In the June issue of Q&Q, we take a tour of the country’s most intriguing literary festivals.
Michael Crummey and Linden McIntyre at the 2011 festival
Lakefield Literary Festival
July 20“22, Lakefield, Ontario
lakefieldliteraryfestival.com
The Lakefield Literary Festival began in 1995 as a banquet commemorating Margaret Laurence, who spent the last 13 years of her life in the village, located northwest of Toronto. Festival chair Stephanie Ford Forrester says attendees “ many of whom book their accommodations a year in advance “ are attracted by the historic venues, which include a restored barn built in 1901. The small-town feeling is charming, but not cute or tarted up, she says. Programming is structured around a theme and events are scheduled so that ambitious festival-goers can attend everything.
2011 attendance: 975
Notable past authors: Rawi Hage, Camilla Gibb, Frances Itani, Dennis Lee, Alexander MacLeod, Rohinton Mistry, Michael Ondaatje, Michael Crummey, Alissa York, Linden MacIntyre
Author endorsement: This year’s author co-host, Charlotte Gray, says: The Lakefield Literary Festival manages to combine all the best features of every festival I’ve ever attended “ strong attachments to local authors, a hugely loyal crowd of attendees, interesting events, and a great mise en scène. I love swimming in Stoney Lake in the morning, then going straight to a century-old barn to talk about great prime ministers, wedding dresses, or children’s literature.
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