CityFolk Festival and Other Major Events Forced to Relocate Due to Lansdowne 2.0 Redevelopment
With the massive multi-year Lansdowne 2.0 construction project now underway and the historic Aberdeen Pavilion scheduled for renovations later this year, several of Ottawa's most prominent events are being displaced from their traditional homes. The CityFolk Festival, Ottawa Farmers' Market, and 613Flea market are all actively searching for new venues as the redevelopment transforms Lansdowne Park.
CityFolk's Successful Decade at Lansdowne Comes to an End
CityFolk, which evolved from the Ottawa Folk Festival, enjoyed a successful ten-year run at Lansdowne's Great Lawn. However, the extensive construction timeline for the new Event Centre, expected to last several years, has forced festival organizers to seek alternative locations. The Great Lawn will be unavailable for events until at least August 2028, according to city staff projections.
Mark Monahan, executive director of CityFolk who also oversees Bluesfest and the Festival of Small Halls, expressed uncertainty about the festival's future at Lansdowne even before the final council vote in November. "We will likely have to move in 2026 if the project moves forward," Monahan stated at the time. "Once it's done, we are not sure whether the revamped site will be suitable at that time."
Potential Relocation to RA Centre
City staff involved with the Lansdowne project have suggested that festival organizers have already booked the RA Centre on Riverside Drive for the 2026 edition of CityFolk. The RA Centre's expansive outdoor lawns previously hosted the Escapade electronic music festival in 2025 and are scheduled to host that festival again in June.
AJ Sauve, director of media relations for Bluesfest and CityFolk, declined to comment specifically on the RA Centre rumor but confirmed that the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment has compelled festival organizers to "shop around" for a new site. "The Great Lawn definitely won't be in use this summer because of construction," confirmed Capital Councillor Shawn Menard, whose ward includes Lansdowne Park and who was council's most vocal opponent of the redevelopment plan.
Multiple Events Affected by Redevelopment
The displacement extends beyond CityFolk to include other community staples:
- Ottawa Farmers' Market: A weekly gathering that has become an institution at Lansdowne
- 613Flea: The popular vintage and artisan market that regularly draws crowds
- Various other vendors and events that have utilized the Lansdowne facilities
Councillor Menard has made several inquiries to city staff regarding the Lansdowne project timeline and the events being displaced by the construction. In a March 23 communication, a city staffer wrote to Menard: "It is our understanding that CityFolk has booked at the RA Centre, but have not seen confirmation of this."
Historical Context of CityFolk's Journey
Mark Monahan took over the Ottawa Folk Festival in 2010 when organizers were facing significant financial challenges. He moved the festival from its longtime home at Britannia Park to Hog's Back Park, where it remained for four editions before eventually finding its successful decade-long home at Lansdowne's Great Lawn.
The city has indicated that minimizing disruption to the Great Lawn was a key priority in designing the construction schedule. According to staff, "the construction has been phased to expedite the lawn's restoration and availability as soon as possible." However, with the lawn unavailable until at least August 2028, event organizers must make immediate alternative arrangements.
The Lansdowne 2.0 project, which passed council with a close 15-10 vote, represents one of Ottawa's most significant urban redevelopment initiatives in recent years. While promising long-term improvements to the historic site, the construction phase is creating substantial challenges for the cultural events that have come to define the space.
