Festivals
A Joyful Celebration: Happyland Festival 2024 – Review

The third annual Happyland Festival, presented by Timbre Concerts and Sunrise Series, was held on August 4th, 2024, at the PNE Centre Grounds and Playland Amusement Park. Coinciding with Vancouver’s Pride Parade, the festival aimed to provide an inclusive space for attendees to fully express themselves while enjoying music, performances, and the vibrant community spirit.

R&B artist Tinashe headlined the event, delivering a powerhouse performance that captivated the audience. She showcased remarkable vocal prowess and impressive dance skills, showing why she has been in this industry for over 15 years. The most anticipated moment of her set was obviously “Nasty”, which blew up on TikTok in the past several months. Right after, Tinashe brought back all other performers on stage for some more fun.

Vincint, introduced by Kendall Gender, mesmerized the audience with his angelic voice and engaging stage presence, even jumping into the crowd to sing among the attendees.

The festival was also graced by the presence of RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Adore Delano and Raja Gemini. Raja opened the festival with a stunning Celine Dion performance, complete with a colourful, ever-changing outfit. Adore Delano impressed with her powerful vocals, reminding everyone why she stood out on both RuPaul’s Drag Race and American Idol.


British Columbia’s own drag stars also shone brightly. Venus, the winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 4 (and 1st Indigenous winner), delivered a high-energy performance inspired by Charli XCX’s BRAT, cooling down the audience with water guns amidst the summer heat.

Kendall Gender, with a Beyoncé-inspired Cowboy Carter set, and The Girlfriend Experience, from Canada’s Drag Race Season 4, added local flair and excitement to the lineup.


Happyland Festival offered exclusive access to both the concert venue and Playland’s rides, creating a unique and thrilling experience for attendees. The integration of live music and amusement park fun set this festival apart from others, providing many entertainment options.
Festival-goers enjoyed a variety of dining options from Playland’s vendors, including favourites like Japadog, and 49th Parallel coffee. A special shout-out goes to the organizers for providing flushable toilets in addition to porta-potties—not always a given at most festivals.
Happyland also had 19+ VIP Section that offered a premium experience with comfortable seating and exclusive amenities for those seeking a more intimate setting; an Alcohol-Free Zone so that everyone, regardless of their preferences, could enjoy the festival comfortably; sponsor booths with giveaways, and photo ops.

Timbre Concerts and Sunrise Series announced that a portion of each ticket sold would be donated to QMUNITY, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQAI2S+ community members, events, and organizations. This initiative underscored the festival’s commitment to giving back and supporting important causes.
The third annual Happyland Festival was a vibrant and inclusive celebration of music, pride, and community. The stellar performances, unique combination of concert and amusement park experiences, and thoughtful amenities made it a standout event in Vancouver’s festival scene. The festival created a space where attendees could fully express themselves and enjoy a sense of belonging and joy. Happyland was indeed a happy place to spend time with friends, enjoy good music, and celebrate diversity. We can’t wait for next year’s edition!

Check out some of our favourite photos of the festival below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
TINASHE


VENUS


ADORE DELANO


KENDALL GENDER


THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE


VINCINT


RAJA GEMINI


HAPPYLAND


All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
Osheaga 2026 Reveals Daily Schedule
The annual ritual every Osheaga fan both loves and dreads has arrived. The festival has officially unveiled its daily schedule for the 2026 edition, giving attendees their first look at who will be playing when across Parc Jean-Drapeau from July 31 to August 2.
As always, the release of set times brings excitement, anticipation, and plenty of scheduling headaches. With major headliners, breakout stars, indie favourites, and hometown talent spread across six stages, fans will once again be forced to make some difficult decisions throughout the weekend.
Here’s a closer look at some of the biggest moments and potential conflicts from each day.
Friday, July 31
Friday eases festival-goers into the weekend before building toward a stacked evening lineup led by Twenty One Pilots, The XX, and The Neighbourhood on the Bell River Stage.
The day begins with performances from Super Plage, Wunderhorse, Wet Leg, and Moses Belanger before momentum picks up in the afternoon. One of the first notable clashes arrives when Kehlani takes the Mountain Stage while Amber Mark performs on the Forest Stage and Billie Marten appears on the Valley Stage.
The evening presents some particularly difficult choices. Fans of alternative rock will have to decide between The XX and rising Japanese sensation YOASOBI, whose set overlaps with portions of the night.
Another major conflict comes later when Brutalismus 3000 and JID perform simultaneously. Those looking for a high-energy electronic experience may head toward the Coca-Cola Stage, while hip-hop fans will likely be making a run toward the Valley Stage.
The festival’s opening night closes with Twenty One Pilots on the main stage, while Geese and Amelie Lens provide compelling alternatives elsewhere across the site.
Friday Highlights
- Twenty One Pilots
- The XX
- The Neighbourhood
- Kehlani
- YOASOBI
- JID
- Amelie Lens
- Wet Leg
- Wunderhorse
- Geese

Saturday, August 1
Saturday may feature the weekend’s most relentless run of performances from top to bottom.
The day starts with sets from Baby Nova, Wolf Parade, Stella Lefty, Laura Scavo, and Fanclubwallet before quickly transitioning into a packed afternoon. Fans of indie and alternative music will have several choices throughout the day, including Villager, Kingfishr, and AJ Tracey.
One of the day’s biggest talking points will be the overlap between Little Simz, followed by Franz Ferdinand’s set. Both artists are expected to draw large crowds and appeal to different corners of the Osheaga audience.
As night falls, things only get tougher. Punk fans will likely gravitate toward Viagra Boys and Turnstile, while electronic fans may be tempted by Odd Mob and Kettama. Meanwhile, indie pop fans will be trying to squeeze in as much of Sombr as possible before heading to the main stage.
The evening culminates with Canadian pop superstar Tate McRae closing the Bell River Stage, while electronic powerhouse Empire of the Sun headlines the Forest Stage.
Saturday Highlights
- Tate McRae
- Empire of the Sun
- Turnstile
- Franz Ferdinand
- Little Simz
- Viagra Boys
- Wolf Parade
- AJ Tracey
- Sombr
- Kettama

Sunday, August 2
The festival’s final day delivers arguably the strongest collection of pop talent across the entire weekend.
Things begin with Valley, Amble, Between Friends, and Tia Wood before the afternoon ramps up with performances from Mother Mother, Paris Paloma, Billie du Page, and Of Monsters and Men.
One of the biggest scheduling dilemmas of the weekend arrives during the evening stretch. Fans hoping to catch Zara Larsson, SG Lewis, and Gunna will need to carefully plan their route through the grounds, as several of the performances overlap.
The night’s final run is packed with major draws. Lorde headlines the Bell River Stage while Major Lazer closes the Forest Stage. At the same time, electronic fans can head to Space 92’s special Popof-presented Turbo Recordings set, while alternative music fans may find themselves torn between Not For Radio, Horsegiirl, and Subtronics.
Sunday offers a fitting finale to what looks like one of Osheaga’s most diverse lineups in recent memory.
Sunday Highlights
- Lorde
- Major Lazer
- Zara Larsson
- Gunna
- SG Lewis
- Mother Mother
- Of Monsters and Men
- Paris Paloma
- Valley
- Horsegiirl

Start Planning Now
With the daily schedule now available, fans can finally begin mapping out their weekends and preparing for the inevitable conflicts that come with a lineup this deep.
Whether you’re heading to Parc Jean-Drapeau for the headliners, discovering your next favourite artist, or trying to sprint between stages to catch a little bit of everything, Osheaga 2026 is shaping up to deliver another unforgettable weekend in Montreal.
Tickets and additional festival information are available through the official Osheaga website.
Festivals
Riot Fest 2026 Brings Tool, Alanis Morissette, Morrissey, and Twenty One Pilots to Chicago
Chicago’s beloved punk and alternative festival, Riot Fest, is back with another stacked lineup for 2026. The three-day event returns to Douglass Park from September 18-20, bringing together more than 100 artists across punk, rock, indie, metal, and alternative music.
Leading this year’s lineup are Tool, Alanis Morissette, Morrissey, Twenty One Pilots, and Pierce the Veil. The festival continues its tradition of mixing legendary names with newer acts and cult favorites.
Other major artists on the bill include Patti Smith and her band, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Santigold, Pixies, Rise Against, Bad Religion, Taking Back Sunday, Social Distortion, The All-American Rejects, and Bright Eyes.
Fans of heavier and more chaotic sets will have plenty to look forward to with appearances from GWAR, Chat Pile, Melt-Banana, and Insane Clown Posse. Riot Fest is also bringing together punk history with performances from Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter and Public Image Ltd.
The festival’s deep lineup stretches far beyond the headliners, with artists such as Pennywise, Descendents, Iggy Pop, Mom Jeans, The Format, Twin Peaks, Algernon Cadwallader, This Is Lorelei, and Jejune set to perform throughout the weekend.
Last year’s edition marked Riot Fest’s 20th anniversary, featuring returning favorites such as Green Day, Blink-182, and Weezer. This year’s lineup keeps that same mix of nostalgia, chaos, and genre-spanning energy that has made Riot Fest one of North America’s most recognizable alternative festivals.
Three-day passes are on sale now, including general admission, VIP, and deluxe ticket packages. Payment plan options are available for fans looking to spread out the cost of the weekend.
More information at riotfest.org.
