Kerrfest returns, announcement next week on Oakville summer festival

One of Oakville’s largest summer festivals is gearing up to return.

The Kerr Village Business Improvement Association (BIA) posted on social media that an announcement on details of this year’s Kerrfest and Kerrfest Kids event is coming “next week.”

The festival will be held September 6-8 at Westwood Park, located at the corner of Kerr Street and Bond Street.

“Stay tuned next week for upcoming Kerrfest announcements,” The Kerr Village BIA said on X (formerly Twitter).

This all comes after the Kerr Village BIA cancelled the annual festival in 2023 due to rising costs and inflation. Last year’s Kerrfest Kids event took place as scheduled.

“Due to the current economic challenges, including inflation and rising supplier costs, we have had to make the decision to modify this year’s event,” said the BIA at the time. “As a non-profit organization, our priority is to ensure a revenue-neutral event that benefits the community and promotes Kerr Village BIA.”

The cancellation of Kerrfest, which began in 2014, was the second summer festival to be nixed in Oakville last year.

Midnight Madness, which traditionally attracts tens of thousands of visitors into downtown for a night each summer, was cancelled by the Downtown Oakville BIA after the merchants that host the event decided to switch direction and focus on other activities.

After the announcement to cancel last year’s Kerrfest, organizers asked local residents for their continued support and patience and said they would work on bringing it back.

New strategies, partnerships and avenues of support would be explored to ensure the success of the outdoor musical festival.

“We understand the disappointment this may bring to all those who were looking forward to Kerrfest this year,” the BIA said in their announcement last year. “We share your passion and enthusiasm for this beloved community festival, and we want to assure you that we are committed to making Kerrfest a continued success in Kerr Village.”

The Kerr Village BIA is asking residents or businesses support the “the magic of live music” by donating or becoming a sponsor. Learn more by visiting here.