Bestival descends on Woodbine Park this weekend

Photo: Bestival

Photo: Bestival

The follow-up edition of Bestival, an export of the UK music festival scene, is touching down this weekend on Toronto's east side. Woodbine Park will be transformed from its usual slow, beachy vibe into an eclectic, genre-bouncing music and oddity wonderland.

Headliners include legendary goth-rockers the Cure and Australian indie band Tame Impala, while Grimes, Jamie xx, Odesza, and more will provide an electro-pop soundtrack all weekend long.

“Show me another festival in your beautiful county of Canada with shamans, sound healing, drag queen opera, a musical bicycle and I’ll eat my hat," says Bestival founder Rob da Bank. "We're so excited about bringing not only some incredible bands and DJs to Bestival Toronto, but also this amazing array of out-of-this-world camp and cosmic happenings. Be there! Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Aside from a sense of revelry among festival-goers, Bestival also embodies an infectiously upbeat spirit of friendship, fun and above all, frivolity. It has gained a reputation for bringing an experience beyond just music with a list of off-the-wall attractions in store.

An "intergalactic hub" called the Cosmic Commune will feature famed Toronto performer Silver Elvis and his Rocket Car, as well as presentations like the Galexy Makers Ecstatic Dance Concert, a sound healing workshop, shamanic soundbaths, Supergalactic Operatta, Queen of the Universe Pageant, Cowboy Mouth, Harmonium Hypnotism and Goddess Breath.
 
In addition to the shows and workshops in the commune, there will also be spectacles to see including Zoossemobile, a yarn bombing installation, True Blue Love Crew, the Sugar Skulls Cocktail Bus featuring a quinceanera photobooth and body painting amd live mural painting. There will be copious free-spirted love in the infamous inflatable church, dressing-up shenanigans with the costume parade and even more fun and games.

Bestival is taking place Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12 at Woodbine Park. Tickets are $110–$201. Check out bestival.ca for more details.

Bestival Toronto