Planning is underway for 2026! Bands subject to change.
Many of our entertainers will be ASL-interpreted again this year! We got great feedback last year, and are so pleased to offer this again in 2026.
Music (subject to change)
Melisande: Mélisande is one of the strong female force on the Québécois traditional music scene. She built her career releasing four albums in the électrotrad style (an original blend of traditional songs and electro music) before revisiting her repertoire with an acoustic quintet on the album Rembobine in 2024. With an infectious energy and stage presence, she makes the crowd sing and dance wherever she goes.
Comedian Henry Sir: Henry Sir is an All Canadian basketball player turned comedian and writer. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, he now lives in New York where he performs at the top clubs in the city like The Comedy Cellar and Gotham Comedy Club while touring North America. He’s been featured on Comedy Central, Just For Laughs New Faces, Don’t Tell Comedy, and CBC New Wave of Stand Up. Henry is the host of the satirical political podcast, The Freedom Hour, and the popular social media series, Current Events Chirped By A Canadian.
Rock RX: Hailing from the Kalamazoo area, this high-energy cover band returns again in 2026 doing their renditions of the best Canadian Rock, Pop and R&B from the 80s on up to today. 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.
Full Frontal Overdrive: Kalamazoo’s own Punkternative Jam Power Rock Trio! Come ready to dig their set list of classic 60s and 70s Canadian rock, featuring bands like Steppenwolf, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the Guess Who, Rush, and much more!
Zion Lion: Kalamazoo-based band with members from the U.S., St Lucia, Belize and Jamaica! They bring all of these cultures together to create a beautiful mix of reggae, soca, calypso, steel pan, and African rhythms.
Henpecked Dawgs: This Celtic and Americana quartet will bring their toe-tapping sound and old time sea shanties – bring your dancing shoes!
Genot Picor: Genot tells the stories of Acadian history through song and storytelling. If you enjoy history and the artistry of telling a good story, this is a can’t miss!
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.
Woodland Stream Drum & Song returned this year for our opening ceremonies! Their Indigenous drumming will join with Owyn Zapata of the Notawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatami singing a traditional straight song.
Culture of the Event
See what Canada is all aboot! As Canada is a Mosaic Culture, we will honor as many of our founding people as possible including Indigenous peoples. Opening ceremonies will close with Honor Song of the Mi’gmak Tribe with Dr. Paul Rene Tamburro, his wife Andrea, and Fest founder Channon Mondoux. Our robust musical line-up is reflective of that Mosaic Culture, and our Vendor Village will include Canadian and Indigenous vendors.
2026 Activities
World Champine Poutine Competition Local and regional restaurants and food trucks will compete to create the best Poutine in the World!
The Butter Tart Competition returns this year! Open to all who want to bring their best version of this sweet Canadian classic, professional bakers and home bakers both. Details to come!
Children’s Tent: Join us at the children’s tent for arts, crafts and cultural and educational activities about Canada!
Workshop Tent: We debuted these workshops last year and they were a big hit! 2026 will have several workshops going on throughout the event with all manner of fascinating topics. Watch this space!
- Genealogist Janine Cotugno from theKalamazoo Valley Geneaological Society speaks on genealogy from a Canadian perspective! She has presented for both of the workshops that the Fest put on this last winter. Find the recordings in the sidebar of any page on our site.
- Daisy Kostas, an Elder of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will speak on traditional Indigenous herbal medicine.
- Dr. Daniel McFarlane, one of the world’s leading authorities on the Great Lakes, will present again this year. His talk on Niagara Falls last year was very popular!
- Dr. Paul-Rene Tamburro will tell stories of the Abenaki and Mi’kmaq Indigenous peoples.
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.
- Lacrosse! Canada’s official winter sport! Meet the athletes and coaches of Kalamazoo United!
- Basketball! Invented by a Canadian.
- Hockey! Come learn street hockey led by Premier Athletics.
- Crokinole! If you don’t know what crokinole is, come find out at the Fest! This traditional Canadian game is a family favorite.