Honoring the life and music of Gordon Lightfoot — Canada's greatest singer-songwriter — in the city that shaped him.
The Lightfoot Festival is dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary legacy of Gordon Lightfoot, born and raised in Orillia, Ontario. Lightfoot first performed at the age of 12 in local venues before achieving national and international fame in the early 1960s. Through dozens of albums and hundreds of songs, he left an indelible mark on the music world.
Though Gordon sadly passed away in 2023, his legacy lives on through the Lightfoot Band and events like this festival, which celebrates his timeless contributions to the arts.
We are fortunate to have many artists, friends and Lightfoot family involved in the festival — coming not only to perform Gord's songs, but to participate in informal talks about his music and life.
This is a place of nothing but fun and music — three full days of it. Come for the music, stay for the weekend. Take a look at our full schedule or explore our self-guided tour of Gord's Orillia.
Lightfoot Festival — Orillia, Ontario
Our History
How It All
Began
2013
The First Festival
The festival was first held as a small gathering to honor Gordon Lightfoot's musical contribution to Canada, hosted in the auditorium of St. Paul's Church in Orillia.
2020–2022
A Necessary Pause
The Covid pandemic brought the festival to a temporary hiatus for a few years, as it did for gatherings across the world.
2023
The Return
The festival was resurrected through the vision and passion of Karen Hilfman Millson, who brought it back to life for a new generation of Lightfoot devotees.
2024
In Memory of Karen
Founder Karen Hilfman Millson passed away in 2024, but not before seeing the fruits of her efforts with the festival's successful return. Her spirit lives on in everything we do.
2026
Growing Stronger
Now spanning three full days with concerts, youth competitions, film screenings, and storytelling sessions — the festival continues to grow as a beloved annual tradition in Orillia. See this year's schedule →