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About the Festival
Festival Afloat is a paddle-powered music festival and educational offering that brings together allied businesses and impassioned community members. Our goal? To raise funds and awareness for Indigenous Nations who are in court to protect the ocean and keep our coast clean!
Festival Afloat is back — grab a paddle for Indigenous Justice!
This summer, RAVEN is hosting a series of on-the-water and on-land benefit concerts to raise money for access to justice for Indigenous communities. All floating shows are viewable from shore, or paddle up to the sailboat stage by canoe, kayak or SUP. Spread a blanket or throw down a boat in support of Indigenous-led environmental justice!
Festival Afloat 2023 is supporting:
Heiltsuk Nation's Step Up for Coast Heroes
Heiltsuk Nation is taking Kirby — an oil shipping company — Canada, and British Columbia to court. In the wake of the catastrophic Nathan E. Stewart spill that spilled toxic fuels into Heiltsuk's marine harvesting areas, this Title case aims to enshrine Indigenous stewardship practices into law to toughen regulations about fossil fuel transport and protect marine ecosystems for future generations.
By attending Festival Afloat, you’re supporting Heiltsuk Nation to make sure that orcas, salmon, otters — and the coastal communities who care for them — continue to thrive.
Our first year started with just one show, but it planted a seed that has continued to blossom! That seed burst open in 2021 and 2022: Festival Afloat has raised over $140k with concerts happening all over!
Join us this summer to keep the dream afloat!
Supported by a grant from the Indigenous Priorities Fund, held within the Salt Spring Island Foundation.
RAVEN's fabulous sailing cruises return for another year! Hop aboard the Providence Tall Ship with RAVEN staff and Indigenous knowledge keepers.
This year the Tall Ship Sailing Adventures will launch from Vancouver, Gabriola Island, Salt Spring Island, and Pender Island.
Join us for a 3-hour tour full of learning & wisdom on the magical waters of the Salish Sea!
Peach and Quiet: A last minute addition to Festival Afloat, and it was a beautiful thing
On the sixth and final day of RAVEN’s Festival Afloat 2023, due to unforeseen circumstances, we found ourselves without a musician to perform on Pender Island. Luckily, our brilliant crew and new friends aboard the…
Festival Afloat 2023 Spotlight: a conversation with Hip Hop artist, Higher Knowledge
If you happened to catch us at Festival Afloat Vancouver on July 9, you’ll know that the show was opened by an incredible hip hop artist, HK aka Higher Knowledge! With a crowd of nearly…
Festival Afloat is Back!
In its fourth year, Festival Afloat is back — so grab your paddle for Indigenous justice! GET TICKETS at raventrust.com/paddle If you aren’t in one of the spots where Festival Afloat touches down, you can…
















