Southside Park Image

Cowapolooza

Band performing in front of large crowd

Cowapolooza is returning to Southside Park for Woodstock's favourite summer festival! 

Friday, August 14, 2026 from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Kick up your boots for Cowapolooza Country. Enjoy free live music on the main stage. 

Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Cowapolooza Kids, join us for an action packed day of free family friendly activities.
  • Enjoy main stage music throughout the day. At 8:30 p.m., an iconic Canadian rock band will hit the stage!  

Staff are currently planning the 2026 celebration, check back for updates.

Volunteer Opportunities 

Our events, attracting thousands annually, rely on volunteers. As a volunteer, have fun, meet new friends, earn hours, and make a community impact. 

Apply to be a Volunteer

Food, Beverage and Marketplace Vendors 

Grab a bite to eat or shop in the marketplace from one the many on-site vendors. You can also take a seat in our beverage garden with a main stage view! 

An ATM is available on-site and vendors may accept debit or credit. You can pay with cash, debit or credit at the beverage garden.

Food Vendors

 We have reached capacity for Food Vendors at this time. 

Beverage Garden 
Brought to you by the Woodstock Lion's Club, the beverage garden will offer thirst quenching favourites, while you enjoy live music with a main stage view.  
Marketplace Vendors

Marketplace Vendor Application

Know Before You Go

Plan your trip to Southside Park and help make Cowapolooza safe and fun for everyone. 

Shuttle Bus and Transit Service

Free Shuttle Bus:

Friday, Aug. 14 from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 15 from 2 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Park for free at the Civic Centre Arena, located at 895 Nellis St., and hop on the free shuttle bus to Southside Park. Buses will depart on Nellis Street at :00, :15, :30, :45. 

The shuttle will also stop at the Transit Terminal (behind the Route 7 stop) and on Peel Street at Metcalf Street for those looking to park in a downtown parking lot. While there, please visit the shops and restaurants in Downtown Woodstock!  

There are four stops near the park: The bus stop on South Street, the iron gate on Parkinson Road, Finkle Street at Southside Pool, Finkle Street at Argyle Street.

Extended Transit Service:

Transit and para-transit service will be extended from 10 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 
Regular transit fares apply.
The final Route 7 scheduled trips from Southside Park to the terminal Downtown to connect to all other routes will be 9:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. 
Last two terminal departures for all routes are 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.  

Parking 

Free parking locations:

  • Accessible parking in Southside Park, 192 Old Wellington Street South, near the main washroom facilities
  • Parking on nearby streets 
  • Reeves Community Complex, 369, 375 & 381 Finkle Street
  • Jack Dunn Memorial Parking, 347 Finkle Street
  • College Avenue Secondary School, 700 College Ave
  • St. Mary's Catholic High School, 431 Juliana Drive   

No parking:

In effect Friday, Aug. 14 at 8 a.m. to Saturday, Aug. 15 at 11 p.m. No parking signs will be located on both sides of the street.

  • A majority of the Southside Park drives will be closed to public parking. 
  • Victoria Street South from Henry Street to Walter Street 
  • Walter Street from Southside Park drive to East Park Drive
  • South Street from Walter Street to Parkinson Road
  • Dover Street from Henry Street to Bernadette Place
  • Bernadette Place
  • East Park Drive from Parkinson Road to Frances Street 
  • Frances Street from Dover Street to Wilson Street 
  • Ferguson Drive from Parkinson Road to Lindsay Road
  • Parkinson Road from Finkle Street to Odlum Street  
 Road Closures

Southside Park will be closed to vehicles past the dry bridge for event set-up from Aug. 12 – 16.

Road closures:

Friday, Aug. 14 from 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. 

  • South Street from Walter Street to Bernadette Place

Saturday, Aug. 15 

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • South Street from Walter Street to Bernadette Place

4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. 

  • South Street from Walter Street to Parkinson Road
  • Walter Street from Victoria Street South to East Park Drive
  • Dover Street at Frances Street
Zero Tolerance: Smoking, Vaping, Cannabis and Alcohol

Smoking, vaping and cannabis are not permitted in city parks and can result in a $250 fine. 

No alcoholic beverages of any kind are permitted on site, except in the beverage garden.

Security, Police, Auxiliary Unit and City-bylaw will be monitoring the area.

Please be considerate so that everyone can enjoy the weekend's festivities!

Sustainability Initiatives

Join us in creating a greener event!

 Green Team 

Volunteers will be at Waste Stations to help attendees sort recyclables and waste, reducing our environmental footprint. 

Apply to be a Volunteer

 More Ways to be Eco-Friendly
Together we can reduce waste, minimize single-use plastics and make Cowapolooza even more eco-friendly!
  • Take the free shuttle bus courtesy of Woodstock Transit. 
  • Bring a reusable water bottle to refill at our water stations.
  • Bring reusable bags for shopping in the marketplace and reusable cutlery to enjoy delicious food from the food trucks.
 Other Sustainability Initiatives at Cowapolooza
Cans Returned for Recycling: In partnership with the Woodstock Lions Club, we ensure that all empty cans from the beverage garden are returned for recycling.


Bamboo Eco-Friendly Hospitality: We're making a sustainable shift in our hospitality area by transitioning to bamboo products, offering a more eco-conscious alternative to traditional materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a free concert?

Yes, Cowapolooza is a free event. There is no tickets or admission needed to enjoy the music or activities. Vendors will also be on-site with food and merchandise available to purchase. 

Can I bring my own lawn chair

Yes, you are welcome to bring a lawn chair.

Is the venue pet friendly?

Yes, you can bring your furry friends, as long as the animal is on a leash. However, the event is very popular and the live music can be loud so consider your pet's comfort in those environments.

Is this event all ages?

Yes, all ages are welcome to enjoy everything Cowapolooza has to offer! Families won't want to miss Cowapolooza Kids on Saturday afternoon.

Is there a beverage garden?

Yes, there is a beverage garden area on-site. Cash, debit and credit will be accepted. This will be the only location alcohol is permitted.

Can I bring my own alcohol?

No, please do not bring any alcoholic drinks with you on-site. There will be security, police, auxiliary and staff monitoring the event space.

What if there is inclement weather?

We carefully monitor the weather leading up to each event. Cancellation announcements will be posted on this webpage, as well as on all City of Woodstock social media outlets.

Where can I park?

Parking options and shuttle details will be posted later this spring. 

I have dietary requirements, can you accommodate me?

There are always a variety of food vendors on-site. Please check each vendor's menu to see if they offer items that fit your needs. You can also bring your own food to the venue.

Where can I find an event schedule?

All up-to-date event information can be found on this webpage.

2025 Event Recap

Relive all the fun from Cowapolooza 2025!

Video by Blackmore Media

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Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!

Elite Sponsors


Diamond Sponsors


Gold Sponsors


Silver Sponsors


Oxford Sponsors 


Friendly City Sponsors

Century 21 logo
HAAS Enterprises Inc. logo

Dairy Capital Sponsors

Gunns Hill Cheese logo
Nesbitt Coulter logo
Bossy Nagy Group logo







In-Kind Donations

Maglin Site Furniture logo
Home 2 Suites by Hilton logo


Performance Carts logo
Blackmore Media logo

Woodstock Print logo

Lions Club logo


  

Contact Us

© 2017 City of Woodstock P.O. Box 1539, 500 Dundas Street, Woodstock, ON N4S 0A7

 

Phone: 519-539-1291
Email: General Information

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