On that Expression of Interest on a new Sound of Music: The fix is already in

By Pepper Parr

October 15^th,2025

BURLINGTON, ON

OPINION

City Council killed the current iteration of Sound of Music; a musical festival that entertained millions during the decades; they put on a great show that was free.

When it was evident that the city was going to put the boots to the ask submitted by the Sound of Music (give us more money and forgive our debts) I was a bit surprised when the city said they would put out a Request for Expressions of Interest; first thing that came to mind was: Is the fix already in?

In a media release, the city announced that:

The City of Burlington is taking steps to ensure that a community-focused music festival remains part of Burlington’s waterfront experience. In the coming weeks, the City will issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting event organizers to deliver a refreshed festival at Spencer Smith Park beginning in 2026 — one that continues to bring people together while reflecting the evolving needs and values of our community.

This next step is about renewal and continuity — building on a long-standing tradition while ensuring future events are inclusive, sustainable, and reflective of Burlington’s priorities. The City’s goal is to see a waterfront music festival continue to thrive in a way that evolves with the community and continues to bring people together for years to come.

The city put out a survey – the usual and expected questions were asked.  The city said the  feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of music programming in Burlington and ensuring it continues to celebrate community, creativity, and connection.

To complete the survey, visit GetInvolvedBurlington.ca/MusicFestival.  The survey will be open until Nov. 17, 2025.

The lingering question for me was: Who is there out there that could pull together a decent event for June of 2026 – eight months away?

If you think about it – and there are people both on Council and within the community, who have done a lot of thinking about this.  While the EOI has yet to be released, there are people already talking to people about who could do what.

Does whoever comes forward have to be a not-for-profit?  It would have more flexibility if it were an Ontario Business Corporation.

If there were experienced business people holding the equity, expect much better business decisions.  People with money are not in the habit of losing money.

The Sound of Music was always terrible at governance.

Deciding if the city is going to do business with a new organization is not something the public should expect anything in the way of public engagement.

My take:  The fix is already in.