Beats, brushes and bands: Summer Moon Festival returns this June

This year’s edition of the Summer Moon Festival features a variety of events, including artist workshops, exhibits and walking tours, a local vendor market, and live music including a performance from Skratch Bastid, the first DJ to ever be nominated for a Juno Award.

The free multi-day, multi-disciplinary arts and culture event will also see the creation of new downtown murals from artists Emmanuel Jarus (Young Jarus), Tyler Toews, and Fahima Mohiuddin (Fatspatrol).

Everything happens from June 15 to 17 at various locations throughout the downtown core.

Additional details can be found in the City of Sault Ste. Marie news release below:

Festival partners the Indigenous Friendship Centre, the Downtown Association and the City of Sault Ste. Marie are proud to announce the return of the annual Summer Moon Festival from June 15-17, 2023 – sponsored by Tenaris! This multidisciplinary arts and culture festival features some of the best that Baawaating - Sault Ste. Marie has to offer. Admission to all Summer Moon events is free but donations will be accepted. Attendees who donate $10 or more will receive a limited edition 2023 sticker drawn by 2022 festival alumni, artist Milkbox. Proceeds will support next year’s Summer Moon Fest artists, musicians, events and public art installations.

Starting bright and early on June 15 and 16, The Loft at the Algoma Conservatory of Music will host two days of community and practicing artist’s workshops facilitated by industry professionals on topics such as artistic collaboration (Dan Nystedt and friends), live song writing (Jay Case and Frank Deresti), personal capacity and creation (Katrina Thibodeau) and more! Registration is encouraged but not required and walk-ins are welcome. Sign up now at https://www.summermoonfest.com/book-online to book your spot.

Join the Strange Exhibits walking tours beginning at the Art Gallery of Algoma on the evenings of June 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. led by Jo Bumbacco of Old Sault and experience Summer Moon Fest mural installations up close and in detail. The first night’s tour leads to the official festival kick-off party on June 15 at 8 p.m. – the Beats + Bricks urban life street party presented by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), featuring old school hip hop and EDM music from DJ Bobby Lawn, DJ Seith, and Tophat + Fluxxom at The Drawing Club at 124 Bruce St. The second Strange Exhibits walking tour on June 16 also begins at 7 p.m. and leads to Ernie’s Coffee Shop at 13 Queen St. E at 8 p.m. where the Streets Ahead party will take place with live musical acts bands bookcluB and the Hustle Brothers will perform. Refreshments and vendor items will be available for purchase.

On day three of the festival, Saturday June 17, visit Mill Market during its regularly scheduled hours and have the chance to see Summer Moon Fest’s open-air artisan market outside at the same location. The open-air market features local creators, vendors, and artisans with a variety of offerings and products. Enjoy live music from the band Distich while you peruse the market and even try your hand at Amateur Hour – a spray painting activity for everyone ages 7+. Later that evening, make sure to catch the free headline event on the YNCU main stage at the Century 21 Rink at the Machine Shop where the festival blends local entertainment and musical acts before Skratch Bastid, the first DJ ever to be nominated for the Juno Awards, will perform and conclude Summer Moon Fest’s 2023 event schedule, rain or shine!

During this year’s festival, Summer Moon is glad to welcome globally renowned artists Emmanuel Jarus (aka Young Jarus), Tyler Toews, and Fahima Mohiuddin (Fatspatrol) who will each create and install a large scale art mural to add to the public art offerings within the downtown area. Other events planned for the duration of the festival include art exhibits, interactive activities at the Art Gallery of Algoma, special workshop with guest facilitator Tom O’Flanagan, and more!

For details of the entire event lineup and to register to secure your spot in advance, please visit the website.