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2026 Canadiana Fest Save The Date

Canadiana Fest

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2025 Poutine and Buttertart Winners!

October 3, 2025 by Amy Crabtree Campbell

If you were at Canadiana Fest, you know that a pretty fierce thunderstorm rolled through before we could announce our Poutine and Buttertart winners! The rain ended, but the lightning essentially shut down our stage and our sound system, so we’re announcing here!

The Grand Champion Poutine was from Katcha Steak, a new entrant this year! Theirs was a bold reimagining of a Canadian classic — crisp golden potato skins loaded with tender cheesesteak, caramelized peppers & onions, finished with house-made cheese gravy, and topped with shaved parmesan, fresh herbs, and a kick of jalapeño heat. They’re going to keep it on their menu, so go check them out!

2nd place Overall: American Culinary Federation of Kalamazoo and Battle Creek and One Well Brewing

3rd Place Overall: Motor Mouth, MI

Most Authentic Poutine: Best Coast Provisions

Most Inventive Poutine: PAC Pizzeria Michigan

People’s Choice: Grand River Brewery – Marshall

Now, on to the Buttertart Bakeoff! The competition was fierce for this highly technical delicate pastry!! The scoring was very tight again, with a point of each other. The 1st place winner was credited with the best overall pastry which tipped the scales.

1st place: Kalamazoo-area local and first time entrant Connie Kamerling!

2nd place: Owen Lewis of Chicago Butter Tart Co. Owen is the returning champion from 2024 and brought us a date-bar tart!

Tied for 3rd: Sarah Rousseau and Brent Grantham. Sarah is returning contestant from Canada, and Brent is another first timer in the contest!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Cara Lieurance and Brian O’Keefe at WMUK talk to Channon and Fest musician John Louis Good!

September 17, 2025 by Amy Crabtree Campbell

Canadiana Fest catches on in Kalamazoo! Cara Lieurance and Brian O’Keefe talk with Channon Mondoux and John Louis Good.

https://www.wmuk.org/wmuk-culture/2025-09-17/canadiana-festival-catches-on-in-kalamazoo

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Adding a Canadian charitable partner!

July 29, 2025 by Amy Crabtree Campbell

Canadiana Fest is proud and excited to announce our support for the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative in Windsor, Ontario- Channon’s own home town!

The DWCC will benefit from funds raised through the sale of our Platinum third-year sponsor Clearly Canadian sparkling waters at the upcoming CanAm Peace Jam at Canadiana Fest 2025 Presented by CN Railway coming up on Saturday, September 20!

This organization does it all for the underserved in Windsor – food banks, youth programs, homelessness support, recovery services, community development and neighborhood revitalization and renewal, a refugee and entrepreneurial program and so much more!

We feel that bringing the DWCC into the fold of the festival, joining theSouth Michigan Food Bank and Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes complements our mission to help our communities. We welcome you to join us at our FREE CAN AM PEACE JAM presented by Canadian National Railway Company Reserve your free (or pay what you want) tickets now to be entered to win a cruise on Lake Michigan from Fresh Coast Sailing!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Canadiana Fest 2025: A Celebration of Music, Food, and Culture in Kalamazoo MI!

June 30, 2025 by Amy Crabtree Campbell

Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant sights, sounds, and flavors of Canada at Canadiana Fest 2025! Join us at the Arcadia Creek Festival Site in Kalamazoo, MI on Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 3:30 pm until 10 pm, for a day filled with live music, delicious Canadian cuisine and beverages, and exciting cultural activities. Don’t miss out on this unique celebration of Canadian heritage and hospitality! Your attendance also benefits the South Michigan Food Bank and Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes!

FREE ADMISSION this year! Join us for free or contribute if you’re able. Your generosity and kindness makes the festival possible for everyone to enjoy.

We’ll also take at-will donations at the door. Reserve tickets either way so we know how many to expect. Be a part of this unforgettable experience!

2025 Music Lineup:

Rock Rx: Rock Rx (rockrxband.com) Presented by Centre Street Smiles Dental! Hailing from the Kalamazoo area, this high-energy cover band returns again in 2025 doing their renditions of the best Canadian Rock, Pop and R&B. They make the audience feel like they are part of the band, literally. Don’t be surprised if you have a mic in your face during the show, as you sing along to one of your favorite songs. 

Cécilia: Cécilia is coming to us all the way from Quebec. Widely recognized as three of Canada’s finest musicians, Timi Turmel, Erin Leahy, and Louis Schryer will bring their rollicking sounds of traditional, Celtic and Quebecois music. Bring your dancing shoes!

John Louis Good: Hailing from just down I-94 in Jackson, John Louis Good will bring the music of Canadian folk icon Stompin’ Tom Connors! You won’t want to miss this!

Woodland Stream Drum & Song, MoniFaith (Monica Padula) piano, and Deanna Bush, Flautist – We are so excited to have these Indigenous artists join us for our opening ceremonies!

Kalamazoo Pipe Band: The Kalamazoo Pipe Band is dedicated to teaching, performing & promoting highland bagpipe music in Kalamazoo, MI. Originating in the 1950’s, they have had the honor of piping at many Michigan ceremonies and events. Their heart thumping drum and heart wrenching pipes will move you and invoke the spirit of Canada’s Commonwealth origins. 

2025 Food Vendors:

Local and regional food vendors will offer delicious takes on Canadian Cuisine and local favorites.

  • Best Coast Provisions
  • Pac Brazilian Pizza
  • MotorMouthMI
  • American Culinary Federation of Kalamazoo & Battle Creek
  • More to come as we get closer to the Fest!

Beer and Beverage Garden operated by the Kalamazoo Experiential Learning Center. Enjoy delicious craft beers and your favorite Canadian imports. We will also have a great selection of imported Canadian wines available via our exclusive offerings from Platinum sponsor Pelee Island Winery, with tastings led by Canadian celebrity sommelier Renée Sferrazza!

2025 Activities SO FAR!

World Champine Poutine Competition Local and regional restaurants and food trucks will compete to create the best Poutine in the World!

Butter Tart Competition Open to all who want to bring their best version of this sweet Canadian classic, professional bakers and home bakers both! Bring a dozen buttertarts to the information booth and they will be judged by a panel of bakers, Canadians, and buttertart lovers. We’ll announce the winners from the stage in the afternoon!

Children’s Culture Tent: Join us at the children’s tent for arts, crafts and cultural and educational activities about Canada!

Workshop Tent: New in 2025, we will have several workshops going on throughout the event with all manner of fascinating topics:

  • Genealogist Janine Cotugno from the Kalamazoo Valley Geneaological Society speaks on “Finding Your Canadian Roots”.
  • Canadian children’s author Jocelyn Watkinson will read from her book “The Three Canadian Pigs” and Melissa Baril of Caribou a Lunettes will read from a French or Cree language children’s story in the presentations tent.
  • Rendez-vous Détroit’s Elizabeth Bourne will speak on celebrating Detroit’s French Canadian history and her own experience of being a French Canadian in Michigan.
  • Dr. Daniel McFarlane, one of the world’s leading authorities on the Great Lakes, will present “The 7th Wonder of the World; How Canada and the U.S. Shaped Niagara Falls”.
  • Erin Leahy of the band Cécilia will lead a traditional Ottawa Step Dancing workshop! Learn the fundamental mechanics of French-Canadian step dancing as well as how the style developed historically in Quebec and Ontario. Erin will teach you “step by step” to dance a reel and how it is integrated with Traditional Music.
  • The Scottish Pipe Band and Dancers will lead a traditional Canadian Scottish country dance with the Quinn Irish Dancers.
  • Wyatt Szpliet, Mno Mijem Sovereignty Coordinator of the Gun Lake Tribe, will give a presentation on Anishinaabe maple sugaring.

Canadian Sports Center! Come out and enjoy skills workshops, experiences and learn the history of these sports! We will have:

  • Curling! sponsored by the Kalamazoo Curling Club. Come throw a rock for charity! All proceeds to be donated to local food banks to fight hunger.
  • Lacrosse! Canada’s official winter sport! Meet the athletes and coaches of many local teams like Kalamazoo United.
  • Basketball! Invented by a Canadian and staffed with WMU Bronco basketball players!
  • Hockey! Come learn street hockey led by NCAA Champion WMU Bronco hockey players!
  • Crokinole! If you don’t know what crokinole is, come find out at the Fest! This traditional Canadian game is a family favorite.

Try the Royal Canadian VIP Experience and enjoy the Fest in style!

  • NO WAIT GATE- Enter at the west gate on Koopsen’s Alley for NO WAITING! 
  • Tasting Ticket includes up to 6 tasting pours of either Canadian Style Beers or Canadian varietal wines!
  • We will have Ontario wines exclusively from Platinum sponsor Pelee Island Winery, Canada’s oldest winery, with tastings led by Canadian celebrity sommelier Renée Sferrazza!
  • Enjoy creative and delightful no-alcohol cocktails featuring Platinum sponsor Clearly Canadian sparkling waters. The Clearly O’Canada Smoked Maple Mocktail is just one we’ll have on offer! Come taste enticing treatments and unique flavor profiles!
  • NOSH on delicious finger foods and bites across the day by top local chefs!
  • POSH private luxury portable bathrooms, covered tables and seating area. 
  • No wait dedicated craft beer trailer, exclusive access to the stage with outdoor cocktail tables and seating. 
  • Meet and greet with all of the bands.
  • And MUCH MORE YET TO COME!

Follow our socials for up to the minute announcements!

  • Canadiana Fest on Facebook
  • Canadiana_Fest on Instagram and Threads

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Walk and talk with Channon Mondoux!

April 2, 2025 by Amy Crabtree Campbell

Event creator Channon Mondoux walks us through why we should come out to the Can-Am Peace Jam on Saturday, September 2025 from 4 pm to 10 pm.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Upcoming Events

7/25/26 Canadiana Fest Presents: Canadian Comedian Henry Sir!

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