ArtistDirect News
Sooke Music Festival Celebrates 11th Year With Free Family Day
The Sooke Music Festival concluded its 11th edition on Saturday, August 8, 2026, with a free day of music, activities and community events at Fred Milne Park in Sooke, British Columbia. Families and visitors filled the park for a noon‑to‑10:30 p.m. schedule that included bounce castles, games and performances by musicians from Vancouver Island and beyond.
Founder Peter Jonassen said the festival has grown by roughly 5 % to 10 % each year, deliberately keeping that growth modest to avoid the financial pressures that can come with expanding too quickly. “We’re trying to be super cautious on purpose to move forward,” Jonassen told reporters. The event began in 2016 on a shoestring budget and now attracts about 1,000 people on a full festival day, according to Jonassen.
The Saturday program featured Australian singer‑songwriter Kim Churchill, whose appearance drew attendees from Pender Island and Vancouver. Other acts on the lineup included Odds, Hyaenas and local performers, as listed on the festival’s website. Friday’s evening program, which required a ticket price of $25–$30, drew several hundred people, while Saturday’s free day attracted a steady rotation of families, festival‑goers and evening crowds.
Dozens of volunteers help organize the festival, with additional community members pitching in throughout the event. The festival relies on community support, government funding and corporate sponsors to continue growing. Jonassen said those interested in volunteering, performing or sponsoring future festivals can contact organizers through the website at sookemusicfestival.ca.
Planning for the next year’s festival begins almost immediately after the current event ends. Jonassen said organizers typically start the following year’s planning the week after the festival, beginning with dates, infrastructure and headline performers before filling out the lineup with local acts.
Sooke is a district municipality on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, about 38 km from Victoria. The festival’s location in Fred Milne Park places it in the heart of Sooke’s community, a setting that has helped the event become a family‑friendly, free music festival that showcases Vancouver Island’s talent.
The 2026 edition’s free Saturday day aligns with the festival’s long‑standing policy of offering a free day of music and community activities. The event’s website notes that the festival’s final day is a family day, featuring activities such as bounce castles and games.
The festival’s growth strategy and reliance on volunteer labor, community support and sponsorships have allowed it to maintain a modest expansion while continuing to provide a platform for local musicians. The 11th anniversary marks a milestone for the festival, which has become a staple of the Sooke summer calendar.
In summary, the Sooke Music Festival’s 2026 edition closed with a free family day that drew about 1,000 attendees, featured performances by Kim Churchill and other acts, and highlighted the festival’s cautious growth strategy, volunteer‑based organization, and community‑supported model.
Founder Peter Jonassen said the festival has grown by roughly 5 % to 10 % each year, deliberately keeping that growth modest to avoid the financial pressures that can come with expanding too quickly. “We’re trying to be super cautious on purpose to move forward,” Jonassen told reporters. The event began in 2016 on a shoestring budget and now attracts about 1,000 people on a full festival day, according to Jonassen.
The Saturday program featured Australian singer‑songwriter Kim Churchill, whose appearance drew attendees from Pender Island and Vancouver. Other acts on the lineup included Odds, Hyaenas and local performers, as listed on the festival’s website. Friday’s evening program, which required a ticket price of $25–$30, drew several hundred people, while Saturday’s free day attracted a steady rotation of families, festival‑goers and evening crowds.
Dozens of volunteers help organize the festival, with additional community members pitching in throughout the event. The festival relies on community support, government funding and corporate sponsors to continue growing. Jonassen said those interested in volunteering, performing or sponsoring future festivals can contact organizers through the website at sookemusicfestival.ca.
Planning for the next year’s festival begins almost immediately after the current event ends. Jonassen said organizers typically start the following year’s planning the week after the festival, beginning with dates, infrastructure and headline performers before filling out the lineup with local acts.
Sooke is a district municipality on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, about 38 km from Victoria. The festival’s location in Fred Milne Park places it in the heart of Sooke’s community, a setting that has helped the event become a family‑friendly, free music festival that showcases Vancouver Island’s talent.
The 2026 edition’s free Saturday day aligns with the festival’s long‑standing policy of offering a free day of music and community activities. The event’s website notes that the festival’s final day is a family day, featuring activities such as bounce castles and games.
The festival’s growth strategy and reliance on volunteer labor, community support and sponsorships have allowed it to maintain a modest expansion while continuing to provide a platform for local musicians. The 11th anniversary marks a milestone for the festival, which has become a staple of the Sooke summer calendar.
In summary, the Sooke Music Festival’s 2026 edition closed with a free family day that drew about 1,000 attendees, featured performances by Kim Churchill and other acts, and highlighted the festival’s cautious growth strategy, volunteer‑based organization, and community‑supported model.