Fantastic Festival – Music Icons Join Summer-long Celebration

By Chris Occhiuzzi

Muskoka is famous for its amazing natural scenery; those of us who spend time here also know it plays host to an incredible array of artists.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has crafted a series of experiences to showcase the best of both these worlds. Their concert series hosts an extensive range of genres – from classical to contemporary – while dance, theatre, literature, and children’s cultural activities are also on tap.

The Festival’s 2019 line-up continues the long-standing tradition. The iconic Jim Cuddy Band, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Colin James, Bruce Cockburn, Royal Wood, Bahamas, Burton Cummings and more create an eclectic blend of artistic flavours.

 

Jimmy cuddy sitting on a couch with guitar in hand
The great Jim Cuddy is playing with the Jim Cuddy Band

 

Huntsville Festival of the Arts & Nuit Blanche North

 

Their showcase events include Nuit Blanche North, taking place on July 27th, which lights up downtown Huntsville. Creative pageantry – from installations to street performances and interactive events – delights the crowds.

“The artists really take pride in creating one-of-a-kind art for this event,” says executive director Dan Watson. “Some works you won’t see anywhere else.”

 

Nuit Blanche in Huntsville, showing crowds at night on street
Nuit Blanche takes over Huntsville's downtown core

 

Other events take full advantage of cottage country’s abundant waterways. On July 26th, Movie on the Docks presents a free screening of the classic film Jaws. The screen will float in the Muskoka River. Viewers can grab a seat on the shore, but for the ultimate immersive experience, boat up or sit on a paddle board, feeling the gentle motion of the water as the killer shark stalks its prey on the screen.

The Paddle On Comedy Festival on July 20th sees paddlers – by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard – and rowers embark from the Town Docks and partake in a scenic paddle to a stand-up comedy show right on the water.

“Since the beginning, the Festival’s artistic range has provided something to engage everyone,” adds Watson.

To learn more of these upcoming events and other exciting things to do in Huntsville Ontario, visit the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, visit their website at www.HuntsvilleFestival.ca.

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Chris Occhiuzzi is a staff writer at Dockside Publishing. For more great happenings in Muskoka and area, be sure to pick up Dockside Magazine's summer 2019 edition: The Best of Muskoka, covering Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, and Bracebridge. Visit their website at  www.docksidepublishing.com.