NEWS RELEASE
KEMPENFEST
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Kempenfest, Barrie’s largest summer festival, is gearing up for its 52nd annual celebration, taking place Aug. 2 to 5, 2024, along two kilometres of Barrie’s waterfront.
This year’s annual event features 300 arts and crafts vendors, a midway, Kids’ Village, antiques, face painters, great food, an all-new Poutine Village with over 30 unique poutine options, Oasis Patio Bar, wrestling, and two stages of live music.
Admission is free, apart from the ticketed evening headliner concerts on the OLG Main Stage at the Rotary Beer Garden.
“We are incredibly excited for this year’s event and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the sponsors and supporters who have helped bring this together,” said Bob Stones, chair of Kempenfest. “Their dedication and support are what make Kempenfest a cherished tradition for our community, and we look forward to celebrating another fantastic year with everyone.”
Kempenfest’s 2024 OLG Main Stage concerts include:
Friday, Aug. 2
Down with Webster, with LØLØ, Flight 97, and Kyle Wauchope
Saturday, Aug. 3
Matthew Good and His Band, with Crown Lands, Bleeker, and Grant Boyer
Sunday, Aug. 4
Tyler Joe Miller, with Teigan Gayse, Parker Graye, and Julia Middleton
Monday, Aug. 5
The Carpet Frogs, with The Faculty
Limited advance tickets are available at kempenfest.com.
Concerts are all ages/licensed.
New additions
New to the festival includes Poutine Village featuring 10 different poutine vendors serving up over 30 unique poutine options.
There have also been several small revisions to the annual festival layout, including a new location for the Kids Village (now separate from the midway footprint) to accommodate growing programming efforts towards kids and families.
The Barrie Art Club (BAC), in collaboration with the Kiwanis club, founded Kempenfest 52 years ago. Since then, it has grown into one of North America’s largest outdoor arts and crafts festivals. This year, to celebrate BAC’s 75th anniversary, they have expanded to include a second tent on the Picnic Pathway, adjacent to the volleyball pits of Centennial Park. The new tent will feature art demonstrations, including a special interactive Bob Ross demo, visitor participation events, and the ever-popular Art Blast competition. Stroll down the Community Colours Art Walk to admire paintings by art club members and local artists.
Oasis Patio Bar has introduced live entertainment this year with performances by local musician Kat Chabot playing on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., and again on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Programming hours
Main stage
Friday, Aug. 2, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ticketed after 5 p.m.)
Sunday, Aug. 4, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. (ticketed after 5 p.m.)
Monday, Aug. 5, 12 p.m. 6 p.m. (ticketed)
The midway
Thursday, Aug. 1, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 2, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artisan Alley (arts and crafts vendors)
Open daily, Saturday, Aug. 3 to Monday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Poutine Village
Friday, Aug. 2 to Sunday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oasis Patio Bar
Friday, Aug. 2, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3 to Sunday, Aug. 4, 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 5, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Top 100 Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO)
Kempenfest is recognized within FEO’s top 100, at their recent annual conference and awards show.
For the full list of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals and Events visit festivalsandeventsontario.com.
Kempenfest attracts over 100,000 attendees annually and generates a reported $10 million in tourism-induced economic impact.
For more information, visit kempenfest.com.
To get your business brand involved, email [email protected].
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