On behalf of the Council of the Township of Guelph/Eramosa, welcome to the 41st anniversary of the Hillside music festival on beautiful Guelph Lake Island.
This year, the festival’s theme is “Celebrating Lifting Our Voices in Song Together, and the Power of Collective Participation in Art and Music.” This festival is evidence to the vibrant spirit of our community, where music and art bring folks together in a celebration of creativity and unity. We are thrilled to celebrate Hillside Festival being awarded with the prestigious title of “Best Small Festival of the Year in Canada” by the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and passion of everyone involved, from the hardworking volunteers to the talented artists and enthusiastic patrons who make this event truly special. In addition to the musical celebrations, the Hillside Festival is also marking a significant milestone for our community. This year, they celebrate 30 years since the Grand River was designated a “Canadian Heritage River” in 1994. In honor of this occasion, the festival is co-presenting a unique community theater performance called “The Voice of the River.” This performance will feature artistic workshops from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives, culminating in a play that celebrates the Grand River through puppets, music, dance, and movement. The Hillside Festival’s mission goes beyond just music and artistic expression. They strive to set an example for community engagement, environmental leadership, and accessibility. With over 1,500 volunteers working tirelessly and more than 5,000 patrons joining us from near and far, this festival is a shining example of what can be achieved when people come together. I invite you all to immerse yourselves in the magic of this festival. Participate in the workshops, enjoy the performances, and most importantly, lift your voices in song. Whether you are getting lost in the music at Hillside, visiting a country market or taking a hike through our scenic parks,
Guelph/Eramosa is the place to be! If you’re here for the whole festival, or just joining us for a day
we hope you have a fabulous experience and that you come back to visit us again soon! Here’s to another unforgettable festival!
Yours truly,
Chris White
Mayor, Township of Guelph/Eramosa
As MPP for Guelph, I want to welcome everyone to the 2024 Hillside Festival! This is a very special event every year for our community, and this year, Hillside celebrates its 41st anniversary!
I want to congratulate the festival for being awarded the Best Small Festival of the Year in Canada by the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards. This year we are also celebrating 30 years of the Grand River being designated a “Canadian Heritage River” in 1994. I look forward
to The Voice of a River workshop on July 20 that will celebrate the Grand River and the fantastic creativity of our community.
Hillside is one the highlights of my summer. I love volunteering at Hillside and enjoy the fantastic performances, community spirit and commitment to environmental sustainability.
Hillside exemplifies the spirit of our community. I want to thank the staff, board members and many volunteers who are dedicated to making Hillside a place to come together to share in music, community and friendship. Hillside has given opportunities to many artists and has inspired creativity within our city and beyond.
I hope that everyone enjoys this year’s event. Have fun and be safe!
Happy Hillside!
Regards,
MPP Mike Schreiner
Welcome back Hillsiders!
Welcome Hillsiders!
As part of this year’s festival theme, Hillside is celebrating lifting our voices in song together, and the power of collective participation in art and music. This is not surprising given that bringing people together to experience and participate in music and art is what Hillside is all about. It is also one of the main reasons the Hillside Festival was awarded “Best Small Festival of the Year in Canada” by the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards. New this year, the festival will honour 30 years of the Grand River being designated a “Canadian Heritage River” by co-presenting a community play theatre performance called “The Voice of the River”. The performance offers artistic workshops from an Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspective and a play that celebrates the Grand River through puppets, music, dance and
movement.
Thanks to the Hillside board, staff, and the over 1,500 volunteers who make this amazing festival possible. Thank you and welcome to the talented performers who will be gracing Hillside’s multiple stages. Of course, thank you to festivalgoers for your support of live music and the arts.
I hope you all enjoy the incredible lineup of performers while experiencing
the collective joy of being uplifted by music!
Cam Guthrie
Mayor