Surprise shows, new murals at Sudbury’s Up Here Festival
The Up Here Festival is on this weekend in Greater Sudbury – featuring urban art and emerging musicians in the city’s core.
Muralists can been seen at work painting large scale works of art in the downtown. Music will also fill Durham Street and other surprise locations in the core.
Part of Durham Street in downtown Sudbury is closed off for the celebration – although artists are also scattered in the downtown area painting large scale pieces.
"Urban art is super important to building community,” said We Live Up Here general manager Jaymie Latham.
“It's also important to reflect the community and kind of really identify the folks that live within the city of Sudbury."
Festival organizers said the event draws many tourists to the city.
"The festival started in 2015 as this small little wacky idea and it's grown into this beautiful big project that brings people from across the province and from across the country here together,” said co-founder Christian Pelletier.
“It's pretty cool to see our tourism numbers we are at 28% so that is one in three people that are showing up at the festival who are from out of town."
At the kick off to the Up Here Festival the mayor Paul Lefebvre highlighted its economic impact.
"We are looking at over $5 million of economic spin off over the past nine years of this festival alone,” said Lefebvre.
“The economic spin off is one thing and all the jobs it creates. At the same time on the mural side the long lasting visual impact in our community I think is worth all the investments that we are making."
Downtown Sudbury is the major sponsor of the festival and officials agree it has a lasting impact.
"Like any festival there is just a great vibe of all the people around. But one of the amazing things about this festival is it lasts well beyond the weekend,” said Jeff MacIntyre, founder of Marketing Hounds in the city core and former chair of the Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area.
“The amazing international artists that come down put murals on our walls and we have people tour downtown Sudbury all year long looking at the great art that has been put up."
- Want more Sudbury news? Visit CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca's Sudbury news page
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
Organizers said surprise shows happen in secret locations throughout the weekend.
Notifications are sent out only 15-20 minutes before the shows begin on the free Up Here app.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

1 in 9 Canadian adults have had long-term symptoms from COVID infection: StatCan
Statistics Canada says about one in nine Canadian adults have had long-term symptoms from COVID-19 infection.
More wintry weather is on its way to Canada, with a big storm system closing in
Canadians should expect snow, freezing rain and more winter conditions this weekend as storms travel across the country.
'Pseudoscience': Alberta's health minister under fire for naturopathic medicine meeting
Alberta's health minister is facing pushback after taking a meeting focused on naturopathic medicine's role in the province's primary care.
Canada is deporting more people faster, drawing concern from migrant advocates
Advocates are sounding the alarm on the rise in deportations in Canada and are calling on the federal government to follow through on its 2021 promise to expand a regularization program for undocumented people living in the country.
Two charged with murder of Quebecer Daniel Langlois and partner in Dominica
The director of public prosecutions in the Caribbean nation of Dominica has confirmed that two men have been charged in the death of Quebecer Daniel Langlois and his partner.
Time's up for some short-term rentals in B.C., as new housing rules transform scene
Short-term rental managers across B.C. are lamenting the demise of their business model, while real estate agents say owners of investment properties are being forced to sell at a loss or risk being unable to pay their mortgage.
More caffeinated energy drinks pulled from shelves: Here's what was recalled in Canada this week
Here's a list of items Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled this week, including mushrooms, more caffeinated energy drinks, and electric cooktops.
Judge rules in favour of NBA star, nullifies purchase of $8M Burlington mansion once occupied by 'crypto king'
A judge has ruled in favour of NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his lawsuit against a company that sold him a Burlington mansion previously occupied by self-proclaimed ‘crypto king’ Aiden Pleterski.
NFL coach apologizes for crediting 9/11 hijackers for co-ordination in Buffalo Bills team meeting years ago
An emotional Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott acknowledged regret on Thursday for crediting the 9/11 hijackers for their co-ordination during a team meeting four years ago.