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 2025.
Music
Rock Rx, presented by Centre Smiles Dental: Rock Rx (rockrxband.com) 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.
By upgrading to the Royal Canadian VIP Tent, you’ll have the opportunity to meet all of these performers!
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.
Check out this interesting article about the founding of Canada and other historical facts of our neighbor to the north!
Our friends at the French Heritage Society have created this lovely resource about the French Heritage Corridor present in several of our neighboring Midwestern states. Consider a road trip to follow the historical steps of our French ancestors!
2025 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, the $25 entry fee goes directly to the South Michigan Food Bank and Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. On the day of the Fest, 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!
Children’s Tent: Join us at the children’s tent for arts, crafts and cultural and educational activities about Canada!
The How Canadian Are You? Trivia Challenge! See how well know your Canadian trivia for fun and prizes!
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. Le Caribou promotes the French language and Francophone Cultures through youth literature and more!
- 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 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.