A neighbourhood celebration:

Get ready for our second annual Festival Sept 21st 2024 | Music, Art, Craft, Food, Community

Get your tickets here

About This Unique Event

PRAISE THE WARD was a big success for its first year. Thanks to all who attended and presented.. 
watch this Space for 2024's  Info! 

We're excited to announce that for 2024 we'll be partnering with “Hope On The Street”- Guelph's biggest street party! A benefit for Guelph's Hope House, their big night at the Ward's own Springmill Distillery on Sept. 20th will be the kickoff event for our main activities the next day. Check them out at www.hopeinthestreet.ca

 

 

Here's what happened last year:

 

 

‘The Ward’: the unique and historic part of Guelph bordered by Elizabeth, Victoria, and the Eramosa River has become a vibrant and creative centre for artists and innovators.  

 

A remarkable group of those Ward creatives have gathered to share the wonders of  their ‘hood in a one-day festival Saturday Sept. 23rd, making use of 20 different venues, all easily walkable or bikeable.  

 

Music, visual art, theatre, workshops, food, a craft market, walking, cycling and paddling tours, kid’s activities and more will make this a day to remember.  With the ‘hub’ for the fest centred around the Double Rainbow Café at Arthur and Ontario Streets, the many performances and activities culminate in a performance at the Guelph Little Theatre featuring artists who have appeared during the day along with headliners ‘The Kramdens’ and the aptly named ‘The Ward’, (featuring Jeff Bird, Sue Smith, Harri Palm and Randall Coryell). All the artists live or work in the ward!  

With the map and schedule provided you’ll see other musical performances by:   

Shannon Kingsbury, Harri Palm, Ben Finley and annais Linares, Adam and Rain, The Carey West Trio, Guh, Time Flies, David & Rowan, Sledd, the student bands from Jam School and more. See the artists page on this site for more info, pics, bios and links.    

A special Praise the Ward meal can be found at Laza Foods.

In the evening of Sept. 22nd there’s a kick-off concert at the Guelph Little Theatre featuring the Ward’s own ‘Tragedy Ann’ with their neighbour Josh Gabriel as the opener.  

We’re grateful for the kick-starting grant through the Guelph Arts Council and the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition

FRIDAY, Sept 22

Praise the Ward Presents:

Tragedy Ann & Josh Gabriel / Guelph Little Theatre / 7pm
$20 in Advance or $25/Pay-What-You-Can at the Door

SATURDAY, Sept 23

Voluntary Saturday tickets provide admission for all events across The Ward on this day, including the big event in the evening at the Guelph Little Theatre. Choose a sliding-scale ticket rate that suits your needs! Praise The Ward is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organization, and the proceeds from these tickets go towards expenses like compensating artists, equipment rentals, printing costs, etc.

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Underemployed: Pay What You Can

Underemployed: Pay What You Can

Guelph, ON

It's imperative to us that Praise The Ward is kept financially accessible to everyone, regardless of their means. We're thrilled to offer this sliding scale to those who would benefit from it. Praise The Ward is for everyone!

Previous events

Standard Admission

Standard Admission

Guelph, ON

This voluntary admission goes towards compensating artists and helping to cover programming costs. Thanks for keeping The Ward weird!

Previous events

Fundraise the Ward!

Fundraise the Ward!

Guelph, ON

This tier of ticket options is for community members with the means and inclination to contribute more towards making Praise The Ward happen. As a small grassroots organization, any contribution is enthusiastically appreciated!

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