Back for its 16th year, the annual Deep Roots Music Festival will be taking place from Thursday, September 26th to Sunday, September 29th in Wolfville and the surrounding area.

Produced by the Deep Roots Music Cooperative, the Deep Roots Music Festival is all about connecting people through a shared musical culture and heritage. There will be paid stage shows taking place at venues around town as well as free musical performances at Clock Park and during the Wolfville Farmers’ Market. The festival prides itself on showcasing a wide range of local, national, and international performers from a variety of different backgrounds.

In addition to these live musical performances, the Deep Roots Music Festival will be hosting workshops, talks, and film showings on the topic of mental health. The goal is to encourage a much-needed conversation on the subject and to discuss how music can impact one’s mental health and well-being as well. There will also be fun activities for kids on Saturday morning at the Festival Tent.

The main Deep Roots Music Festival performances take place at Festival Theatre on Main Street and are set to begin on Thursday evening with singer-songwriter Catherine MacLellan. The Maritime artist will be presenting a screening of her documentary The Song and the Sorrow, followed by a live performance.

On Friday evening, the concert will open with a smudging ceremony, drumming ceremony, and performance by Melgita’t Women, an all-female indigenous group from the Annapolis Valley and South Shore. Other established and rising Melgita’t artists will be featured at the festival as well, including Emma Stevens and Alan Syliboy.

The rest of this year’s main stage lineup is equally as exciting, offering something for all festivalgoers. Coco Love Alcorn will be returning to the festival, this time with a brand new album, while Nova Scotia’s Makayla Lynn and PEI’s Rachel Beck will be taking to the stage together. Joining the Deep Roots Music Festival for the first time are musical duo Madison Violet and rising star Reeny Smith.

Wolfville and the surrounding Annapolis Valley are known for having a thriving music and art scene as well as a culture of hospitality. Visitors can expect a warm welcome as they attend the festival events and explore the town, checking out all of the dining and shopping opportunities that Wolfville has to offer. Held during the harvest season, the Deep Roots Music Festival is a great opportunity to take in the region’s stunning fall landscape.

If you plan to spend multiple days at the Deep Roots Music Festival, then consider purchasing a festival pass. A 4-day pass ($99 for students and $119 for adults) provides admission to all ticketed events. There is also a 3-day pass ($79 for students and $99 for adults) for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Individual ticket prices for ticketed events range from $15 to $25 for students and $20 to $35 for adults depending on the event.

Every year, this eagerly anticipated Wolfville music festival sets down even deeper roots, creating an enduring community of music creators and music lovers. A celebration of art and culture, the Deep Roots Music Festival offers a unique experience that you don’t want to miss.