The story
Ottawa Bluesfest in Ottawa
Ottawa Bluesfest turned LeBreton Flats into a riverside gathering ground when it launched in 1994, and it now draws roughly 300,000 people over ten July nights despite a name that undersells how wide the lineup has become. Rock, pop, hip-hop, reggae and electronic acts share stages with blues roots performers, and the open field setting lets the crowd spread out with blankets and chairs rather than pack into a single venue.
Ottawa Bluesfest began in 1994 on a modest scale and has grown into one of the largest music festivals in Canada, drawing crowds estimated near 300,000 people to LeBreton Flats over roughly ten days each July.