Northern Lights features fun for whole family

Northern Lights Festival Boréal, which kicked off in Bell Park July 4 and runs until July 6, features musicians such as Tokyo Police Club, Bruce Cockburn and Wintersleep, as well as a plethora of other activities.

“Given the sunshine and the number of people walking around, I think it's just a great atmosphere — great for the family,” said Heather, as she watched her kids play with hula hoops July 5. “It's a real fun time.”

Carly Marshall, who attended the festival with husband Trevor, their three young children, and a large group of family and friends, definitely isn't a Northern Lights newbie.

She said she's a veteran of the music festival, having attended since she was a kid herself.

“We're huge music fans, so we like walking around to all of the different stages and watching the music,” Marshall said, adding that she was especially looking forward to the Sunday headliner, Wintersleep.

She said the festival is also a great place for kids. “There's lots for the kids to do,” Marshall said. “We're just about to head over to the family tent and the bouncy castles, and they're here walking on stilts.”

Michelle Beggins of Owen Sound who sold her tie-dyed, knitted and felted clothing at the festival.

She said her outfits are popular with the festival crowd, who tend to favour brightly-coloured garb, and she visits several every summer.

This is Beggins' first visit to Northern Lights, however, and she said she likes it, as it's smaller and “more intimate” than some she's been to.

The festival's executive director, Max Merrifield, said Northern Lights is a great place to discover new music in a relaxed atmosphere.

“I guess my favourite thing about it is the sheer diversity of the different types of music you can hear here,” he said. “The headliners really draw, but I really like discovering new acts that I haven't seen before.”