From July 24-26, 1,000+ people will flock to St. Joseph Island for a weekend of great live music, delicious food, and a feeling of community. Since its 2017 inception, Go North Music Festival has grown into a beloved event for locals and visitors alike.
Go North started out small, with crowds of about 400 people and performances on the small Timber Stage on the Centennial Grounds. Before the 2024 festival, Sherie Gladu, the Go North Music Festival Staff Rep for The Township of St. Joseph, sat down with the festival’s hard-working volunteers. The group agreed that they wanted to grow Go North substantially— to “go big or go home,” Sherie says.
The festival committee booked The Trews as headliners, and expanded the festival to include the larger stage at Richards Landing. The hard work paid off— 2024 was Go North’s biggest year yet, with close to 1,000 attendees and a full campground. This summer is shaping up to be just as successful, if not more.
A big draw this year is Saturday night’s headliner, Big Sugar. The band has been a staple on the airwaves since the 90s, building a following with songs like 'Diggin A Hole', 'If I Had My Way', 'Turn The Lights On' and 'Roads Ahead.’
Go North books a variety of artists, from established acts to those who are new and emerging. The music varies, from country to rock, to a genre-defying artists. “The festival has a really interesting range this year of different musicians. We have something for everyone,” says Sherie.
Thursday night kicks off with an evening of country music on the Timer Stage, featuring performances from two outlaw country acts, Nicolette and the Nobodies and The Brothers G.
On Friday, Go North partners up with the beloved Richards Landing Community Night, held at the Centennial Grounds. The parade will start at 7PM, followed by fresh baked pie, food vendors, children’s games and more, all in support of the Matthews Memorial Hospital NSHN Auxiliary to help provide equipment for the hospital.
“We were already using the same grounds for our event but doing it on separate weekends, so when we broached the idea of moving our event to sandwich Community Night, they thought it was a great idea,” says Sherie. “We see it as a really great partnership.”
After the Community Night ends on Friday at 9:00PM, the fun will move down to the waterfront marina for the Boat Parade of Lights and a free live concert. Another option for attendees that night is the Country and Western Dance at the Old Town Hall. The latter is a licensed event, with a $20 admission fee and limited tickets available.
The Saturday main stage —in addition to Big Sugar— will offer performances from local folk-pop act Ontarians, Chlöe Doucet, Boston Levi, and Juliana Riolino.
On Saturday only, there will be food and drink vendors, as well as an artisan market to showcase local artists and producers selling handmade goods. Also on Saturday is the Family Zone, where there will be games, crafts and activities for kids —including interactive displays from Science North— and a stage with performances by children’s band The Thinking Caps. Go North Music Festival is free for kids 12 and under to attend.
“We’ve always had really great responses from families with young kids because it’s a really safe, comfortable festival. It’s for everyone,” says Sherie.
For camping, the festival has areas for both trailers and tents. There are showers and washroom facilities for the campers as well. More information can be found at the Go North Music Festival website.
In between the excellent music performances, Sherie says that the Township of St. Joseph encourages Go North attendees to discover other great activities on the island, go for a swim, and check out local businesses. There will even be a guided nature walk led by Kensington Conservancy on Saturday morning, to show new visitors the beauty of the area trails and nature.
“We want people to explore St. Joseph Island while they’re here.”
For more information or to buy tickets, visit: here.