Wake the Giant Festival Gets $50,000 in Tourism Funding
THUNDER BAY — The Wake the Giant Festival is getting $50,000 from the City of Thunder Bay’s tourism fund to help with its 2025 event.
The money was announced on Wednesday by the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) and Tourism Thunder Bay.
“Wake the Giant is a fantastic event for Thunder Bay,” said CEDC CEO Jamie Taylor. “It helps welcome Indigenous students in a meaningful way and shows our commitment to being a safe, inclusive, and welcoming city.”
The festival, happening from September 4 to 6 at Prince Arthur’s Landing, was started to welcome Indigenous youth from remote Northern communities. The event begins with an orientation week to help students settle into the city, and ends with a big music festival.
This year, the festival will feature its first Indigenous headliner — Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas. Other performers include the full Black Eyed Peas group, Prozzäk, Neon Dreams, Crystal Shawanda, The Poets Tragically Hip Tribute Band, Wyatt C. Louis, and G DUBZ.
There will also be live art, cultural experiences, local food, and an Indigenous craft market.
“This funding helps us keep growing something special,” said Sean Spenrath, one of the festival’s co-founders. “We can keep welcoming hundreds of Indigenous youth to Thunder Bay and offer an amazing experience with music, art, and community.”
He added that Wake the Giant is more than a music festival — it brings people together and celebrates Indigenous culture in a fun and exciting way.
