“The more you put in the more you get out.” – Harvest Festival proverb
The height of summer may be prime festival time across Canada, but here in Ontario, community-minded electronic music lovers look forward to autumn’s annual Harvest Festival. Initially held in October, in a variety of outdoor locations, Harvest was moved to mid-September and now has an enduring home in Burk’s Falls, 240 kilometres north of Toronto, and 375 kilometres west of Ottawa.
“It’s a great time of year to gather together, celebrate the changing of the seasons by a massive bonfire, and kiss the summer goodbye,” says Justin Martin, Harvest Festival’s founder. “Plus the fall colours are a spectacular backdrop for what can only be described as a magical weekend away.”
Martin works with a core team, including Promise event promoters David MacLeod and Irving Shaw, and more than 50 volunteers who devote weeks of time to making the magic happen.
For this 14th annual edition, happening Sept.14-16, Harvest Festival returns to the expansive land owned by renowned Canadian artist Peter Camani. Here, Camani’s Midlothian Castle and more than 100 giant sculptures greet the eye while peacocks roam freely among the festival attendees, many of them costumed.
Harvest further sets the stage with fanciful structures, including the signature “beautiful blue pipe yellow fabric pyramid,” and a variety of music settings. Friday eve sets the friendly tone as people gather around bonfires to a mix of acoustic performances and ambient electronics. Saturday daytime is for exploring the land and people on it, hiking, swimming and chilling. By mid-afternoon, music begins to play from the 55-foot pyramid purpose-built in 2011, and the evening begins in earnest with circus and aerialist performances by Lunacy Cabaret. Saturday’s darkness brings colour, food and adventures at every turn.
“At midnight, most everyone gathers for the lighting of the infamous Harvest bonfire that keeps us warm ’til the return of the sun,” says Martin of the focal gathering point that sits atop a 10-foot pile of rocks.
“When the fire ignites, all at once you can see everyone's faces, friends find each other, people cheer and dance, and they begin to shed outer layers. People bounce from music area to music area, fire to fire, and art installation to art installation. Your tent is really a place to stash your beverage and change of clothes.”
A festival rooted in electronic music
Harvest Festival is rooted in electronic music, with the Saturday night generally featuring three separate areas that offer techno, house, drum and bass, downtempo, psytrance and more. Toronto and Canadian talent is at the core.
“There is a focus on homegrown talent, with a few internationals,” shares Martin. “If you've never danced in your rubber boots at 5 a.m. to the sounds of Hali in the techno tent, you're missing out.”
Last year’s fest, which featured international artists like Marc Romboy and Osunlade alongside Canadians including Juno-nominated Arthur Oskan, was the biggest and busiest to date, but Martin emphasizes that a continued growth in attendance is not the aspiration.
“Our goal is to produce a quality party worth going to year after year,” he emphasizes. “We do not want to outgrow ourselves – we want people to be able to find their friends. We look forward to the next few years of major structure development, not big attendance increases.”
To this end, the Harvest Festival organizers have stated that they’re in the midst of a new “master plan,” which includes the replacement of “wedding-like tents” with impressive new structures to host people and sound. A huge new structure will be debuted this September, but its shape is secret.
“It's almost twice as big as the pyramid,” is all Martin will offer as a description. “It's safe to say that there is nothing like this new structure anywhere. People will no doubt be inspired and excited.”
The creators of Harvest Festival aim to inspire, and hope that attendees will add to the participatory experience by creating extensive art projects of their own, much like at Burning Man. Certainly, Harvest’s solid yet whimsical home on Camani's land allows organizers and attendees alike to plan and dream in Technicolor.
“We have found a place where our festival can grow in many wonderful ways,” enthuses Martin. “It means we can build amazing art structures that don't have to come down when the festival is over. It means that we can make and maintain relationships with the neighbours, with the farmers, with the people in town. We are welcome, and the local people are always happy to get involved. This is a place where creativity is cultivated. The sky is the limit.”