It's All About The Music

It's All About The Music

Canada Rocks with The Rolling Stones at Canada’s Largest Outdoor Event Venue

By Bryen Dunn

The Rolling Stones - Photo by Dave Hogan

Located in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, an hour’s drive north of Toronto, Burl's Creek Event Grounds is Canada's largest outdoor event venue, with the capacity to host more than 100,000 attendees, 45,000 campers, and park 45,000 cars. For the past seven years it has hosted the annual Boots & Hearts Music Festival, Canada's largest country and camping music festival, and this year it will be home to the new Big Sky Music Festival, and the only Canadian stop on The Rolling Stones “No Filter” tour. The venue has also played host to the now defunct Wayhome Music & Arts Festival as well.

Photo by Ryan Bolton

Spread over 600 acres of pristine landscaped grounds, the property features multiple natural amphitheatres, forested performance areas, a beautifully restored barn originally built in the 1930s, and 12-fibre optical laid throughout. Officially opened in 1984, Burl's Creek has been operated by Republic Live since 2014 and has played host to many of the biggest names in entertainment.

“The creation of the sloped concert bowls and other infrastructures has created the largest privately-funded tourism initiative in Ontario in the last several decades. Our 2015 Economic Impact Report shows over $54-million in tourism spending in that year alone,” says Todd Jenereaux, Executive Vice President of Republic Live. “What people don’t see are the cutting-edge 12-strand fibre optic cables buried throughout the property, connecting almost all areas of the performance grounds, to ensure that communications, security, live streaming, and other needs can be met for the largest of shows."

In terms of trying to maintain a “green” environment, Eva Dunford, co-founder of Republic Live, states, “Every year we implement various sorting and recycling programs. With our largest means of waste being from recyclable cans and plastic bottles, we have engaged with numerous charitable and community groups over the years to assist with this. In return, all net proceeds have gone to those charities, and our space at Burl’s Creek is left cleaner."

It’s All About the Music

Photo Credit - Burl's Creek

By far, the largest and one of the most anticipated events for many this year is Canada Rocks with The Rolling Stones, taking place Canada Day weekend on June 29, 2019. This will be the second stop on the North American leg of their "No Filter" tour, and the only Canadian date. This all-day concert experience by one of the world’s greatest rock n’ roll bands, is a rare treat from these English lads who first performed back in 1962 and continue to release new music and tour extensively, nearly six decades later. The set list has the iconic group performing many of their classic hits, along with rarer tunes from their extensive music catalogue, and newer selections from their more recent albums.

“This will be the largest attendance we will have hosted at Burl’s Creek so far, and the undertaking to ensure our patrons and the band have a memorable and safe time, are immense," says Lisa Zechmeister, Director of Booking and Development. "They aren’t rookies at this, and neither are we. No stone will be left unturned (sorry for the pun). Fans can expect two plus hours of hit-after-hit with every inch of the enormous 200' wide stage used, including the largest touring video towers projecting to the audience, and showing them what this band does best."

This event is 100 percent cashless, with only debit and credit cards being accepted anywhere onsite. Take note that ATMs will not be located onsite. Close to 70,000 fans are expected to attend.

"Having The Rolling Stones choose Burl’s Creek on the Canada Day weekend as the only Canadian stop on their tour is a truly humbling experience for us,” said Dunford. “This will, without a doubt, put Burl’s Creek on the map as a world-class destination. "'It’s Only Rock and Roll’ but, for us it’s history in the making at Burl’s Creek,” she proudly proclaims.

Photo Credit Burl's Creek

The inaugural Big Sky Music Festival takes place July 20, 2019, and features Alabama, Travis Tritt, Diamond Rio, and more. The day-long event promises to take it back to the 'good ole days', with a classic car show, camping, and craft market. With this event the producers have developed a Canadian platform for a traditional country-style festival.

“We’re thrilled to add Big Sky to our roster of events at Burl’s Creek this year,” said Dunford. On-site camping and RV spaces are available on both Friday and Saturday; featuring a pig roast on Friday evening for camping guests only. Additional artists include yodeling-sensation Mason Ramsey, and local Canadian artists Jason McCoy and The Redhill Valleys. www.bigskymusicfestival.ca

Photo by Ryan Bolton

The eighth annual Boots & Hearts Music Festival is now spread out over four full days from August 8 - 11, 2019, and features headliners Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Cole Swindell, Kane Brown and Kip Moore. Also on the bill are Chase Rice, Michael Ray, Tim

Hicks, Carly Pearce, Mitchell Tenpenny, LANCO, Ashley McBryde, Morgan Wallen, and more. The event attracts upwards of 40,000 daily attendees, including thousands who camp-out the entire festival. Boots & Hearts is the recipient of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Festival of the Year Award in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, the Canadian Music Week 2015 Festival of the Year, and was recently announced as the only Canadian nominee for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Festival of the Year Award. The 2018 festival was declared “Boots and Hearts Weekend” in Simcoe County, and musician Thomas Rhett called the event, “the best festival on the entire planet.”

Photo by Shane Parent

“This year we are bringing back the hugely popular LED ferris wheel, offering a bird’s-eye-view of the entire festival site, along with carnival games, and the popular Instagram installations, giving fans the opportunity to snap that perfect photo,” says Zechmeister. bootsandhearts.com

As for Wayhome Music & Arts Festival, Zechmeister states, “WayHome as a brand is extremely strong in the Greater Toronto Area, and among agents and artists in the music industry. I would not say that WayHome is dead, it’s just not something we’re focusing on right now. With the right acts and circumstances, fans could see a return of WayHome in the future.” wayhome.com

Transportation and Accommodations

Photo by Ryan Bolton

For those looking to party like it’s 1969, the venue has arranged a shuttle system to get fans to and from The Rolling Stones concert, with stops in Barrie, Hamilton, Kitchener, Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montreal, Kingston, Oshawa, Peterborough, and more. There’s also GO Transit and Ontario Northland offering regular scheduled services to the area, and many taxi operators can then easily transport attendees to the site from there. There are even direct flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, just across the highway from the grounds.

Attendees can choose from several different camping options, from a regular site that accommodates up to six people, to the new reserved tent camping that can accommodate up to 12 people, and offers 400 more square-feet than the extra large camping spots. This option also allows you to camp beside your friends and family. RV options are also available, including hydro sites and non-hydro sites, and guests can even rent their desired type of RV and have it placed onsite through RVezy. Accessible camping options are also available, and public showers and washroom facilities are accessible at all camping areas as well. If camping with thousands of other die-hard music fans is not your thing, there are a slew of hotel options in and around the Barrie and Orillia areas with several offering shuttles to the site, as well as a unique selection of alternative accommodation options.

Barrie is less than a 20-minute drive away and has a couple of B&B’s located nearby: Three Wishes, The Verandahs, and Brookview. There are also four private campgrounds nearby that can offer a serene connection with nature, without the festival buzz. Check out Barrie KOA, which also has cabins and lodges; Heidi’s, which offers a more upscale camping experience, or Nicolston Dam, with sites located along the Nottawasaga River. As well, M&E Shady Rest Cottages has four two-bedroom units right on Lake Simcoe, perfect for swimming, fishing, canoeing, and more, while Mayfair Suites and Carriage Ridge provide a self-contained home-awayfrom-home experience, with all the comforts and amenities included. www.tourismbarrie.com/where_to_sleep.aspx

Orillia is also within a 20-minute drive from Burl’s Creek, and again offers a good range of hotel and motel selections, along with two interesting alternative options for those seeking something different. Black River Wilderness Park is owned and operated by the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and offers everything from basic campsites to cabins, tipis and yurts. While there, take part in an authentic Indigenous cultural experience, or visit their Trading Post and café with outdoor patio. Hammock Harbour is located on beautiful Lake Couchiching at The Narrows, part of the Trent Severn Waterway. The property offers a range of spacious campsites, two cabins, two yurts, and one fully equipped RV trailer for rental. www.ontarioslakecountry.com/stay

Photo by Ryan Bolton

Burl’s Creek 240 Line 8 South, Oro-Medonte, ONTARIO 705-487-1600 www.burlscreek.com