It’s a neat coincidence that the 25th annual North Country Fair hits exactly on the summer solstice this year. It started as a celebration of the longest day of the year, and that remains a strong theme of the fair all these years later, though much else has changed.
In its size and reputation the fair doesn’t much resemble the modest musical get-together of 25 years ago. But though the numbers are much larger and the activities and entertainment much more varied, it still comes down to a bunch of happy people staying up late to watch the sun go down and then staying up to watch it rise a couple of hours later. All accompanied by music, of course.
The fair has a steady clientele from the Slave Lake area that participate in the yearly ritual. Camping out at the fair with the kids is pretty popular and a heck of a fun way to spend a weekend if you don’t mind a little mud and the company of more hippies than you knew existed in the 21st Century.
Publicist Valda Roberts estimates Slave Lake ticket sales of about 400 – which means you will see people you know. Some of them might be dressed funny and practicing belly dancing – you just never know at the North Country Fair.
And the music? Quite a few main stage stalwarts are returning this year to help celebrate the 25th anniversary. Folkie Valdy is one and Toronto blues guy Morgan Davis is another. Mike Plume will be there and so will Mad Bomber Society. Diamond Joe White, Maria Dunn, Painting Daisies, Fred Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels, the Corb Lund Band, African and Cuban orchestras. The lineup runs to about 45 acts and is so varied it can’t really be called a ‘folk music festival.’
Some say the best part of the musical experience happens after the main stage closes (at 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights). That’s when the scene shifts to three side stages and things can get quite intimate.
Intimate is one good way to describe the North Country Fair experience. The separation between performers and audience is much less than at the bigger festivals.
“It’s totally different than the Edmonton Folk Festival,” says Roberts.
Tickets to the 25th annual North Country Fair at Joussard are available at Anne’s Music in Slave Lake.

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