Kate Johnston, Executive Director of Hillside Festival, joins Earth Care for episode 8 of the Sustainability in the Live Music Industry Series.

Hillside Festival is an eco-friendly festival located in Guelph, Ontario that has been celebrating music and community for over 40 years. Their Mission Statement reads, the Hillside Community Festival is a not-for-profit music festival that celebrates creativity through artistic expression, community engagement and environmental leadership.

Their story begins on July 14th, 1980, when they kicked off at Riverside Park Bandshell in Guelph with free admission, optional donation fee. The event was 11 hours of music for all ages.

From day one, Hillside Festival has made a strong commitment to ensure the environment is top priority. Fast forward to present day, they’re now a three day, multi-stage festival with a broad artistic vision that emphasizes diversity: of culture, of musical heritage and style, age, geography and influence.

They also have several green accolades under their belt. In 2014, they received the Honour Roll award from the Grand River Conservation Authority. In 2016, they won Best Green Operations awarded by Canadian Music Week. In 2019, the team received the International Clearwater Award for leadership in environmental sustainability. Additionally, for 8 years in a row, they were awarded Best Greening of a Festival from Festival and Events Ontario. They’re renowned as one of Canada’s most progressive, environmentally conscious, non-commercial community celebrations.

In this episode, Kate discusses the sustainability initiatives implemented at Hillside Festival. The conversation covers various topics, including transportation, food waste reduction, solar power integration, the green living roof, projects for artists, and advice for festival fans.

Hillside Festival is on from July 19-21, 2024.

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