multi-day festival with on-site camping; plan for gear, weather and transport
What is on site
Safety & welfare
- On-site medical
Facilities
- Showers
- Family area
About Armstrong MetalFest
Armstrong MetalFest is a two-day heavy metal festival in Armstrong, a small town at the north end of BC's Okanagan Valley, roughly halfway between Vancouver and Calgary. It is run by the West Metal Entertainment Society, a not-for-profit that also puts on smaller concerts and fundraisers around the North and Central Okanagan, and it takes place at the Interior Provincial Exhibition (IPE) grounds and Hassen Arena. The 2027 dates are July 16 to 17.
The festival began in 2009 as "Armstrong Open Air", a backyard-style event in a farm field with eleven local bands on a stage built from a gooseneck trailer, modelled on European open-air metal festivals. It later outgrew the field and moved to the Hassen Arena, which let it offer camping and facilities to more people. It took a two-year break in 2020 and 2021. Past lineups have included Cattle Decapitation, Suffocation, Archspire, Cryptopsy, Unleash The Archers and Striker, and the 2025 bill featured Havok, Born of Osiris and The Browning. The festival belongs to the Western Canadian Metal Festival Alliance. Band submissions for 2027 are open; no 2027 lineup has been announced.
The ticket page still shows 2026 pricing, so 2027 prices aren't confirmed. For reference, 2026 weekend general admission ran from $188.99 for early bird to $246.74 for advance tickets and $288.74 at the door, with single-day door tickets at $157.49, including GST. A weekend pass includes tent camping. Parking in the main lot is free, but parking inside the camping area needs a vehicle pass, and RV sites with water and 15A power are reserved separately. Day passes are sold at the gate and include a night of camping.
The festival is all ages, though anyone 16 or younger must be with a parent or guardian, and kids under 12 get in free. There's a quieter family camping area called Atlantis. Guests can arrive from 11 am Thursday to set up and must leave by noon Sunday. The arena and the campground each have washrooms with stalls and showers. Medics are on site during the day until the campsite settles down, and security patrols 24/7. Alcohol stays at your campsite; inside the venue you drink in the beer gardens, and ID is checked every time. No glass, no campfires and no pets. Beyond the bands, the festival has run side events such as the Yeti Games, sword-fighting demonstrations, thrash wrestling and a Magic: The Gathering meet-up. Shops and restaurants in Armstrong are about five minutes from the arena.
Getting there
Interior Provincial Exhibition (IPE) grounds and Hassen Arena, Armstrong, British Columbia. Check the official site for transport and parking guidance.
Status
Active (next edition announced).
Planning
confirm dates, tickets and entry policies on the official website before travelling.
Image credits
- Logo: Armstrong MetalFest, Official logo from the festival's own website (logo source 3). Trademark of Armstrong MetalFest; no licence wording on the page, use for identification only. · source
Photos may be resized or cropped. Logos belong to their festivals.
Frequently asked
Is camping included?
Yes. Tent camping is included with a weekend pass. Vehicle camping needs a vehicle pass, and RV sites with water and 15A power are reserved separately.
Can I bring my kids?
Yes. It is an all-ages event; kids under 12 get in free, and anyone 16 or younger must be with a parent or guardian.
Can I buy a day pass?
Yes. Day passes are sold at the gate and include a night of camping.
Are there showers?
Yes. There are washroom facilities with stalls and showers in both the arena and the camping area.
Can I bring my dog?
No. No pets of any kind are allowed on the grounds.
When can I arrive?
From 11 am on Thursday to set up camp. You must leave before noon on Sunday.
Contact the festival
Last verified 2026-10-02. Dates, prices and lineups change — always confirm on the official festival site before booking.