Hooked on Harvest, BlogTO, 2006

By Sookie. Posted on September 14, 2006. Linked Canonically to BlogTO

blogTO is usually a place where we discuss what’s happening in this bustling city of ours. Since city kids like to get away too this time it’s gonna be different, because this weekend, an hour and a half east of the city, Harvest Festival is going down. If you’re not an electronic music freak you may wanna move on, but if you are there’s nowhere else you should be this Saturday night. The event has been growing every year – expect over 1000 people to attend – somehow though, when festival founder Justin Martin (alienINFLUX) lights his proud 30-foot bonfire, everyone is brought together – hippy love all around. Then things get a bit crazy. Take a look a one of the short Harvest films on theigloo, my fav is 2001.

Throughout the night you can take your pick of one of three unique “stages”: a glowing yellow pyramid, a barn with sparkling stars or a giant tent space, all set up on a glorious piece of rural Ontario farmland called Wholearth. If you’re in the right spot at the right time you may even see some of the animals roaming about.

Though I’m an electro or tech-house girl I’ll find little of it at harvest festival; Ali Black may be the only DJ to satisfy that craving. Thankfully, there are other options I can get into too – full-on techno to keep me moving all night and downtempo, dub and broken beats to carry me through to the morning. I’ve seen some brilliant acts at Harvest. A couple years ago the DJ duo the Dukes played an amazing set dressed up as Kiss and in the chill out room there was a great pairing of flute and digeridoo.

Remember to bring some toasty socks and a tent too, you’ll wake up with hundreds of others to what should be a beautiful day. If you can find it, join the crowd at nearby Healey Falls – it’s the perfect place to get refreshed before heading back to civilization.