🎵 Wapiti Music Festival: A Canadian Indie Celebration in Fernie

August 8–9, 2025 | Annex Park, Fernie, BC

Get ready for two unforgettable August evenings in the heart of the Rockies—Wapiti Music Festival 2025, happening Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 at Annex Park in Fernie, BC. With an entirely Canadian indie lineup, this festival brings a soulful blend of folk, roots, pop, hip‑hop, and psychedelic joy to the mountainside. (Tourism Fernie)

🎟️ Tickets & How to Attend

Tickets went on sale March 1 at 10 AM MST—grab them early for discounted pricing. Weekend passes or single‑day tickets are available online through the official Wapiti site. Advance purchases save you up to $20. (rockymountainlive.ca)

🎤 Festival Lineup Highlights

Here's a snapshot of the featured performers across the two days: (Cranbrook Daily Townsman)

Friday, August 8

• DJ Cona kicks things off

• Half Spent

• Alex Cuba

• Shad

• DJ Cona to close the night

Saturday, August 9

• Blues Steel opens

• Honeybear

• Colleen Rennison

• Garrett T. Willie

• Apollo Suns

• Shred Kelly

• Serena Ryder closes the festival immediately before the gates shut (Tourism Fernie)

Plus, DJ Cona keeps the energy high between sets!

🌟 Meet the Performers

Serena Ryder

Headlining Saturday night, Serena Ryder is a Toronto-born, Peterborough-raised powerhouse known for her dynamic blend of pop, folk, roots, and soulful vocals. With seven Juno Awards, including 2022’s Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for The Art of Falling Apart, she’s renowned for heartfelt songwriting and vibrant stage presence. Serena is also a vocal mental health advocate, supporting Kids Help Phone’s “Feel Out Loud” campaign and earning accolades like the Margaret Trudeau Advocacy Award and the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour from Canada’s Walk of Fame. (Wapiti Music Festival, Wikipedia)

Some of her biggest hits include “Stompa,” “What I Wouldn’t Do,” and “Got Your Number.” Expect a set that’s equal parts uplifting, cathartic, and celebratory. (Cranbrook Daily Townsman)

Shred Kelly

A band rooted in the Rockies, Shred Kelly fuses alt‑rock, folk, and heart-on-sleeve storytelling. Their international festival experience and nominations—including Rock Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards—make them a standout stage presence. (Wapiti Music Festival)

Apollo Suns

This seven-piece instrumental ensemble from Winnipeg blends jazz, rock, and psychedelic textures. Known for high-energy performances, they’ve won multiple "Instrumental Artist of the Year" awards and recently released their album Departures in 2023. (Wapiti Music Festival)

Garrett T. Willie

From Kingcome Inlet, BC, this 24‑year‑old channels his early blues-rock heroes into a raw and fresh sound. His debut Same Pain showcases his bold vocals and gritty authenticity. (Wapiti Music Festival)

Other acts include Vancouver-based soul-funk-blues outfit Honeybear, emotionally powerful storyteller Colleen Rennison, nostalgic rockers Half Spent, and Fernie’s own Blues Steel, whose bluesy-funky groove captures the local vibe. DJ Cona, Fernie’s life-of-the-party resident DJ, keeps the crowd going long after each set. (Wapiti Music Festival)

⚡ Why You Should Go

• All‑Canadian focus: Every act is proudly Canadian—from Fernie locals to national stars.

• Stunning setting: Annex Park in Fernie offers mountain views and a laid-back Rocky Mountain ambiance.

• Diverse sounds: From funk and rap to folk and experimental jazz, this festival covers a wide artistic palette.

• Community vibe & value pricing: Family-friendly, accessible ticket tiers, and built around local vendors and culture. (AllEvents, rockymountainlive.ca)

✅ Quick Overview

🎟️ Ready to Book?

Visit the official Wapiti Music Festival website starting at 10 AM MST March 1 to purchase tickets and passes. Prices rise as early bird tiers sell out—so act fast to secure your spot in music‑fest heaven. (Tourism Fernie)

This year’s Wapiti lineup promises the perfect blend of high-energy live music, mountain magic, and authentic Canadian artistry—capped off by a can’t-miss closing performance from Serena Ryder.

🏡 What is Bill 44?

Bill 44 is a provincial law requiring all BC local governments to revise zoning bylaws by June 30, 2024. It mandates:

• Allowing at least one secondary suite or accessory unit on every single-family lot.

• In municipalities over 5,000 people (like Fernie), permitting 3–4 small-scale multi-unit homes (e.g., duplex, triplex, fourplex) in residential zones (Province of British Columbia, The Free Press).

How Fernie Has Implemented Bill 44

The City of Fernie updated its zoning bylaws to comply while preserving neighbourhood character :

• New “RSS – Residential Small‑Scale” zone replaces many existing single-family zones (R‑zones).

• Roughly 4 dwelling units permitted on lots > 280 m²; 3 units on lots between 250–280 m².

• Permitted housing types: single homes, secondary suites, detached suites, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes.

• Height capped at: 10 m for buildings, 8 m near back property lines; 5 m for accessory buildings.

• Parcel coverage up to 50%, with sliding scale based on unit count.

• Reduced parking requirements: 2–5 spaces depending on number of units (https://www.fernie.ca).

Timeline & Process

• April 16, 2024: Draft amendments presented to City Council.

• May 28, 2024: First three readings of the zoning amendment bylaws.

• June 11, 2024 (tentative): Final adoption expected—well before the June 30, 2024 provincial deadline (https://www.fernie.ca).

• No public hearing required, as Bill 44 waives that requirement during compliance-focused updates (https://www.fernie.ca).

Why This Matters

• Affordable housing push: Enables infill, densification, and “gentle density” in existing neighbourhoods using current infrastructure (The Free Press).

• Infrastructure readiness: The city is conducting an "Incremental Build-Out Analysis" to assess impacts on parking, utilities, and services (The Free Press).

• Character protection: Height, coverage, and parking constraints aim to retain the feel of Fernie’s established residential areas (https://www.fernie.ca).

In Summary

Bill 44 has spurred progressive changes in Fernie:

Fernie has met provincial requirements while preserving community character and preparing for future growth. If you'd like guidance on how this impacts homeowners or developers personally, I can help walk through specifics!