Ensuring a Sustainable Future for Sound of Music Festival and Beyond
The City of Burlington is committed to ensuring that residents continue to enjoy festivals and events. The staff recommendation in the report in front of City Council is not about ending the Burlington Sound of Music (BSOM) tradition. It is about protecting public funds and supporting festivals in a way that is responsible, sustainable, and fair.
As outlined in the report coming to the October Committee of the Whole, staff are recommending reallocating the $150,000 allotment previously earmarked for BSOM to the Community Investment Fund. This approach is focused on strengthening accountability and equity across Burlington’s festival landscape while creating the opportunity to potentially support a new music festival provider in 2026 through an open, transparent process. To be clear, there have been no final decisions on this. Council will be reviewing this topic and discussing between October 6-7, 2025.
We can share the recommendations made in the report were not made in isolation. City staff met with the BSOM Board several times in advance of the report and requested a formal submission from the festival organizer, which is included in the report. This included financial details and repayment progress — key elements needed to safeguard taxpayer investment and explore a sustainable path forward.
For nearly 40 years, the Sound of Music festival has been a celebrated part of Burlington’s cultural fabric, and the City has been a proud supporter, providing close to $1 million in financial and in-kind assistance over the past two years. At the same time, the City has a duty to manage funds prudently. By reinvesting through the Community Investment Fund, the City can continue to support a wide range of festivals and events, while providing opportunities for a new waterfront music event to continue at Spencer Smith Park in 2026 and beyond.
We appreciate you staying involved with the City to share your feedback and opinions about events in Burlington, as this will help shape plans and decisions made by the Mayor, Council and Staff, to keep Burlington the fantastic City it is.
My Take:I fully support continuing a waterfront music festival in the tradition of Sound of Music—one that remains free to the community and accessible to all. I have every confidence that the staff recommendation provides a clear path forward. I welcome your thoughts and look forward to continued discussions with Council and the community on this important matter.