by Clea Moray

The Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival returns this fall, and Still Moon Arts Society is inviting local artists, musicians, performers, and interdisciplinary creators to bring their talents to this vibrant, much-loved celebration.

Each year, the festival draws more than 5,000 attendees to honour the harvest moon, Renfrew-Collingwood’s rich and diverse culture, and the beauty of the natural world. The event features art installations, live music, dance, spoken word, lantern displays, community workshops, and more.

The 2025 theme: Wetlands

Bog, quagmire, marsh, slough, swamp—whatever you call them, wetlands are incredible ecosystems teeming with life. They’re nurseries for fish, havens for birds, and homes to beavers and countless other creatures.

Beyond their biodiversity, wetlands play a critical role in climate resilience. Acting like natural sponges, they absorb water during the rainy season and release it slowly during dry months, creating stable flows that benefit fish and ecosystems alike. Wetlands reduce drought and flooding, purify water, and store carbon—sometimes even more effectively than forests.

Just downstream from Renfrew Ravine, Still Creek once spread into rich wetlands before being
confined behind big box stores.

Now, as the area around Renfrew and Rupert SkyTrain stations densifies and weather extremes intensify, it’s the perfect moment to reimagine our urban wetlands.

This year’s festival theme invites us all to reflect on and celebrate wetlands—through art, music,
dance, and spoken word.

Opportunities to get involved

Still Moon Arts is accepting proposals for both major and minor festival events, including the Harvest Fair and Streamside Lanterns.

The Harvest Fair at Slocan Park is a family-friendly daytime event featuring lantern-making, crafts, costumes, and performances by local talent.

Streamside Lanterns is an enchanting nighttime experience at Renfrew Community Park, showcasing illuminated art, live music, and performances set amidst the trees and the gentle flow of Still Creek. Artists working in lanterns, electronic art, eco-art, land art, movement, sound, and other light-sensitive mediums are encouraged to apply.

This year, Still Moon Arts also welcomes proposals from artists interested in leading community workshops in lantern-making, eco-arts, or other cultural and creative activities.

Key info:

• Application Deadline: Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM
• Festival Dates: September 7 – October 4, 2025
• Artist Fees: All selected applicants will be paid
• For full details and to apply, visit: StillMoonArts.ca
• Questions? Reach out to info@stillmoonarts.ca for application support