CONVERGENCE 2024 will occur in Downtown Oshawa between September 20 and 22.
Have you ever wanted to go to a massive music and arts festival—for free? Great news, the CONVERGENCE 2024 festival is just around the corner. This large music and arts festival will be taking over Downtown Oshawa from September 20 to 22, and features both free community events and various ticketed events.
With events throughout the weekend, you won’t want to miss the main stage on Saturday September 21—featuring big-name performers, plus nearby you can explore a punk rock flea market, international street food alley, entertainment like pro wrestling, theatre and circus performers, and even a nerd alley. This is a festival that combines all things art and music into one free extravaganza—a convergence, if you will.
To help make the most of your weekend, we created this insider’s guide to navigate what will be the most epic music and arts festival ever.
Where and when is CONVERGENCE?
CONVERGENCE 2024 will occur in Downtown Oshawa between September 20 and 22.
Free community events will take over the downtown core on King Street East, between Centre Street and Mary Street, from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 21.
There will also be various free and partner events on Friday, September 20 and Sunday, September 22. Check out the event map for locations.
NEW this year will be the incredible ART BLOCK, presented by the City of Oshawa and the Robert McLaughlin Gallery inside the former bus terminal downtown Oshawa.
What artists are featured?
From big name local performers to emerging artists, there are a wide variety of genres of music to enjoy and new favourites to discover. To learn more about the lineup of performers, visit the music page.
Check out the performance schedule for Saturday, September 21:
Cassie Noble (Indie Folk Pop)
12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Rising Star Stage
Equal
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Rising Star Stage
Daphne (Indie Pop)
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Cosmic Main Stage
The Holy Gamblers (Contemporary Country)
2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Rising Star Stage
SRE
2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Cosmic Main Stage
R.I.S.E. Edutainment
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
R.I.S.E. Anti-Gravity Stage Takeover
Aaron Ridge (R&B)
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
R.I.S.E. Anti-Gravity Stage Takeover
Rachael Rose
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
R.I.S.E. Anti-Gravity Stage Takeover
Azalyne (Contemporary R&B, Pop, Jazz)
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
R.I.S.E. Anti-Gravity Stage Takeover
Nicolina (Pop, R&B)
3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Rising Star Stage
Kubla
3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Cosmic Main Stage
Tyler Lorette
4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Rising Star Stage
The Anti-Queens (Punk Rock)
4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Cosmic Main Stage
Contour (Alternative/Hard Rock)
4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Anti-Gravity Stage
Sarah L Henry and the Dope Band (Soul)
5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Cosmic Main Stage
Excuses Excuses (Alternative/Punk)
5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Anti-Gravity Stage
Dizzy (Indie Pop)
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cosmic Main Stage
TALK
8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Cosmic Main Stage
Where can you see the art?
ArtBlock will bring together artists and art enthusiasts in an immersive celebration of visual and interactive art forms. The public art exhibition Points of Connection brings together work by locally connected artists and considers how we as a community flourish through connections.
What kind of food will be there?
Always thinking about food? Same friend, same. And what is a festival without great food? The Street Food Alley has everything from Philly cheesesteaks and wood fired pizza to jerk chicken and masala fries. If you are looking to follow up your delicious eats with an alcoholic beverage, you can purchase and consume them at any licensed establishment within the event footprint as CONVERGENCE 2024 is a dry event.
Will there be art and collectibles to buy?
What is an arts festival without a vendor market? The CONVERGENCE festival features two alleys where you can meet the makers of some really cool creations.
The Punk Rock Flea Market Oshawa features prints, cross stitch artwork, candles, clothing, stickers and more. This area may have PG-13 content, with some items a little on the saucy side. Participants under the age of 14 should enter at the discretion of a parent or guardian.
Nerd Alley is a celebration of all thing’s nerd culture—think Cosplay, board games, science fiction and fantasy, comic books, collectibles, video games, and so much more! The alley will feature interactive installations, artist meet and greets, board game demos, vendor booths, and other awesome attractions.
How do I get there?
Getting to Downtown Oshawa is easy by bike, transit, walking or even with your roller skates. If you feel like scooting, pick up a Neuron or Bird scooter and roll on down.
Here are some more resources for getting around Durham Region:
- PULSE 900 operates every 10 minutes between Pickering and Downtown Oshawa, connecting to Trent University (Durham).
- PULSE 901 operates every 10 minutes between Downtown Oshawa and the Durham College North Campus Terminal.
- View the Durham Transit map.
- Lakeshore East line runs from Toronto’s Union Station to Durham College Oshawa Go Station with departures every 30 minutes
What should I wear?
Glad you asked. We’re thinking comfort, so might we suggest a vintage T-shirt and some overalls? A cool hat and suspenders? Also great. Sweatpants and leggings? You do you! CONVERGENCE 2024 is a rain-or-shine event so check the weather report and bring a rain jacket or umbrella if needed.
Is this a family friendly event?
Kids rock! CONVERGENCE is a family-friendly event and children are welcome to participate. There’s even a Family Zone with activities that festivalgoers of all ages can enjoy! Please note that there may be PG-13 content at the Punk Rock Flea Market.
What hotels are nearby to make a weekend of it?
We thought you’d never ask. There are lots of hotels, and bed and breakfasts, throughout Durham Region for you to choose from. If you’re hoping to be walking distance to the festival, be sure to book at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites or La Quinta Inn and Suites Downtown Oshawa.
Want to get involved in the CONVERGENCE community? Volunteer!
Festival planners are looking for volunteers who will help make this the best festival Downtown Oshawa has ever had. Get in touch with them to learn more. Where do I get all the updates?
- Follow Oshawa Tourism on Instagram.
- Join the Facebook event page.
- Bookmark the CONVERGENCE Oshawa website.
What can I do to get pumped up?
Check out the festival playlist on Spotify!