By Will McGuirk

Now that River & Sky Festival have announced their line-up for their 2026 edition one can lock in one’s own summer line-up of weekends. R&S takes place July 22 to 26, at Fisher’s Paradise, Field, just north of Sturgeon Falls. The line-up includes Jennifer Castle, the Dears, Bad Waitress, and Bry Webb. And also some D-Rock content in the form of BURS, a folk alt-rock band with connections to Brooklin.

This year’s theme is ‘Checking in - Checking out’, and that is a phrase that gets to the core of this very chill vibe-y gathering. There are two stages, one on the main gathering area where there are vendors and food options, and one on the beach where there is a sauna, swimming, and a last night bonfire, and a forest based art trail joining both. R&S always seems to be gathering of friends. I’ve gone, must be a dozen or more times in the 18 years its been running, but while this is a meet-up of makers across the line from North Bay to Sudbury, it is open-armed to those of us who join from other areas. The friendliness is contagious and I love making the drive to spend time there and I love my time being there, checking in with mates and checking out bands by a river under a clear sky. Love it.