FernFest will return on June 13, 2026, as a one-day, community-led celebration of local arts, music, food, and neighbourhood connection.
Earlier this year, Fernwood Neighbourhood House (formally Fernwood NRG) announced that it would not be able to directly produce FernFest in 2026 due to organizational capacity constraints. The response from the community was immediate with artists, organizers, vendors, and longtime attendees expressing a strong desire to see the festival continue.
In response, Fernwood Neighbourhood House hosted conversations with community members and local event organizers to explore what a new model for FernFest could look like. From those conversations, a collaborative organizing team emerged to carry the festival forward.
The 2026 festival is being coordinated through a community partnership between Fernwood Neighbourhood House, City of Victoria, LampPost Social, the Owl Designer Fair, Fernwood Makers Party, CREAM Life + Style, community organizers, local artists, and supporters including Aryze Developments.
ɫniŋəɫ ʔəyʔ x̌čəŋin ɫtə x̌čit ɫtə t̓ᶱə sθx̌éləm sčaɫ əɫtélŋəxʷ skʷéʔ ɫtə sq̓ʷaq̓ʷəʔənəkʷ ʔalʔ šxʷléʔə ɫtə kʷs čéyʔiʔ ʔiʔ hiyasəŋ léʔəs t̓ᶱə éʔləŋ ʔə t̓ᶱə təŋəxʷs ɫtə lək̓ʷəŋən iʔ t̓ᶱə xʷsepsəm əɫtélŋəxʷ – Territory acknowledgement translated by Songhees elder Elmer George.
We gratefully acknowledge that Fernwood, our community where we host this event, resides on the territory of the Lekwungen peoples, the Songhees, and the Xwsepsum Nations.
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