GUELPH — The days of the long lines and quick sell-outs of tickets for Hillside Festival may be over.

Marie Zimmerman, executive director, said ticket sales are going well, but a month before the big event, single day and weekend passes are still available.

This has not been the case for Hillside for the past several years.

According to a timeline posted at www.hillsidefestival.ca the first time the festival sold out was 2005. In 2006 all the weekend passes were sold out in the first week. And in 2007 the winter version, Hillside Inside, sold out for the first time.

It had become a tradition for people to camp outside the Hillside office — sometimes overnight — to get weekend passes when they first went on sale. That didn't happen this year.

"There are tons of festivals now," Zimmerman said. "We're all competing for people who want that immersion in the arts."

But Hillside has its own vibe, Zimmerman said, listing environmentalism, altruism, volunteerism and community as the qualities Hillside has become known for.

"There's a little bit of Hillside in everyone," she said.

And there's still a unique mix of established and emerging artists in the lineup, plus holistic workshops, food tents, crafters and demonstrations in which to take part, she said.

"We're at the point where we put up the main schedule and ticket sales skyrocket," she said.

The line up is as eclectic as ever, including locals like The Kramdens and eccodek, bigger names like Great Lake Swimmers, Braids and the Constantines, and some unexpected acts, like children's performer Fred Penner.

Michael Franti and Spearhead is the headliner for opening night on July 24 and it was quite a coup to get him, Zimmerman said.

Franti has been a musician for many years but gained some notoriety for a song he wrote, "Same As it Ever Was," after the race riots in Ferguson, Missouri last year.

"He's a peace activist and we're lucky he wants to come to Hillside," Zimmerman said. "He's right up our ally. His songs are joyful, about community and about peace."

The band DakhaBrakha has an interesting set planned when they take the stage. The Ukrainian band is on a mission to modernize its traditions and folk songs making them relevant, especially to young people in Ukraine.

But this was a weird request.

"They wanted to make borscht on stage," Zimmerman said. She said she talked with public health who said they can't make it and serve it to people, "so we're having it made in a commercial kitchen and transported to the lake. They want to serve it to their audience."

The Mongolian band Hanggai is on a similar mission to revive its traditions by mixing old songs with contemporary rock. The Guelph Film Festival will be showing a documentary about this band over Hillside weekend and there will be a question and answer session with as well.

Which is why Zimmerman knows that less than 1 per cent of the world's population speaks Mongolian. She's on the hunt for a translator.

Another aspect of Hillside that the musicians like as much as the audience are the workshops or jam sessions.

"We match seasoned artists with emerging artists and they play together," Zimmerman said. "It's utterly fascinating to see this play out. It's a real education for the musicians and the audience. Often the musicians have just met, but some have gone on to collaborate after Hillside."

One such session will include Nick Craine, Andrew McPherson, Chris Brown and Jeremy Fisher who normally don't play together but will combine their talents to play songs by Prince.

The 32nd edition of Hillside Festival takes place at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area July 24 to 26. Weekend passes are $139 each plus tax; Friday passes are $55 plus tax; Saturday and Sunday day passes are $83 plus tax. Weekend passes for seniors are $69.50 plus tax. Children under 12 are free.

Visit www.hillsidefestival.ca for all the details.