Void Fest is a walking tour spectacle, leading the audience to 15 short shows across 12 different venues in downtown Picton. Each act is under thirty minutes, allowing viewers to sample a wide variety of emerging and established performers. 

It is presented by Radiator Collective, a group of County artists with an outsider ethos inspired by DIY punk scenes, art collectives, and salon galleries of the past. The group is headed by Alex Currie and Erynn Ahern, who hope to grow Void Fest into an annual event, filling the down time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

“The idea came from wanting to celebrate our town, along with the people creating and living in it,” says Mr. Currie. 

“We have some awesome people with a wealth of knowledge all around us, but we’re all just scattered.”

The performances are mostly music, but there will be a few surprises. Part of the experience will be the defamiliarization of familiar spaces. While the venues — including Rosehaven Yarn Shop, Picton Branch Library, and Beacon Bike+Brew — might be Main Street mainstays, they aren’t places typically associated with live performance. 

Mr. Currie notes that the spirit of collaboration extends beyond artists to include spaces and enterprises throughout the County. 

“Since the inception of Radiator Collective we’ve always had a strong aim to connect and collaborate with our community and have had wonderful success with the likes of Glenwood Cemetery, Matron Fine Beer, Baxter Arts, and Proudest Pony, to name a few. We’re actively expanding and making new friendships along the way.” 

Void Fest begins at 11:30 on Saturday, December 28 at Books and Company, with the last performance starting at 5:30 at Proudest Pony. Admission is free and all are welcome.