Every summer, thousands of people gather at Del Crary Park to experience live music together. It’s part of what makes Peterborough feel like home. But what happens on our stage has an impact that reaches far beyond a single night in the park.
At Peterborough Musicfest, we see live music as more than entertainment. It is economic infrastructure, a community connector, and a driver of opportunity for our region.
Live Music Drives Economic Impact
Across Canada, live music plays a meaningful role in the national economy. According to Hear and Now: Understanding the Economic Power and Potential of Canada’s Live Music Industry, a landmark economic impact study commissioned by the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA), the live music sector contributes more than $10 billion in GDP annually, supports over 100,000 jobs, and generates nearly $4 billion in tax revenues nationwide.
Those figures place live music alongside major industries such as fisheries and automotive manufacturing — reinforcing that culture is not a side activity, but a serious contributor to economic growth.
Here in Peterborough, that national impact becomes local.
For nearly four decades, Peterborough Musicfest has brought people together in Del Crary Park — creating shared experiences that enrich lives and support our local economy.Each season reinforces a simple truth: live music is more than a summer tradition. It plays a meaningful role in building strong communities and a vibrant future for Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Musicfest also invests locally by hiring staff, contracting suppliers, and working with dozens of local businesses — all while remaining committed to accessibility and inclusion.
Pressures on Live Music
Despite its impact, the live music sector faces growing challenges. Rising production costs, inflation, changing consumer behaviour, and funding uncertainty continue to affect festivals and venues across Canada. Many communities have also lost smaller venues due to redevelopment and rising rents, weakening the grassroots music ecosystem.
For barrier-free festivals like Musicfest, sustained community support is essential to delivering world-class programming at no cost to audiences.
Opportunities Beyond the Stage
Live music remains a proven tourism driver, but its value extends further. Participation in festivals — on stage or behind the scenes — builds transferable skills like teamwork, adaptability, communication, and confidence. These experiences strengthen the local workforce and contribute to long-term community resilience.
Festivals also create inclusive public spaces where people connect, improving quality of life and helping communities attract residents, talent, and investment.
A Lasting Community Asset
For nearly four decades, Peterborough Musicfest has brought people together in Del Crary Park — creating shared experiences that enrich lives and support our local economy.
Each season reinforces a simple truth: live music is more than a summer tradition. It plays a meaningful role in building strong communities and a vibrant future for Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Help Keep Peterborough Musicfest Thriving
Peterborough Musicfest relies on community support to deliver free, barrier-free concerts each summer. Here are three ways to support us:
