Chris Clegg
Joe McWilliams
South Peace News
It’s a tradition dating back to the late 1970s and one which brings thousands of people to the region.
The North Country Fair returns to the Driftpile Valley June 19-22 with four action-packed days of terrific music and family fun.
Anneke Penner is in charge of promotion for the fair and says it is an all-genre outdoor music festival that started in 1979.
“Held in celebration of the summer solstice, this festival boasts four stages, rustic camping, four nights of great music, river beaches, a beautiful boreal forest venue, delicious food, craft vendors, interesting workshops, and children’s activities, all right here in Big Lakes County!”
The fair has become widely know as one of the best in the province with many fairgoers returning each year.
Public access begins Thursday June 19, 2025, at 8 a.m. Join the fun Thursday night from 8 p.m. until midnight at the main stage for the fair kickoff party.
The North Country Fair offically starts on Friday at 5 p.m. on the main stage, however. The fair’s closing circle is Sunday at 5 p.m., but the party does not stop there.
“Everyone is invited to our volunteer appreciation party on Sunday from 8 p.m. until 12 a.m.,” says Penner.
Impromptu music- jamming is also a big part of the attraction of the fair. Such sessions can break out any time, Penner says, many well past the end of scheduled music performance.
“The solstice sun barely sets, and the music plays on till dawn,” says Penner.
“Bring a friend or find one here,” she adds.
Acts at this year’s fair include Blue Moon Marquee, the group that played not long ago at Slave Lake’s Legacy Centre and made a very good impression. Others include Panic Pixie, Mariel Buckley and fair favourite Scott Cook, whose band is now called the Outdoorables.
Tzadeka and the Murder Hornets is another act with an unusual and intriguing moniker. Others include The Great Balanzo, The Dang Package, the Bridge City Sinners, Aledean Kheroufi and Dr. Draw and the Strange Parade, featuring Scott Jackson.
And much more!
“There are some really great bands coming,” says Penner.
Dr. Draw is famous, she says, for playing at Toronto Raptors’ games. Watch out for the band called Antidoping as well, she says. You would never suspect it from their name, but they are a reggae band from Mexico.
Speaking of acts from outside of Canada, one is from Argentina and another all the way from Italy!
Closer to home, Wandering Cree is from the Lesser Slave area, and Northblood are from Grande Prairie.
Music, is of course, the big draw, but there is also so much more. Workshops of various types through the daytime hours, and lots of activities designed with children in mind.
Artistic director Laurie Iverson says there are three workshop tents called Education, Movement and Art, for the types of things being presented or taught in them.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate (cash only), in stores, or online at northcountryfair.ca