The Bay of Fundy is a destination in itself. Arguably one of the great natural wonders of the world, it’s home to all kinds of marine life, the highest tides anywhere, and an incredulous number of travel guides that will tell you the same and more. Now what if we told you there’s a music festival in the middle of it? Fogfest on Campobello Island is now in their sixth year, and if you can get yourself there, it’s five free days of music and adventure.
“The festival was first imagined by Stephanie Gough of Campobello,” explains Campobello Fogfest organizer Stephanie Anthony. “She and Kathleen Case rounded up a few more volunteers (myself included) and we cobbled together a three-day festival at almost the last minute that first year. Afterwards it expanded to the five-day format and has always been held on the New Brunswick Day long weekend.”
Anthony says that each year the festival draws audience from locals, summer residents, and tourists. “We have a lot of support. It’s fun to see everybody racing up and down the quiet roads here to get to the next venue and secure a prime spot!”
So far the festival have announced just a handful of acts that include Frantically Atlantic, Celia Jellison, Meredith Huntley, Cassidy Cook, Ivan Daigle, Tomato/Tomato, Kam Speech, and Jason Haywood.
“Our focus has always been on local talent but we’ve had some great acts from all over Canada here—there’s certainly no trouble finding talent,” says Anthony.
The popularity of the festival has resulted in a lot of bands making requests to perform, or return again and again.
“We have some trouble saying no… Tomato/Tomato has been here before, East Coast Love Story came three years in a row, as did The Kendra Gale Band, and Jason Haywood has become a beloved Fogfest regular.
Some acts that have been here before continue to show up—not as performers but as fans, with their families in tow. Our Provincial Campground sells out and every motel, B&B, etc. on the island is full.”
More than just the wide variety of music, which encompasses everything from Country to Hip Hop to a Gospel set on Sundays, the festival also includes ongoing art displays, culture exhibits and talks throughout the Island, yoga and meditation circles, and campfire sing-alongs.
The mainstay of the festival, naturally, is the two days of music at the Main Stage at the Campobello Island Provincial Park, though festival-goers can expect all sorts of smaller performances at coffee shops, restaurants, and other local businesses throughout the island, including the Campobello Library.
Campobello Fogfest takes place August 1st to 5th over the New Brunswick Day long weekend. Attendance is free, so just show up!