A Guide to the Wolfe Island Music Festival for the Montrealer

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So, you’re thinking of heading up the 401 this weekend to hit up the Wolfe Island Music Festival. It’s close, it’s beautiful out there, and there is some awesome Canadian talent performing. If you, too, can’t get enough of live music, you’re gonna wanna be there.

There are a few things to consider before you go so you don’t get stuck – the biggest of which is how you’re gonna get there and where you’re gonna stay. There are many like minded folks who will be descending on the area this weekend, so don’t wait too long to figure it all out. Here are five tips for making the most of your weekend.

1. Getting from here to there without breaking the bank

Road trip!!! Sweeeet! Snacks, playlists, crazy stories…wait, what if I don’t have a car? Have no fear, check out Craigslist or Kijiji for a rideshare. Also, Megabus leaves Montreal for Kingston at all hours and costs about the same as a tank of gas. (on a small to midsize car, to be clear)

2. Getting there Part 2: It’s an island, there’s more to it than that…

Ok, you’ve gotten yourself to Kingston, but there’s still the matter of crossing the water. You get to take a ferry! Woot! This is something I feel we need more of in Montreal. Ferry rides are awesome.

There is a free regular ferry that runs between Kingston and Wolfe Island, last run is at 1:20 AM. You can take your car on board, but it’s easier (and cheap) to park it at the ferry terminal in Kingston (about $5/day).

You can also ride in style on the Festival Express Boat (included with your festival pass) and be entertained by DJs while you sip a cocktail. Not too shabby. The ferry lands at Dawson’s Pointe, about five kms from the festival site. Again, fear not! A shuttle bus will take you to Marysville, just two blocks from the music.

3. Staying there

Can it get more convenient than camping at the festival site? The simple answer, nope. If you want to camp there you do need to get a move on though, a reservation is needed. It is actually an island, so remember, you’ll want to bring your sleeping bag/blankets, a cooler, drinking water, toilet paper and any munchies you might want before the vendors and local restaurants open again in the morning. You can’t bring any alcohol with you, or it will get taken away and someone else will be partying with your booze. Bring cash for onsite drinks.

There are no showers, so bring your bathing suit for a dunk in the lake.

Prefer to sleep with a roof over your head? Check out the local accommodations here.

You can also stay in Kingston, reasonable rates can be found if you stay in campus apartments. For example, click here.

4. Outdoors on an island: Other things to consider

In addition to packing food and keeping the ferry schedule in mind, you will be outside. A lot. Not to sound like mom, but seriously, remember your hat, bug spray, sunscreen, blankets, and lots of drinking water.

If you hadn’t seen it before Osheaga, The Gazette published an article about being as safe as you can if you’re going to use drugs, read their tips here.

Kids are allowed as long as they are on a leash, and dogs must be supervised. No wait, that’s the other way around.

Hope to see you there!

Click here for full festival schedule and tickets.

Wolfe Island Music Festival at Wolfe Island, Ontario. August 7 & 8th. Gates open 6 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday. $50-125.