Thirteenth Annual
Princeton Traditional Music Festival
Friday 20 to Sunday 22 August ~ 2021
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CANCELLED
It was with great regret that we decided to cancel this
year’s festival at the last minute. What happened was that on
Monday August 16 there was bumper-to-bumper traffic in Princeton
because Highway 1 (rockslide) and Highway 5 (July Mountain fire) were
both closed so all traffic to the interior came through Princeton.
Traffic to the Tulameen River bridge was backed up for kilometers.
Merritt was on evacuation notice and people had nowhere else to go so
Princeton motel rooms were badly needed. Our mayor went on social
media telling people not to come to the interior. In the midst of all
this we felt that we couldn’t in good conscience go ahead with
the festival.
Rika Ruebsaat, President
Princeton Traditional Music Society
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Click here to see the biographies and descriptions of all 2021 performers.
The Princeton Traditional Festival is Back! On August 20 - 22 the streets of Princeton, BC will once again be alive with the sound of fiddles, banjoes, singing and dancing. The Festival committee and the musicians are thrilled to be back in the saddle as the festival is the musical high point of their year. The 13th Annual Princeton Traditional Music Festival begins on Friday, 20th August. Come to Veterans’ Square at 6:00 pm for the opening ceremony followed by a concert by the BC Regiment Band. On Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22 there will be music from 10 am until 6 pm right in downtown Princeton. This year features an exciting lineup of new talent together with many familiar faces from past years. Covid protocols will be in place and organizers encourage only people who have been fully vaccinated to attend the festival.
The Princeton Traditional Music Festival has been presented by the Princeton Traditional Music Society since its inception. This year we are delighted to be partnering with the Princeton Community Arts Council who will be the co-presenters of the festival. Their organizational skills as well as their commitment to fostering the arts in our community will be a huge boon to the festival. We look forward to the ongoing partnership of our two organizations.
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.
