Festival Crowd ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Ahh, summer. The time for ice cream, swimming pools, flip flops, and most importantly, music festivals. Where are you going to be rocking out this summer? Sure, there are plenty of feasts in and around Seattle, but if you’re going to be crowded in amongst a million people, fighting for a spot from which (if you turn slightly to the left and crane your neck) you can see your favorite band, wouldn’t you rather they be Canadians? They are, after all, incredibly polite, remarkably good looking, and, thanks to the lower temperatures up North, distinctly less sweaty.

Here are five suggestions for musical Canadian getaways this summer.

CALGARY FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL July 22-25, Calgary, Alberta

Musical highlights: Ghostkeeper, Dan Mangan, The Burning Hell

Bonus feature: “Folk Boot Camp,” a workshop series taught by artists performing at the festival.

Tickets: $135 through June 21; $165 after. *

DAWSON CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL July 16-18, Dawson City, Yukon Territories

Musical highlights: Constantines, Dan Mangan, Elliott Brood

Bonus features: Balmy 60F average July temperature; chance of partying with actual moose.

Tickets: $120 for a weekend pass.

HILLSIDE FESTIVAL July 23-25, Guelph, Ontario

Musical highlights: Basia Bulat, Brasstronaut, The Wooden Sky, Young Rival, Zeus

Bonus feature: Environmentally-conscious festival offers no disposable dishes, but employs “dish ninjas” to wash your reusable dishes for you.

Tickets: $49-$69 per day.

SLED ISLAND June 30 – July 3, Calgary, Alberta

Musical highlights: Dinosaur Jr., Fucked Up, Hollerado, The Pack A.D., Seattle’s own Unnatural Helpers

Bonus features: Film festival featuring King Khan as guest curator; cute viking bunnies on the festival website.

Tickets: $170 for a wristband good for both the music and the film festival.

WOLFE ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL August 6-7, Kingston, Ontario

Musical Highlights: Weakerthans, Shad, Bahamas

Bonus feature: Non-profit festival benefits Wolfe Island Community Center.

Tickets: $50 including camping before June 12; $58 plus camping after.

*All prices in CAD

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Plants and Animals: -Mississippi Studios (Portland) May 21 -The Crocodile (Seattle) May 22 Caribou: -Neumos (Seattle) May 27 -Sugar (Victoria) May 28 -The Rickshaw Theatre (Vancouver) May 29 -Sasquatch Festival May 3

Born Ruffians, Young Rival: -Vera Project (Seattle) June 7 -Alex Goolden Hall (Victoria) June 8 -The Biltmore Cabaret (Vancouver) June 9

The New Pornographers: -The Vogue (Vancouver) July 14, 15 -Crystal Ballroom (Portland) July 16 -Britt Pavilion (Jacksonville, OR) July 17 -The Showbox (Seattle) July 31, Aug 1

The Pack A.D.: -The Biltmore (Vancouver) June 4

Wolf Parade: - The Showbox (Seattle) July 26