A GLORIOUS WEEKEND AT DEEP ROOTS… FRESH BEATS RHYTHM PARADE & MORE!
Fabulous FREE events happen at Deep Roots Music Festival throughout the day Friday and Saturday. Click here to learn more about Hospitality at Deep Roots.
Friday
Waterfront Park
We are honoured to open our festival with a Smudge Ceremony.
Paddy’s Festival Tent
We’ll then move inside the tent from 1-4pm for a concert with festival performers.
Wolfville Library
The Annapolis Valley Library Wolfville Branch will host a concert on the former train station platform, behind the library, at lunch time.
Paddy’s Pub
There will be free Deep Roots music at Paddy’s Pub, in the evening.
Saturday Morning
Farmers’ Market
Check out the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, 9am to 1pm, and join us for more Deep Roots music. Drop in anytime during the morning to enjoy the tunes and the wonderful market atmosphere. (You should think about picking up some of the great local food choices for a picnic in Waterfront Park later – after the parade.)
Parade Prep – Crafts
Explore your creative side – prepare for the parade by either making crafts or putting on costumes and playing with giant puppets.
At the Clock Park at 10am, artists from Ross Creek Centre for the Arts will have a tent with exciting craft supplies – so you can make things like hats, masks and musical instruments that you can use in the parade.
Parade Prep – Puppets
Over in the Festival Theatre lobby, starting at 10 am, Wee Giant Theatre has magical costume pieces to share and will help you explore and express the character you develop.
For maximum enjoyment, please give your children the time they need to truly play and explore these pieces, to choose what really speaks to them, and to develop their character and movements, before the group leaves the building at 11:30 to go to Clock Park and join in the parade.
Singing
Express your musical side – sing at the harmony workshop on Saturday morning from 10-11am with music therapists Sarah McInnis and Rebecca Fairless, at the Wolfville Legion.
Drumming
Djugdjug Ensemble will provide drums and training so you can participate in the drum circle at Clock Park from 11-11:45am.
Kids PLAY Music
Children under 7 and their adults can join Marilyn Manzer & Shannon Lynch at the Baptist Church vestry at 10:30am for an hour of playing, singing, clapping and dancing.
Saturday Parade
Join the fun
Whether you’ve participated in one of our morning workshops or not, come join the Fresh Beats Rhythm Parade at noon. It will be the most fun you’ve had all day, for sure.
Everyone gathers at the Clock Park at 11:35am bringing their own rhythm instruments, if they have them, and wearing their finery, a costume or just a wacky hat if so inclined.
Parade
Many folks have claimed that our Fresh Beats Rhythm Parade is one of the highlights of their weekend. It’s at the very heart of the Deep Roots Music Festival. At NOON … the parade in all its glorious colour and joyous noise begins. Many people walk or dance. Wheelchairs, bikes, wagons and strollers are welcome. All motorized traffic is stopped while the parade goes on.
Parade Prep Workshops
The morning workshops help you explore costume and personal presentation, or make hats, masks or instruments for the parade. When you join the parade, you could be wearing a fantastic hat or mask you’ve just made, or be holding the rhythm instrument you’ve created, wearing the Wee Giant costume you’ve just borrowed, or trying out your Second Look!
Parade Route
Leaving from Clock Park, the parade proceeds east on Main Street, turns left and goes north on Central Avenue, turns right and goes east on Front Street. A final left and a hop, skip and a jump will bring us to Waterfront Park and the Paddy’s Festival Tent. Please stay in costume and gather for a GROUP PICTURE right after the parade finishes. (Route subject to change.)
After the Parade
Waterfront Park
After the excitement of the parade there’s lots of free music at the Paddy’s Festival Tent down by the Wolfville Harbour.
Farmers’ Market
If you check out the Farmers’ Market (open until 1pm), you’ll catch more Deep Roots music there. And you probably won’t be able to resist picking up some of the great local food choices for your picnic later.
Family Music
Come sing along, dance it out, and enjoy an afternoon of feel-good fun for the whole family.
Group Picture and Costume Return
Please stay in costume and gather for a group picture right after the parade finishes. Cooperative play in costume is encouraged. This is one of many reasons to hang around in the Waterfront Park on Saturday afternoon. When you are done with your costume, please return it to the Wee Giants and help them pack it away in the bins at the Park.
What to bring
If you bring your own water bottle, we have water onsite for refills. Bringing your own chair is recommended. Bringing a picnic along to enjoy while listening to the music adds to the fun!
Open Mic
Do you have a song to sing? Deep Roots listeners want to hear you! Scott Marsters and Hannah Clausen of HUSH host our Open Mic at the Paddy’s Festival Tent starting at 2 pm. Sign up with Scott or Hannah, at the tent, starting at 12:30 pm.
Saturday Evening
Usually lively and loud, Paddy’s Pub will be the scene of more musical excitement on Saturday night.
If the weather is REALLY wet …
September is usually beautiful in Nova Scotia, but… it could still rain.
Almost all of our venues are indoor and unaffected by adverse weather conditions. All shows at the Paddy’s Festival Tent in Waterfront Park, will go on, rain or shine. (If it is very wet, we will move to a nearby rain venue!)
The Saturday morning craft workshop at Clock Park will also be under a tent. (The drum circle will be cancelled if it rains.) If it is just a little misty, the parade will go on!
If the wind is too much, some Tent events may need to be cancelled, and the program for the Paddy’s Festival Tent will move indoors at Devour Studios.
