Inaugurated last year by Alex Currie and Erynn Ahern of Radiator Collective, Void Fest is becoming an annual event between Christmas and New Year’s. The idea is to ward off holiday doldrums by celebrating artists and vibrant downtown Picton. 

Last year, audiences gathered for an all-day event, moving as a group to view 20-minute performances in various non-traditional venues that are nonetheless part of daily life in Picton: the shops, cafes, Armoury and public Library of Picton Main Street.

This year, Void Fest will feature more acts and curated showcases. 

“The plan was always to make it a bigger festival because we had so many acts last year. The only way to really do that was to expand it over two days,” said Ms. Ahern. 

“It also gives us a chance to have some breaks throughout the day — last year it was like an 8-hour walking tour.”

Local businesses will host performances, but the breaks will also allow audiences to explore all of Picton’s offerings for dining and shopping. 

Last year, the shows brought out a crowd to local businesses during a typically sleepy period after the holiday rush. 

“Some businesses said it was their busiest day of the week and maybe in some cases of the month, which is fantastic,” Mr. Currie recalled. 

The format now includes curated showcases to align musicians and performers.

Also new this year are longer, ticketed events at Proudest Pony, Beacon Bike+Brew, and The Andrew, featuring headliners Sixteen Scandals, David James Allen, and Boyhood. 

The shorter walking tour events are free, with the option to donate. All of VoidFest’s costs are covered by community partnerships and sponsorships, leaving proceeds from ticket sales and donations for the artists. 

“We’re trying to grow this as organically as we can without pushing too much too fast,” Mr. Currie noted. 

It also means maintaining the spirit of exploration, creative risks, and collaboration.

“This year we really wanted to focus on pushing the experimentation side,” Ms. Ahern said, including some shows that “aren’t strictly music.”

For Mr. Currie and Ms. Ahern, part of the mandate of Radiator Collective is supporting artists from the ground up. They have used their platform to advocate for affordable housing, including coordinating support for New View’s development of the former Queen Elizabeth school.

“Housing and arts and creating a more equitable society go hand-in-hand because we can’t have a thriving art community if the people who are making art can’t afford to live here,” said Ms. Ahern. 

“To live pay cheque to pay cheque that doesn’t leave much time to explore your whimsy and your craft,” Mr. Currie added. 

Void Fest is December 27 and 28. The full lineup along with individual tickets and weekend passes is available at radiatorcollective.com.