The future of the Tall Pines Music Festival in Gravenhurst hinges on the success of this year’s show.
That was the message from festival organizers to Gravenhurst council during their latest meeting.
Kevin Goodman of the Tall Pines Music and Arts Festival made a deputation to council requesting that staff be allowed to camp in Gull Lake Park, where the festival is set to take place July 19 and 20.
This is the third year of the Pines Music Festival. The Festival has experienced 40% growth between 2022 and 2023 and more than 5,000 fans are expected in Gravenhurst for this year’s edition, said Goodman. He pegged the financial impact of the Tall Pines Music Festival locally at roughly $1 million.
However, Goodman said the tourism region known as RTO 12 (which includes Muskoka) has the highest average room rate in Ontario. Last year the festival spent some $25,000 on rooms for artists, crew and production staff, he said.
He said Tall Pines has yet to turn a profit and this year’s edition will be critical to the future success of the event.
Camping would be restricted to the south end of the site, in an area where the general public would not have access. He also pointed out that the festival has 24-hour security beginning on Wednesday and running for the duration of the event.
He said efforts to secure sports at Camping in Muskoka (formerly the Gravenhurst KOA) had been unsuccessful, as the campground is already completely sold out for the weekend.
Council thanked Goodman for the presentation and later passed a resolution directing staff to review the request and report to council on June 18.
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