Détail de l’événement

Founded in 1961 in Orillia, by Ruth Jones, Dr. Crawford Jones, and Pete McGarvey, the Mariposa Folk Festival is an all-inclusive showcase of Canada’s heritage, cultures and talents, and fosters community engagement. Control of the Festival in the early days passed through several hands before it was taken over, in turn, by the Toronto Guild of Canadian Folk Artists in 1969 and by the Mariposa Folk Foundation in 1977. The festival moved around to many locations during its first 40 years: Maple Leaf Stadium, Innis Lake, Centre Island, Toronto Harbourfront, Barrie Molson Park, Ontario Place, Bracebridge, Cobourg, and Parkdale. In 2000, the Mariposa Folk Festival moved back to Orillia. Over the past two decades the Festival has grown roots in the region and increased its audience reach. In 2019, the Festival celebrated the 20th anniversary of its return to Orillia, and marked the occasion with a second consecutive attendance record. The Festival typically profiles over 100 artistic performances of emerging and established folk artists on 11 stages. Mariposa Folk Foundation is a proud member of Folk Music Ontario, Festivals and Events Ontario, Folk Alliance Canada, Music Canada Live and the Archives Association of Ontario.

This application is for the “65th Anniversary of the Mariposa Folk Festival” special programming taking place July 4 to 6, 2025 at Tudhope Park on the shores of Lake Couchiching in Orillia. The anniversary Festival will include over 60 acts appearing on 11 stages, plus camping for over 1000 attendees, food vendors, artisans’ village, community village, Artists’ Studio Point, and Children’s Folk Play. Programming will include:

(1) the artistic lineup for the 65th anniversary festival will include approximately 60 acts (i) headline acts include Waxahatchee, Of Monsters and Men, Serena Ryder & Sam Roberts, and Langhorne Slim, and The Sheepdogs; (ii) Mariposa’s history will be represented by Owen McBride from the 60s, Sharon Hampson from the 70s, Jane Siberry from the 80s, Bob Snider and Ron Sexsmith from the 90s, Serena Ryder and Hayden from the 00s, Irish Mythen and The East Pointers from the 10s, and many more to be announced; (iii) Francophone acts include Klo Pelgag, Les Hay Babies, Les Breastfeeders and Les Moontunes; (iv) Indigenous performers include Elisapie, Evan Redsky, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, and BIPOC artists so far include Basia Bulat, AHI, The Free Label and Mustafa; and (v) children’s performers include Sharon & Randi (from Sharon, Lois & Bram) along with Run with the Kittens.

(2) “Voices Through Time: A Mariposa Journey”: an exhibition at the Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH), from May to August 2025. The OMAH Exhibition will include an interactive timeline, taking visitors on a tour through Mariposa’s 65-year history, including: past performers like Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot; past festival venues from Orillia, Toronto, Bracebridge, Cobourg and beyond; and engaging stories from the past, such as why Mariposa was expelled from Orillia after the public unruliness of the 1963 event. Ancillary events at the OMAH exhibit before and after the festival that will include speakers, music events, 70’s style coffeehouses, and more; and

(3) a workshop with folk historians Owen McBride and Bob Snider telling stories from Mariposa’s 65 years.