Whimble Webinar: Opening the Gates: Making Festivals Accessible

​Join us on November 20 at 12:00 PM for an engaging conversation on Opening the Gates: Making Festivals Accessible.

​Live events and music festivals bring people together but for many, accessibility barriers can make full participation difficult. From navigating festival grounds to accessing amenities and inclusive programming, there’s still much work to be done to ensure everyone can truly enjoy the experience.

​In this webinar, Keanna Louis-Charles, Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager at Ottawa Bluesfest and CityFolk Festival, will share insights from her journey advancing accessibility in large-scale live events.

​You’ll learn:

• ​Why accessibility must be built into the foundation of live events

• ​How to gain buy-in from senior leadership and stakeholders

• ​How Whimble and Bluesfest collaborated to create more inclusive festival spaces

• ​Real stories from patrons and staff about what worked and what still needs improvement

• ​Key lessons for organizers looking to embed accessibility from the start

​Born and raised in Ottawa, Keanna is a musician, advocate, and educator passionate about creating spaces where everyone can participate fully. With her background in Performance Music (Saxophone Studies) from Carleton University and deep community engagement experience, she brings both lived experience and professional insight to this important discussion.

​Let’s open the gates and reimagine what it means to make every festival for everyone.