Thirteenth Annual

Thank you all who came to last year's festival and those who supported it. Because of you it was again a great success. People were able to perform their favorite music and meet up with fellow players. And people were able to listen and enjoy each other's company for free. Everyone is important in this festival. We'll do it again this year, and we hope that you will too.

On Friday, 20 August, the Princeton Traditional Music Festival starts to fill downtown Princeton with music and song. The festivities begin with the opening ceremony at 6 pm. Right after that is the Festival’s annual participatory STREET DANCE. Again, this year the dance will be hosted by the Rattlebone Band, a high-energy dance band that has graced the Festival for many years. All dances will be taught and you don’t even have to bring a partner. On Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22 there will be music downtown from 10 am until 6 pm. And it’s all free – no admission is charged. This year will feature many familiar musicians from past years as well as a number of new performers.

The kind of music presented at the Traditional Music Festival consists of tunes and songs that have been passed on aurally, from one generation to the next. In the days before any kind of electronic devices people made their own music.

The Traditional Music Festival presents music that comes out of communities where people participate in music-making. The Festival tries to provide this sense of participation by remaining intimate. Performers are close to the audience and invite them to participate by singing along or by dancing.

The Festival

Admission is FREE.  Events are held on several stages in the centre of Princeton and begin on Friday evening with a public street dance and an Irish ceili band. Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday there's a potpourri of concerts, workshops, and jams.

The Scene

This event is primarily for and about the performers. Traditional Music lacks venue in the west, so players, singers, dancers, and fans are willing to travel in order to meet up. Professional performers are making personal sacrifices in order to be here, but the many people who come just to listen attests to the unique value of this event. For those new to the Festival please have a look at the Our Story page to learn about how it started and what Traditional Music means to us.

The Place

Nestled among rolling hills of ranchland, the little town of Princeton is the gateway to the Okanagan. About 300 km from Vancouver, it is the first town after Hope along the Crowsnest Highway. Summers are hot and dry - just what we like for our festival which takes place mostly in the streets.

Donate

In addition to the sponsors, this festival is primarily supported by hard work and artists who perform for free. However, we aim to pay for artist's meals and at least part of their transportation costs. Please consider contributing in order to help maintain this important cultural event.

Become a Member

You can support the continuing operation of the festival by buying a $10 membership.

Volunteers

Every year we need a stage crew, MCs, office staff, and many other important helpers. If you want to be part of this exciting event in this way, please let us know. volunteers@princetontraditional.org

Vendors

We encourage the sale of food, crafts, art, and more at the Festival. Download the form (.pdf) or ( .doc). For more information please contact the Vendor Coordinator. vendors@princetontraditional.org

Sponsors

Funding for the Festival comes from donations, as well as grants from the Town of Princeton, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, and the Province of British Columbia.

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