Canada’s largest free music event kicks off Thursday in Burlington with the Sound of Music Festival.
It started in 1980 as a marching band parade operating as a not-for-profit corporation.
While there is still a parade that will take place, it has grown into much more with big names in the past such as local band Walk off the Earth and Carly Rae Jepsen.
A board of directors and hundreds of volunteers run the four-day festival, which will feature more than 50 performances on multiple stages this year from Thursday to Sunday.
Artists include 90s band The Spring Doctors, country band Jim Cuddy, and popstar Tyler Shaw, among others.
The streets near Burlington’s waterfront will also be filled with craft, food and retail vendors.
Those planning to head to the festival should be aware of some road closures.
Lakeshore Road will be blocked off from Elizabeth Street to Maple Avenue from Thursday to Saturday nightly from 10 p.m. to midnight and on June 16 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
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StreetFest will shut down Brant Street from Caroline Street to Lakeshore Road and Elgin Street from Brant Street to Blathwayte Lane on Saturday from 6 a.m. to Sunday at 8 p.m.
The parade on Saturday will see a number of streets closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., including:
- Baldwin Street from Hurd Avenue to Brant Street
- Brant Street from James Street to Baldwin Street
- Drury Lane from Courtland Drive to New Street
- Caroline Street from Drury Lane to Elizabeth Street
- James Street from Brant Street to Elizabeth Street
- Elizabeth Street from Caroline Street to James Street