A world-class music festival is returning to Prince Edward County this summer, offering a lineup of concerts and events hosted in the region’s most intimate, charming settings. 

Running from August 21-29, the annual BIGLAKE Festival will welcome renowned classical musicians from around the world. For BIGLAKE co-founder and JUNO-award winning violinist Elissa Lee, this year’s festival theme—CLASSICS—marks a return to her roots as an artist. 

“Within the classical music repertoire, we’re really focusing on some of the most well-known and beloved pieces that have stayed and have been tested by time and have been performed for hundreds and hundreds of years since they were written,” Lee says.

Highlights of the festival lineup include the Philharmonisches Streichquartett Berlin performing for the first time in Canada, Ensemble Comtessa bringing to life a vibrant program of medieval songs, and a candlelight concert showcasing Beethoven’s piano masterpieces. 

But BIGLAKE shows aren’t like other classical music concerts. A big part of the festival’s draw is the variety of unique and intimate venues hosting the concerts across Prince Edward County. This year, the BIGLAKE mainstage is set at Wellington Music Hall, a historical building dating back to 1885. Lee is also excited to be bringing the festival to Maison Millefleurs, combining the lavender garden setting with lake views and, of course, classical music. BIGLAKE will also return to The Eddie Hotel & Farm, with its iconic large red barn offering what Lee describes as “a quintessential county feel.”

“We work really hard to bring in the best of the best of classical music. We also provide a pretty cool, groovy vibe to go along with it, which is maybe different than a lot of the classical music concerts or concert halls that people are mostly used to,” Lee says.

Having performed at various music festivals herself, Lee knows firsthand the power of an inspiring environment—not only for the audience, but also the performers. 

“It feels less like work when you’re in a beautiful area, and obviously Prince Edward County definitely marks that off the list,” Lee says. “The more time you spend in the county, the more you discover an amazing barn here, another vineyard, or the business that’s opened up, somebody who’s turned an older structure into something magnificent.”

Combining world-class performances with the natural beauty and charm of the county makes the festival accessible to a wider crowd, Lee tells us—even those who think they aren’t fans of classical music. 

“Even the ones that say I don’t really have a classical music bone in my body…I think the combination of the environment, the type of music we selected, the level of which we are performing at, I think you would be pleasantly surprised as to how much you would enjoy listening to a classical music concert,” Lee says. 

This year will be BIGLAKE’s sixth season, and it kicks off this week with a summer solstice garden party and gala at The Eddie. Inspired by pagan traditions, the annual fundraising event is celebrating all things magical, mystical, and mythical, with performances by Ensemble Comtessa, soprano Karoline Podolak, and more, plus delicious food from a variety of local chefs. 

As Lee looks ahead to the festival in August, she hopes guests will see BIGLAKE for the fun summer festival it is.

“I really hope that we could break some of those stigmas about how serious classical music is,” Lee says. “It is serious, but we also really have a good time.”

BIGLAKE Festival runs from August 21-29 in Prince Edward County, Ontario.