Sudbury's Northern Lights Festival Boréal takes center stage this weekend

The tents are up, the crafters, artists and vendors are moving in: the scene is set for another year of Northern Lights Festival Boréal at Bell Park in Sudbury. 

•  Sarah Harmer, Dan Mangan headline Northern Lights Festival Boreal

Max Merrifield, executive director of the annual non-profit festival, said Friday night promises to be a high-energy dance-fest with a performance from Melbourne Ska Orchestra — the band's second NLFB appearance in as many years.

"[It's] not something we usually do, especially with a headliner," said Merrifield of the decision to invite the band back again this year.

"But they made such an impact last year ... that we decided to bring them back when we heard that they were coming back to Canada again for a tour."

Merrifield described the group as a "musical army of sorts": a 26-piece band playing ska, the "pre-reggae dance music of the Carribean."

"They showed us one thing," he said. "People love to dance, and we need to keep catering to that."

For a complete schedule of performers, visit the festival's website here. 

To listen to the complete interview with Max Merrifield on CBC Sudbury's current affairs radio show Morning North, listen here. 

CBC Sudbury has also been introducing listeners to NLFB artists in feature interviews on its current affairs radio show Up North.

Need a festival schedule? Here it is: