend as there is plenty of space available.
Festival field campsites must be booked for a 4-night reservation (July 16-20); campsites in the main GRCA campground can be booked for different numbers of night. These campsites can accommodate up to 2 tents, 1 tent trailer, or trailer up to 15′ (you may need to call the GRCA to book a site with a trailer if the website does not allow you to book your site with that equipment).
To book a campsite, go to grcacamping.ca, select Guelph Lake from the “Park” drop-down. The GRCA requires a 4-night minimum booking for festival field campsites during the festival weekend.
Please contact the GRCA for any camping-specific questions.
Quick Links
- Booking Hill-Sites on Hillside Festival’s website
- Booking regular campground or festival field campsites on the GRCA website
- GRCA Camping Map
- Camping Regulations & Guidelines | Grand River Conservation Authority
- Camping Reservation Policy | Grand River Conservation Authority
FAQs
- When and where can I book a HillSite?
HillSites will go live on this page on February 17 at 6:00PM ET. - Do I need to book all four nights?
HillSite reservations and festival field campsites are minimum 4-night bookings, Thursday through Monday of the festival weekend. Regular GRCA campground campsite reservations are a 3-night minimum for the festival weekend. - Do I need a membership or account to buy a HillSite?
No membership or account is needed to get a campsite. - How is the $196 tax receipt from purchasing a HillSite issued?
The $196 amount is a donation to the festival and is therefore eligible for a tax receipt as we are a non-profit. The rest of the balance goes to the GRCA. - How many HillSites will be available?
A limited number of HillSites in Lookout Point, Sandy Bay, and Lakeview will be available on our website. There will be additional campsites in Lookout Point and Lakeview to book through the GRCA as usual. - Do the HillSites have power or water?
HillSites are unserviced campsites. - Why was this initiative created?
HillSites are an initiative created to raise funds for our non-profit organization amid rising costs so we can keep bringing our beloved festival to our community year after year. We pay a fee to the GRCA to use the grounds for the summer festival and in the past, all camping booking fees have gone directly to the GRCA. This initiative is a way for us to generate a modest amount of revenue, continue to support our partner, the GRCA, and provide priority access to the campsites in a premium location to those able to give an additional donation ($196) on top of the camping fee. - What is allowed/not allowed on campsites? Can a group share a campsite?
Please consult the GRCA’s Camping Regulations & Guidelines and Camping Reservation Policy for details on general policies, campsite maximums, etc. You can also contact the GRCA for any camping-related questions.