Dates: July 18–20, 2025
Location: Guelph Lake / Guelph Lake Island, Ontario — in the heart of the Guelph Lake Conservation Area
Hillside is a gem in Ontario’s summer festival circuit: three days of music, art, workshops, nature, and community. In 2025, it brought artists from near and far to its five stages, and we had the pleasure of stepping in as the camping gear + logistics partner—making sure festival-goers from outside the region (or even outside Canada) could experience Hillside fully.
🌿 What Makes Hillside Unique (and Why We Love It)
Hillside isn’t just “a festival with music.” It’s built around diversity, sustainability, community, and place.
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Multiple stages, including dedicated spots for Indigenous drum & dance, children’s programming, artisan markets, and workshops.
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A strong environmental and community ethos—Hillside is known for being one of the more eco-conscious festivals in Ontario.
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The grounds: Guelph Lake Island is accessed via a causeway or shuttle system, creating a contained “festival village” feel that blends nature with the performance spaces.
The experience is intentionally immersive: walkable stages, art installations, drumming circles under the stars, and stages that feel intimate yet electric.
Highlight Acts & Lineup Vibes
The 2025 lineup was bold and diverse:
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Lucius, Femi Kuti, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Tim Baker — a mix of folk, global sounds, indie, and roots-oriented acts.
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Emerging voices and local artists, giving Hillside that “discover new sounds” element.
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Strong representation from Canadian talent, and cross-genre bookings that kept the musical identity rich and varied.
Because of Hillside’s scale and setting, performances often felt close, authentic, and present—not overwhelmed by spectacle, but grounded in the moment.
⛺ The Campgrounds: Where the Vibe Carries On
A festival like Hillside lives beyond the stage. The campground is where music conversations, friendships, late-night magic, and sunrise talks happen.
Key Logistics & Onsite Structure
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Gate times & schedule:
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Fri: Gates open at 4:30 PM, programming begins at 5:30 PM
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Sat: Gates at 10:00 AM, programming from 11:00 AM
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Sun: Gates at 9:30 AM, programming at 10:30 AM
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Festival nights concluded around 11:00 PM each evening.
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Getting in: Attendees must pick up wristbands at the Main Gate Tent on the mainland before heading onto the island.
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Parking & shuttles: Mainland parking is paid (daily or weekend rate), and free shuttle service runs between downtown Guelph and the festival site.
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Walking paths & causeway: Access to the island is via a causeway and walking paths, with controlled entry points to maintain the village feel of the site.
Because of this layout, attendees often end up deeply connected: your tent, the stages, art installations, vendors—all within reach.
🏕️ Our Role: Camp Rentique + Hillside 2025
We partnered closely with festival organizers to provide a seamless camping experience. Our goal? Let attendees focus on music, not logistics or gear.
Here’s how we made that possible:
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Full Gear Packages: Tents, sleeping systems, pads, lighting, chairs, and optional premium “camp-hotel” bedding.
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Delivery ≠Hassle: We handled drop-off, set-up, and removal so campers didn’t have to lift a finger.
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Tailored Packages: Whether minimalist travelers or comfort-seeking campers, we offered gear suited to different styles and group sizes.
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Support & On-Ground Assistance: Our team was available during setup, festival hours, and breakdown to answer questions, fix gear issues, or adjust setups.
“We flew in, didn’t want to worry about dragging heavy gear. Camp Rentique showed up, dropped it all, and we walked right into the festival—all weekend was magic.”
— Attendee, Hillside 2025
Because we took the load off attendees, many more people chose to camp rather than commute—increasing the collective energy, sense of community, and festival immersion.
🎯 What Made This Partnership Shine
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Accessibility: Fans from outside the region or country could fully participate.
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Atmosphere Amplified: More campers = more after-hours connection, better onsite vibe.
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Operational Trust: Delivered consistently under festival pressure, reinforcing our reputation.
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Forward Momentum: Our success here strengthens our pitch for future festivals and builds a dependable brand narrative.
🚀 Looking Ahead: Hillside 2026 — Let’s Do It Again
Hillside 2026 runs July 17–19, 2026 — so the countdown is real.
We’re gearing up already. If you're planning to attend:
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Lock in your camping gear early.
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Stay on-site (skip long drives).
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Choose your comfort level—we’ll have multiple package tiers.
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Trust Camp Rentique—we’ll handle gear, setup, and logistics so your only worry is which set to catch next.
👉 Reserve your Hillside 2026 camping package now at CampRentique.ca and let the music, community & nature do the rest.