Lowville Festival does an encore

The organizers of the Lowville Festival are back for an encore. After a successful inaugural edition in 2015, the local event returns July 22 to 24 to celebrate the arts and artists in the community.

At the heart of the Lowville Festival, set in the picturesque Burlington hamlet, is getting the audience in on the creative process. Anyone who loves to sing can join the Lowville Festival Choir for the festival’s opening night concert with conductor Wayne Strongman, and kids ages 5 to 10 can participate in a workshop with Dufflebag Theatre and help put on the Saturday afternoon production of “Robin Hood.”

“We’re looking for different twists on participation,” says festival co-director and local arts agent Robert Missen, who founded the festival with Burlington-based actor Lorretta Bailey and Guelph arts manager Barbara Anderson-Huget.

At Saturday’s “Folkies’ Delight” concert, for example, the audience will help choose which artist they want highlighted in the 2017 edition based on the evening’s program, which includes selections by the likes of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Buffy Sainte-Marie all played by local and regional musicians known for their work in the genre.

The roster of performers includes Hamilton-based singer and arts educator Jude Johnson, Juno-nominated musician Charles Cozens, singersongwriter James Gordon and Doraaward-winning music director David Warrack.

The closing show on Sunday, July 24 features Bailey and fellow actor Eric Trask in a matinee performance of A.R. Gurney’s Pulitzer-nominated play “Love Letters,” a funny and moving story about summer camp pen pals who keep in touch well into adulthood.

For a complete lineup and ticket information, visit lowvillefestival.com. For details on joining the choir, contact Robert Missen at 905-632-6047.