About The Aleila Festival

Since the summer of 1997 Aleila, originally called The Expressive and Healing Arts Festival, has brought together people to co-create with each other. Co-created by artists Darinka Blagaj and David Berger the Festival presents a variety of artists, healers, and creative individuals who create playshops, workshops, performances, installations which encourage inspired participation. It has run in a number of locations throughout southern Ontario, including Parry Sound, Haliburton, Toronto and Muskoka.

Now in its 12th year, the Aleila Festival has been gathering like-minded, like hearted friends offering - an experiencial and co-creative retreat festival weekend in sacred space - outside of the city. This year we are adding a City event where we host our signature Gala Opening and Closing ceremonies, in the city and present a number of intimate, and inspired gatherings, performances, playshops, presentations all around Toronto... moments to enjoy and take part in.

While renting camps for the weekend retreats for many years the festival has now settled on 200 acres of family land, and we are excited about creating permanent structures for the future growth of the festival.

This year, 2008, for the second time the festival is bringing its themes, and its celebrations to the wider community of Toronto.