Kick off summer with this all ages backlot party at the Guelph Farmers’ Market!
The 10C Summer Solstice Shindig at the Guelph Farmers’ Market is a celebration of community and connection to kick off the summer season. Food, music, performances, and Community Showcase will bring the Market to life at this event for the whole family.
Tickets:
General: $30 online, $35 at the door
10C Members: $20
Youth (under 19): $5
We are committed to this event being a family friendly accessible event. 10C will have ‘Pay What You Can Tickets’ available at the door for those to who need a reduced rate thanks to our generous sponsor, Hammond Power Solutions.
The Guelph Farmers’ Market is a fully accessible space.
Program
Main Stage: Presented by Hammond Power Solutions
6:20PM: The Flaming Smurflehogs, Guelph’s newest young rock band made up of vocalist Lily Cannon, drummer Frida Huszar-Philp, and guitarist/bassist Maeve Campbell who came together during March Break 2025 at GGRC+ (Guelph Girls Rock Camp+).
7PM: Geordie Gordon is a Guelph raised singer/songwriter and touring member of U.S. Girls and Islands. His second solo album, Tambourine, is a folk-tinged personal narrative about teenage awakenings to the wisdom of elders, with a nod to the Hidden Cameras. It’s the album that will introduce the world to Geordie Gordon’s depth of talent as a singer, arranger, lyricist and melodicist.
8PM: Above Top Secret (ATS) is a boundary-breaking band emerging from Toronto’s thriving creative scene, delivering an explosive blend of experimental rap, grunge, drum and bass, and electro-punk. Known for their innovative sound and electrifying performances, ATS has become a force to be reckoned with—fearlessly tackling societal issues through their bass-heavy beats, searing lyrics, and raw, genre-defying energy.
9:30PM: SHEBAD is the creative spirit of visual artist and vocalist Claire Voy and multi-instrumentalist Ciccio Spagnolo. This Guelph-based music project plays on the exploratory realm of Indie Soul, characterized by jazz-influenced melodies, danceable basslines, and Claire’s transcendent voice. CBC’s Laila Biali aptly describes their sound as “Music that exists in a sonic world of its own”.
In the Backlot
5-9PM: Waterloom is hosting an outdoor community activity where we will create a collective Summer Solstice StoryLine at the Shindig! Drop by Waterloom to weave, share your solstice story and honour our waters. Our collective story will be shared at 7:50PM on the MainStage. Bree Leggett & Bonnie Devine will witness and listen to your Solstice Spirit and your woven words!
The Friendly Heretic Theatre Company is a Guelph & Kitchener based clan with an uncanny enthusiasm for the study and practice of improv theatre. Find them at the side stage at the Shindig where they will host improv & theatre games throughout the event, for your viewing (as well as your participation).
The Guelph Jazz Festival’s new Artistic Director, Joe Sorbara, has assembled this bottom-heavy string quartet featuring exceptional local improvisers: Claire Whitehead on violin and Matt Brubeck on cello with upright bassists Stephen Vickery and Tyler Wagler. For a few moments at a time throughout the first two hours of the Shindig, the quartet will pop up in different corners of the Farmers’ Market to create some music together.
CFRU will be set up at the Shindig – doing a live broadcast from the event – find them at their tent in the backlot!
Refreshment Stations: offering local alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages from Wellington Brewery, Spring Mill Distillery, Heartwood Farm & Cidery, Royal City Brewery Sodas, and more!
Inside the Market:
5-9PM: Community Showcase, Featuring engaging booths from local organizations like Focus on Nature, Habitat for Humanity, SipCraft, eMERGE, Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, Guelph Black Heritage Society, Just Like Family, We Choose Local, AltGrocery and Guelph Youth Theatre Academy.
5-9PM: Art Not Shame will be running a collective art-making activity where individual squares come together to form a growing communal piece. Each artwork stands on its own while connecting to the whole—celebrating relation, reflection, and the ongoing becoming of community. Welcome to all, no experience needed!
5:30PM & 6:30PM: Storytime with Oliver D. Spectrum Hosted by Out on the Shelf
Oliver D. Spectrum is a Guelph based drag king who is proudly all over the spectrum! He is trans, neurodivergent, queer, and happy to share his identity within their art form of drag. Oliver is a dancer, singer, and at his heart an entertainer.
5-9PM: Planting Hope: A Community Reflection Activity
Hosted by Out on the Shelf
Join us for a meaningful moment of connection and reflection! Visit our interactive “Hope Line” where strings and clothespins hold seed paper tags—each one a small invitation to dream. Write down a hope you carry for the future and clip it to the line, then take home a piece of seed paper in exchange. Your words stay with the community. Your seed paper becomes wildflowers. A beautiful way to grow change—together.
All Night: Guelph Film Festival will be showcasing their ‘Stories of Place’ Series throughout the market.Through a series of workshops, supported by local filmmakers, community participants crafted their own 3-4 min documentaries about a place in Guelph that is meaningful to them.
All Night: Kids Make Guelph – Maker space pop-up!
All Night: Media Art by Yukkin
Yukkin is the author, and creative corporeal force behind the digital being; Yucan Sparkle. Knowledgeable in many mediums and techniques, ze flows to use whichever best suits the ideas projects and can get their hands on. Magic is in every action; from videography of the corporeal world to digital environments with animation we create our own universe. This Artwork is presented in collaboration with Ed Video Media Arts Centre.
All Night: New work by Jessie Buchanan
Jessie Buchanan is an Anishinaabe Kwe artist whose work is rooted in flow, spirituality, and ancestral connection. A member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation with both Anishinaabe and Euro-Canadian heritage, she draws inspiration from the land, the wisdom of the Forest, and the creative spirits of past and present artists. This artist showcase is presented in collaboration with Guelph Arts Council.
Local Food
You won’t go hungry at this event – 10C is welcoming the following incredible local food vendors to keep you fed.
Rodolfo’s Rebel Foods – With his famous nachos and wraps
Tacos Chidos – Authentic meat and vegetarian tacos
Ratna’s Kitchen – Authentic Indonesian Cuisine
Two Farmers & a Cow – ICE CREAM!
Abbraccio – Serving up some sweet & savoury Italian specials
Come together, connect with your neighbours and learn more about the important work happening in Guelph!
This community event is funded in part by a grant from The Guelph Community Foundation through the Musagetes Fund.
About the Guelph Farmers’ Market
The Guelph Farmers’ Market has been a community cornerstone in Guelph since 1827. Having operated for almost 200 years, it is an iconic community space
As of March 1st 2022, 10C Shared Space assumed the operations and activation of the Farmers’ Market building. 10C’s mission is to model and create the conditions for collaborative approaches to social environmental, cultural and economic wellness that strengthen community resilience and sustainability.
