The Burlington Sound of Music Festival has run annually for over three decades — a multi-day free outdoor music festival that fills Spencer Smith Park with live performances across multiple stages each June. Originally rooted in jazz and classical music (the name reflects the festival’s founding philosophy rather than the Sound of Music film), the event has expanded to cover a wide range of contemporary Canadian and international musical acts alongside its original programming.
The festival’s Emerging Artist Stage provides a platform for local and regional artists alongside the headline acts — a programming choice that has consistently made the festival feel rooted in Burlington’s musical community rather than an imported touring event. A Family Fun Zone runs through the festival with activities and programming appropriate for children.
The waterfront setting at Spencer Smith Park is the festival’s defining feature — performing against a Lake Ontario backdrop with the Brant Street Pier visible in the distance, the festival produces a genuinely distinctive summer concert experience. Weekend evenings fill the park with a cross-section of Burlington and wider GTA attendees who have made the Sound of Music a reliable annual highlight.
Most programming is free — a small number of premium seats or headline evening concerts may require tickets in specific years. Check soundofmusicfestival.ca before visiting for current programming and any ticketed components.
Address: Spencer Smith Park, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1
Website: soundofmusicfestival.ca
Price: Free (some headline shows ticketed)
Typical timing: Mid-June annually
