Join us at the Gabriola Commons on Aug 30 to Sept 1st for Cultivate: Gabriola Island’s end-of-summer, family-friendly celebration of music, theatre, art, and our community.

We’re excited to share some highlight of the music and theatre lineups for your 2019 Cultivate Festival. We encourage you to dive deep into the offerings of each artist. Check out links to videos and online music online, and plug into our social media.

We respectfully acknowledge that we are on the unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, who have been stewards of this land for millenia.

Headliners

True to our word, we’ve tried to bring something for everyone. Musically, heavy-hitters like Gabriola’s own Gary Fjellgard and folk-music royalty Shari Ulrich are for folk lovers. Roots Roundup, Kitty and The Rooster, and Caleb Hart will provide hits of high-energy band dynamic.

Theatre Offerings

Our theatre offerings this year are gritty, playful, and dive deep into the human experience. World-touring war drama Jake’s Gift returns to its Gabriola roots. One of the most creative theatre duos on the Salish Sea, Mind of A Snail, open magical worlds through old-school light projectors. The Wilds will captivate with the Wonderheads’ signature masks.

Bringing Back the Goat Barn

Bringing back last year’s popular late night dance venue, the Goat Barn will feature the driving and other-worldly electronic sounds of Beat Farmer — one night only!

Brings Kids!

We want kids and youth to be the heart of our festival. Our Cultivate Family Zone will be at the center of the action again this year — a family- and child-friendly safe creative space run by art teachers, parents and peer helpers, building connections through art and play. We’ll also have 2 morning family performances of music and theatre.

Ms Panik will continue to gently push boundaries with her blend of spoken word, loops and “Wholesome MC” Haida inspired raps. For all-ages music that’s not for kids only, Oots ‘N Oots will overflow with humor and groovy tunes.

Vendors and artists

This year’s festival will have a delightful community of vendors, artists, and growers, offering their art, food, and hearts. There will be installations and surprising pop-up art happenings. Even if you didn’t take in one performance, this is a festival that would be worth coming to.

We’re humbled to present these offerings as the backbone of Cultivate 2019. But we’re equally excited about the culture that grows around the space, performances, and artistic experiences.

A place for community to grow

Cultivate is a festival for everyone who loves Gabriola Island. It’s our offering to all generations and all walks of life. This festival belongs to, and is an expression of, the people of this island. We invite you to join us in the growing, organic process of this festival, and to make it yours. We invite you to come together. There is no festival and community without you.

Thanks to the Commons

We’re especially grateful for the Gabriola Commons community, who have created a true community space. If you were at last year’s festival, you know that a palpable magic was in the air, when the sounds of Cultivate floated across the Commons gardens. We are proud to join with the Commons teams and grow our special partnership. This year, we’re thrilled that the Antony Holland Theatre Stage will move to the Commons, so the entire festival is on the Commons grounds.

We offer Cultivate as a way to celebrate abundance, have fun and dance, solidify our bonds, love the earth, and to feel strength in numbers. We intend Cultivate as a seasonal celebration: a time to be joyful about the summer that was, and look towards fall and the quieter days of winter.