Christina Lépine – Staff Writer

When studying in the Eastern Townships, we are often told how beautiful the scenery is year-round, how fun it must be to spend time outdoors skiing, hiking, paddle boarding, and going on walks and how lovely it is as seasons change. We are indeed reputed for our stunning landscapes, but I recently discovered the wide arts scene in the townships. As I looked through different activities to diversify date nights with my partner and activities to do with friends, I stumbled upon various occupations to try while in the region. Here is a guide to discovering new art ventures in the townships. 

Music festivals are very popular during the summertime as many travel around the country and the world to watch their favorite artists perform. A fun aspect of the Eastern Townships is the wide array of music festivals offering diversified programs showcasing local artists as well as renowned names. Sherblues & Folk, a music festival now free for all visitors, showcases many local artists each summer in downtown Sherbrooke. This festival represents a great option for students who reside in the area during the summer. A year ago, I had the pleasure of attending a Vance Joy concert as part of Sherblues & Folk with friends which now features as part of my favorite summer memories. A tradition for many townshippers, every summer, is to attend the Festival du Lac des Nations as the organizing committee surpasses itself every year with mesmerizing fireworks representations, drone showcases, amazing concerts for all ages, and fun kiosks regrouping small businesses, university recruiting teams, foundations, big businesses and more. 

A great alternative to music festivals is attending a concert taking place in the many concert halls of the region. A new concept that is gaining popularity around Canada is the Candlelight concerts featuring classical adaptations of popular artists and works. In September, there will be a classical adaptation of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons successes, and in October, a Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics is set to happen on the Bishop’s campus in Centennial Theatre. Other shows are also happening at the Centre Culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke, both in French and English for music, comedy and theatre fanatics. 

One activity I recommend to anyone spending some time in the Eastern Townships is booking an evening in Coaticook to experience Foresta Lumina. This year, the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook celebrates its 10^th season of Foresta Lumina, a creation transporting all visitors into a magical story orchestrated through a show of lights and music carefully chosen and placed around this hiking trail to create a visual spectacle for visitors. Lastly, the Eastern Townships are composed of many observatories for all constellation observers. L’ObservÉtoiles, situated at Glen Sutton in the Au Diable Vert complex, is produced in partnership with National Geographic to offer the experience of an augmented reality outdoor planetarium, narrated by astronomers. Visitors who attend the shows are seated at over 1,000 feet of altitude in a multilevel mountainside amphitheater which offers a cozy but impressive setting to observe the natural artworks of the night sky.  

 The art scene of the Eastern Townships is far more vibrant and diversified than most students and community members know and can imagine. Discovering these events and experiences allow us to immerse ourselves in all that the townships have to offer during our studies in the region.