Branches and Roots Folk Music Festival

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Mission Statement

To promote folk music at the grassroots level by fostering local talent as well as providing a showcase for established Canadian artists

To foster a formative venue for budding talent

To provide an inviting and creative atmosphere of friendly, relaxed interaction among visitors and performers

To provide an opportunity for local groups to render service to their community while raising funds through their concessions

To carry on The Branches and Roots Folk Music Festival as a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting folk music and an awareness of the Chateauguay Valley heritage

History of the festival

History of the Festival

Situated in the centre of the Chateauguay Valley, Ormstown is prime agricultural territory and has had a vibrant Exposition for almost a century now. The spacious fairgrounds come alive each June at fair time. Some music loving Fair Board Directors and several other music enthusiasts envisioned a folk festival on the grassy expanse.

They dreamt of promoting grassroots music in the area, of bringing high caliber entertainers featured at other festivals while at the same time showcasing the wealth of local talent.

They worked tirelessly to make the dream a reality. On a summer's day in August 2003, the Ormstown Fairgrounds came alive with song and sound. The small town hospitality, which the area is well known for, was much in evidence at that very first gathering and the magical ambiance, which settled over performers and those who had come to see them, defied explanation.

The Ormstown Branches and Roots Folk Music Festival took wing. From that point to the present the festival has continued to enthrall its audiences and in 2007 after five years of stewardship from the fair directors, the festival went through a restructuring and was on its own still using the fairgrounds as its venue with the fair board as one of its sponsors.

In 2010 BRANCHES & ROOTS was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. We are still growing and with our very solid base of volunteers, background and reputation, the 2014 and 2015 annual BRANCHES & ROOTS festival were both a success. We are now looking forward to the 2016 version.