The internet has had a lot to say about FernFest this week. Some thoughtful, some passionate, and at least one theory involving an unusual number of very tall people at last year’s festival.
We appreciate the enthusiasm and wanted to share a bit more context.
FernFest has been an amazing part of the neighbourhood for many years, and we are incredibly grateful for the memories, music, art, and connection it has created.
We are a small nonprofit organization and while FernFest has been one way we’ve helped bring people together, it is only one part of what we do. Every day we are also running licensed child care programs, family and youth programs, food initiatives like our weekly Community Dinner and gardens, baby drop-ins, and many other activities that support people across the neighbourhood.
Over time FernFest has grown into a very large and very expensive undertaking. Even for a dedicated organization like ours, we simply can’t do everything.
So we’ve made the difficult decision not to coordinate the festival this year.
What we care most about is the spirit of community celebration that FernFest represents. Fernwood has always been a neighbourhood where people step forward with ideas, creativity, and energy to make things happen together.
We would love to support that spirit continuing in new ways and if Fernwood has taught us anything over the years, it’s that when people care this much about something, it usually means someone is about to make something great happen.
And so, in this spirit, we’re convening a visioning space for folks who are interested in helping coordinate a community celebration in Fernwood this year. If you’re a neighbour, artist, business owner, volunteer, or someone with an idea, we’d love to connect. Please fill out this form and we’ll send you the time and place:
Community celebration at Fernwood Neighbourhood House – Fill out form
And if you love the work we do and want to help sustain it, one of the most helpful things you can do is support us through donating, volunteering, or participating in programs.
We’re grateful to be part of such a vibrant and passionate neighbourhood, and we’re excited to see what the community creates next (and if the tall people theory holds true).
