Festival Program 2026
From skill shares and Barn Talks, to guided and self-guided tours, live music, local food, artisans, vendors, and interactive hands-on demonstrations, discover everything waiting for you at the Common Ground Festival.
Tickets on sale now!
The best time to buy your ticket is ahead of our festival day!
From curious kids to seasoned gardeners and grandparents with stories to share, Common Ground has something for every generation.
September 6th, 2026 12PM-7PM
There’s something to discover around every corner. Some of our events are on-going, others are led by experts at specified times, so make sure you read the program and map out your day.
To get around the festival, wear your walking shoes, hop on and off our tractor-drawn wagon, or wander at your own pace.
Get to know your way around.
Our 2026 Festival Lineup
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Our 2026 Festival Lineup *
BarnTalks
Relax in our beautiful barn and listen to short informative and impactful conversations and Q+A (TedX Style) from passionate experts and advocates.
A look at Ontario’s proposed Wesleyville nuclear project, examining electricity demand, alternatives, costs, risks, and what communities should understand before decisions are made.
Led by Blue Dot Northumberland
1:45pm→ Nuclear in Northumberland, Who Needs It?
2:45pm→ The Hills Are Alive. Restorative Agriculture in Northumberland.
Hear from a local farmer. We must develop forms of agriculture that are compatible with local ecology to meet the challenges of our uncertain future.
Led by Josh Noiseux, Regenerative Farmer, Evermeadow Farm
3:45pm→ How to Feed Your Gut Microbiome
You’re not just feeding yourself, you’re feeding trillions of microbes. Discover how everyday food choices can affect these tiny determinants of your overall health.
Led by Dr. Barbara Weiss, ND
Foragers Farms
Food, artisans and demonstrators will be ongoing near the Foragers Farms area as well as an open mic. Plus the activities listed below!
Curious Crop Challenge
Take the challenge and test your taste buds! Identify local produce, what’s in season, and try a new vegetable. 12PM-5PM
Led by volunteers.
Foragers Farm Olympics
Team up for exciting farm-themed games, relays, and challenges designed for ages 5+. Enjoy farm-friendly competition, teamwork and laughter, just like a real farmer! 12PM-5PM
Led by JP Fields of Farmer, Fields, Farmstead
Farm Fertility + Soil Superheroes (2:00pm-3:00pm)
Discover the magic beneath your feet! Help build a compost pile, explore cover crops, and learn how healthy soil grows healthy food. For all ages!
Led by Michael Regina of Little Farm That Could
Herb Garden Tour (3:45pm-4:15pm)
Tour a magical garden of healing herbs and wild native plants. Find out about their nutritional and healing properties, and how to grow and harvest them.
Led by Marissa Beaumeister of Marissa’s Herb Garden
Headwaters Homestead
Peoples on the Land Tour (12:30pm-1:15pm)
We have found artifacts on the land that are older than the pyramids! Learn about the geological features of this area and the legacy of the peoples who were here before us.
Led by Tony Armstrong of Headwaters Farm
Happy Healthy Trees
Come talk to our expert arborist to learn the do's and don't about holistic care for your fruiting and other trees. 12PM-5PM
Led by Reilly Huffman of The Tree Medic
Kidding Around (3:30pm-4:30pm)
Come meet our goats, chickens and horse. Learn how we care for them and romp in the paddock with our younger goats. *Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Led by Linda Armstrong of Headwaters Farm
Veggie Garden Food Prep
Join our co-op gardeners to pick, chop and stir up a giant batch of fresh salsa and cabbage slaw. Taste test some of our other preserves too. 12PM-5PM
Led by Garden Club Members
Blissful Blooms Retreat
Relax in our lovely flower garden and listen to the sounds of the birds and the bees. Read, write, craft or snooze. 12PM-5PM
Cooking with the Sun
Discover the world of solar cooking and the science behind it. See six different kinds of ovens in action from simple to sophisticated. 12PM-5PM
Led by James Sullivan, Solar Cooking Expert
Meadowland
Share our passion for pollinators, biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems. Watch a live honey harvesting demo. Observe bees in an observation hive and learn about candle-making. 12:30PM-4:30PM
Led by Dave Nicolaou, Beekeeper of Hunnabees Honey & Co
Meet the Beekeeper
Noticing Native Plants (1:00pm - 2:00pm)
Wander a typical farm meadow and identify plants that are the basis of a functioning ecosystem that supports soil life and range of pollinators.
Led by Jenn Mezei of Rainbow Farm North
Come and visit Lee and Charlies collection of live Monarch butterflies as they emerge from their chrysalis. Learn how to create your own butterfly way station. 12:30PM-4:30PM
Meet the Monarchs
Plant Pounding - Mural Making
Help us create a festival mutual and learn about pollinator plants and other meadow perennials while using this crafty technique! Great for all ages. 12:30PM-4:30PM
Forest and Creek
Explore the hidden world in our creek and beaver pond. Collect creek samples, discover fascinating macro invertebrates, and learn how they create healthy aquatic ecosystems. 12:30PM - 4:30PM
Led by Melody Belfry from Red Pine Roots
Creek Critters Discovery
Creek Clay Fun
Dig in and get dirty! Our beautiful creek is a great source of rough molding clay. Release your inner potter. 12:30PM - 4:30PM
Join our expert Naturalist, Ian Shanahan, to identify plants and animals that call our wilder side home. See how abandoned pastures and watersheds evolve over time. 12:30PM - 4:30PM
Led by Ian Shanahan of Northumberland Land Trust
Letting Nature Thrive
Entertainment
Open Mic 12:00pm-4:30pm
Throughout our festival day, local singer-songwriters will set the tone in the Community Fair and Food Hub. Let their sweet songs serenade you while you enjoy the view of the rolling hills with your choice of delicious food and drink.
At 4:30pm our activities in the hubs wind down and it is time to move to the Headwaters Homestead stage for our evening concert series and closing ceremonies. The night is young!
Evening Concert Line-up
4:30PM: Pete Moss
5:15PM: Closing Ceremonies
6:00PM: Mimi Obonsawin
We are so excited to welcome Pete Moss to the stage for the kiddos at 4:30PM. Pete brings a delightful folk-pop style and creatively shares songs inspiring care and curiosity towards the natural world. Pete’s albums Plants Rock (2019) and Birds Rock (2021) are a tribute to the magic of plants and birds in your neighbourhood.
This year we’re integrating our festival with a special closing ceremony. Join us on the main stage as we reflect on our experiences from the day, the neighbours we’ve discovered, the community we’ve built, and the exciting new ideas we can take home. We want to thank all of you for joining us, and a special thanks to everyone behind the scenes involved in making the 2026 festival happen. Most importantly, we give gratitude to the land for providing what we need in our lives.
Singer-songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin (Mee-mee O-BON-SA-WIN) is a French Canadian and W8banaki (Abénaki), and a member of the Odanak First Nation takes the stage at 6pm. Her music blends folk traditions playful experimentation, and heartfelt story telling into a sound that feels entirely her own.
Mimi invites us into her woodland world, leading the through the gardens, rating joy of growing food and living in relationship with the land.
Fire up the Pizza Oven, Tony!
available treats for purchase ↓
wood-fired pizza slices
herbal iced tea
press your own apple cider
freshly popped popcorn
Have a question about the festival?↓
*All tickets are non-refundable.
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If there are tickets remaining on day they can be purchased with cash, debit or credit at the venue.
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Youth - $35
Adults - $45
Family - $95
**If tickets remain
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A ticket provides you/your family an entire day of learning, engaging, and being with the land. An incredible experience of gathering with like-minded community, special guests and experts, vendors, artisans, and more!
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Yes! We offer free parking for festival guests and we will have parking attendants on hand to direct you. This is farm parking so leave your fancy sports cars at home.
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Dress for the weather and outdoors! We run rain or shine.
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This is a working farm, so to ensure the safety of your pet as well as our resident farm animals and wildlife, pets are not permitted at the festival.
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No smoking, vaping, ecigs, etc. permitted other than in our designated smoking areas.
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While some areas of the farms are accessible, many are not. Please contact us directly info@commongroundfestival.ca to discuss any individual concerns.