'CELEBRATE IN CULTIVATE STYLE'

CULTIVATE FESTIVAL LAUNCH EVENT IN THE WORKS OFFERING FREE FESTIVAL FUN MAY 21

After more than two years of hibernation, the Cultivate Festival is making a comeback - and celebrating with a Launch! festival before the big return.

Launch fun is set to start on May 21 at Port Hope's Memorial Park.

"I couldn't be happier to make Launch happen," said Jeff Bray, Cultivate's executive director. "It's been nearly three years since we got together as a community to celebrate in Cultivate style and I think it's safe to say that we need it."

Launch fun will consist of a free festival in Memorial Park on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

It will include live music on the bandshell stage provided by: Digging

Roots, AHI, Kobo Town, Sweet Alibi, Dave Mowat and the Curbside Shuffle, and Mimi O'bonsawin.

The experience will be rounded out in "typical Cultivate fashion" with local food, and familyfriendly arts and crafts workshops, said organizers.

The Cultivate group will also be announcing details for the 2022 festival, which is slated to return Sept. 23 to 25.

Early bird festival passes will be available exclusively to those in attendance on the day of.

The goal of the Cultivate community is to actively strengthen regional communities by engaging citizens in the discovery and celebration of arts and culture through grassroots leadership, creative partnerships and innovative artistic programming, it was explained.

The award-winning Cultivate Festival made its debut in 2015 - and it's been growing with the community ever since.

Built on the values of sustainability, equity and inclusion, it's about celebrating

what's happening in "our own backyard in a world-class way," said organizers.

This event was made

possible with grants from the provincial and federal governments under support for arts and culture during COVID-19, noted

the Cultivate group.

What's more, through the generous sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Port Hope, kids can attend

free, added organizers.

For more information, residents can visit www.cultivatefestival.ca/ LAUNCH.