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The Big Branch Festival 2024

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We invite you to a weekend of balfolk tunes and dancing near Kingston, ON, on a beautiful farm on a lake.

With international and local bands, music, song and dance workshops, jamming, dancing late into the night...

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Located at
Leopard Frog Farm

Our festival is located on a beautiful farm on a lake.

 

Leopard Frog Farm is 20 minutes north of Kingston Ontario (3 hours east of Toronto ON, and 3 hours 20 minutes west of Montreal QC).

 

You'll experience beautiful grounds, camping, sunsets and lake access for swimming. The whole farm is also now completely solar powered!

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Overnight camping is included. The tenting area is in a field within a 5 minute walk of the dance barn, outhouses, workshop locations and lakefront. 

We have some amazing programming for you this year featuring international performers from France and Canada, evening dances (bals) in a gorgeous barn, music and dance workshops, lots of jamming, singing, great food and beautiful scenery. 

 

What is Balfolk?

Balfolk dancing is popular social dancing from Western Europe, a recent revival of traditional, mostly French, folk dances. Some partner dances, some group dances, some long chain dances - They are all fun and easy to learn, you don’t need any partners or prior experience. We’ll show you how!

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Accommodations

include camping, outhouse and lake access. There will be drinkable water and a place to wash dishes. There are no showers on site, but there is a lake for swimming (no lifeguards). Learn more about other accommodation options nearby. 

 

Meals

included with your festival ticket:
Dinner on Friday night, Breakfast on Saturday, Dinner on Saturday night, and Breakfast on Sunday. 

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Accessibility Information

Leopard Frog farm contains uneven terrain and grassy areas not ideal for mobility devices. At night in low light there may be areas that are be harder to see.

 

As Big Branch Festival is a dance-centred festival, space in the barn will prioritize dancers, and while there are some chairs around, seating is not guaranteed. This is not a sit-down concert event. If you have any additional questions about accessibility, please email balfolktoronto@gmail.com

 

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2024 SCHEDULE

Click for detailed weekend schedule
 

WEDNESDAY September 4
Kick-off concert in Toronto with Dirty Caps' & Çubrana
(ticketed separately)

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FRIDAY September 6

Arrival at Leopard Frog Farm from 4pm 
4-8pm: drop in pizza dinner
6-8pm: music and dance workshops
8:15-midnight: Bal 

Late night: snacks and jamming 

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SATURDAY September 7
8:30am: breakfast
10am-1pm: dance, music, singing workshops
2:30-5:30: dance and music workshops, singalong
5:30: jam apéro
6-7:30: dinner 
7:45: parade!
8-midnight: Bal
Late night: snacks and jamming 

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SUNDAY September 8

7:30am: breakfast
9:30: swimming and prettiest tune jam
11:00-12:30pm: open mic Bal - play for dancing!

PRE-ORDER YOUR FESTIVAL T-SHIRT


Artwork by Kathryn Durst! T-shirt pre-orders are available until August 7th.
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VOLUNTEERING


All of our work trade spots are now full. However, if you'd like to help out anyway, you are welcome to sign up to volunteer an hour or two during the festival. Let us know if you’d like to help out!​

Have a closer look at what we do: 

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