As Ottawa’s biggest music festival, Bluesfest has become a highly anticipated city staple.
This year, the festival will run from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 20, featuring big-name headliners like Hozier, Green Day and Shania Twain.
With an average of 250,000 people attending the festival each year, there are a few important things to remember if you’re a first-time or returning attendee.
From headliners to transportation, here’s what you need to know ahead of Ottawa’s biggest music festival.
Who’s playing at Bluesfest in 2025?
The festival has boomed in popularity since its beginnings 31 years ago, and Bluesfest is now best known for hosting headliners beyond its titular genre. However, the festival’s six stages still feature many blues performers and local artists, with four stages for live performers and two for DJs.
Bluesfest’s full lineup breaks down all artists by the day they’re performing and the stage they’ll be on, and single-day tickets are priced by the demand for the headliners on the RBC Stage.
RBC Stage lineup
- Thursday, July 10: Lainey Wilson (9:30 p.m.), Red Clay Strays (7:30 p.m.), Rosewood Ave. (6 p.m.)
- Friday, July 11: Hozier (9:20 p.m.), Charlotte Day Wilson (7:30 p.m.), Claude Munson (6 p.m.)
- Saturday, July 12: Turnstile (9:30 p.m.), Pixies (7:30 p.m.), Kurt Vile and the Violators (6 p.m.)
- Sunday, July 13: Shania Twain (9:30 p.m.), Alan Doyle (7:30 p.m.), Buck Twenty (6 p.m.)
- Wednesday, July 16: Def Leppard (9:30 p.m.), Tom Morello (7:30 p.m.), Luscious (6 p.m.)
- Thursday, July 17: Sean Paul (9:30 p.m.), G-Eazy (7:30 p.m.), Dystoh (6 p.m.)
- Friday, July 18: Green Day (9:10 p.m.), the Linda Lindas (7:30 p.m.), Les Shirley (6 p.m.)
- Saturday, July 19: Papa Roach (9:30 p.m.), Daughtry (7:30 p.m.), We Were Sharks (6 p.m.)
- Sunday, July 20: Kaytranada (9:30 p.m.), BADBADNOTGOOD (7:30 p.m.), Lou Phelps (6 p.m.)
The River Stage will host Father John Misty on July 10, Men I Trust on July 12 and Peach Pit on July 17.
The schedule for Lebreton Stage, the Barney Danson Theatre and all other stages can be found on the festival’s website.
How much does Bluesfest cost this year?
Bluesfest ticket costs vary, but a general admission full festival pass to access every day of performances is $428.04 before tax.
General admission day passes range from $87 to $145, depending on the lineup.
Bluesfest also offers a three-night pass.
VIP and platinum passes are also available, with the highest tier passes costing more than $3,000.
Bluesfest tickets are available for purchase on the festival’s website.
Where is Bluesfest and what’s inside?
Bluesfest takes place around and within the Canadian War Museum at Lebreton Flats.
The RBC Stage is in front of the museum, the River Stage is behind it, the Lebreton Stage is within a tent on the West side, and the Barney Danson Theatre is inside the museum.
The first of the DJ Stages is the Spin Stage by the river. The second is the Crazy Horse Saloon, a cowboy-themed pop-up from the popular Kanata clubbing location with a mechanical bull located in another tent behind the Lebreton Stage.
Bluesfest is no stranger to a bit of rain, so if you’re anywhere but inside the Barney Danson Theatre or tented stages, be prepared for whatever the forecast brings. Outdoor performances are only stopped for thunder.
More than 20 food and drink vendors are expected to be within the festival grounds with options like pub food, lemonade and a newly-introduced Mexican Cantina Bar.
The few picnic tables provided by food vendors are often swarmed, so be ready to eat standing or bring your own blanket and lawn chairs for designated areas.
As the festival takes place on outdoor grounds, porta potties are available in front of the RBC Stage. Sinks, soap and paper towels are provided nearby to help with sanitation.
What’s the best way to get to Bluesfest?
Organizers discourage driving to the festival because of road closures at 5 p.m. and no public parking at the war museum.
If you are driving, advanced parking passes can be purchased for $17.40 with your festival ticket. There are three off-site parking lots in Gatineau, a 25-minute walk from the festival.
The best and most accessible way to get to the festival is by taking the O-Train, which is free for festival ticket holders. Line 1 to Pimisi Station drops off just a five-minute walk away from Lebreton Flats. When the performances are over, it’s likely you’ll be a part of a large crowd of people funnelling back into the station to get home.
Bluesfest also offers a parking lot for bicycles on the east side of Booth Street, open from 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. each festival day.
What can I bring and what should I leave at home?
All bags will be searched by security at the entrance and must be no larger than 12 by 12 by 6 inches.
Alcohol and drug paraphernalia are all prohibited, though the festival does sell beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.
Any non-alcoholic drinks brought in must be in sealed, unopened plastic containers, or you’ll have to dump them out before entering the festival grounds. Reusable water bottles are permitted, but they must be empty, or they, too, will be dumped at the entrance. The festival has water-filling stations inside.
Food is allowed, but must not be in glass containers.
As most of the stages are surrounded by grass, lawn chairs and blankets are allowed, but chairs must be collapsible.
Bluesfest also does not permit professional video or photography equipment, cans, posters or noisemakers.
A full list of what’s allowed and what’s prohibited is available on the festival’s security page.
Featured image by Katie Zwiers/the Charlatan
