I went to my first festival in Canada this year – the Dawson City Music Festival. It was the 41st edition of the festival, held up in Dawson City, in the Yukon, Canada, making it the most northern festival I’ve ever been to.

The Dawson City Music Festival is an intimate celebration of Yukon, Canadian and international music, held in a beautiful city, with a friendly crowd. It takes place in July, and so the days were hot, the evenings fresh but warm, and the sun never set.

I had an eye opening and fascinating time attending the Dawson City Music Festival by myself, and exploring the city too. I stayed in the city for the whole festival, so I thought I’d put together this guide on how to make the most of your Dawson City Music Festival experience.

Dawson City Music Festival

Dawson City Music Festival capacity: 1000

When is the Dawson City Music Festival? July

“The Dawson City Music Festival will remain “Canada’s tiny, perfect Festival” by consistently and collaboratively delivering high-quality, diverse musical experiences. By doing so, the Dawson City Music Festival Association will be recognized as a significant contributor to both the quality of life and the cultural economy in Dawson and Yukon; and the DCMF will be understood as a celebration of Dawson’s spirit, hospitality, volunteerism, and community life.”
– From the Dawson City Music Festival website

What’s Dawson City like?

I’ve already written an extensive guide to Dawson City and what to do there.

Annnnd, made thisvideo on the best things to do in Dawson too, so I’ll keep this short.

Basically Dawson City, where, as the name gives away, the festival is held, is an arty kinda place.

Colourful, interesting and a rich and fascinating history, it was at the centre of the Gold Rush of the turn of the century. Thousands and thousands of prospectors travelled here seeking their fortune, but it was only the first ones, or the lucky ones, who really made any money. You were actually better off providing services to the men who travelled up, rather than looking for gold yourself.

That all ended as soon as it began, and while the population of Dawson City peaked at around 40,000, it’s now only a few thousand who brave the winter. It is COLD (think -40C). But July, is toasty.

Nowadays it’s the arty and adventurous who come to Dawson City – to enjoy the hiking, the art programmes and to experience life this far north.