City Council still hidng some of the Lakeshore Festival issues

By Pepper Parr

February 19th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

Included in the list of items that would be discussed in a CLOSED session was:

Direct the Commissioner of Community Services to proceed in accordance with instructions given during closed session discussions.

What does all this mean?  First Council does not want to be all that transparent on just what is happening with the Lakeshore Music and Arts Festival (LM&AF)

The organization does have a three-year contract with the City and they are working through the details for an event that takes place June 20th and 21^st; a little more than three months away.

It is a bit of a scramble for LM&MF.   The organization has tremendous depth and a lot of experience.  Nevertheless, they have had to go back to Council on something, and Council doesn’t want you to know all that much.

No word from the City on jyst where things stand on a Festival parade.  The Mayor wants it, LM&AF don’t want to be part of it, at least not this first year.  No money in a parade.

Councillor Sharman had the best idea – have the Teen Tour Band march along the Promenad to open the Festival.

The Mayor and several of the Council members are hoping a community group comes forward and volunteers to host the event.  The City has some cash, (Mayor makes mention of $50,000),they are prepared to give a community group that decides to host the parade.

The Burlington Teen Tour Band marching along the Spencer Smith Park Promenade