Mark your calendars!

“It’s Saturday night in Fredericton y’all!” internationally sought-after poet-rapper Michael Franti shouts to the faithful jammed into the electric, elbow-to-elbow Blues Tent on my last night at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which for six days, over six blocks, takes over this university-and-government-town.

“I always tell people if you want to visit Fredericton, come this weekend. It’s a great vibe,” says Chris Black, former owner of the Blue Door Restaurant, where my friends and I plot concert plans over perfectly prepared strip loin and Picaroons craft ale, brewed just one street over.

The festival, Fredericton’s largest, and celebrating its 25th anniversary September 15-20, is a major undertaking with 27 different stages. Harvest (harvestjazzandblues.com) may be large in scope—music oozes from nearly every street corner to the nightly tent-hop up Queen Street, the city’s main drag, closed to make room for buskers and food vendors (hello Bay of Fundy-fresh lobster rolls!)—but it’s still as intimate and layered as the emerging to top-notch talent it presents in up to 20 shows a night. This diversity is a big appeal—as are the nearly 1,000 volunteers who give the festival character and community.

“[The festival] brings that kind of Maritime hospitality to the forefront of the experience,” says Molly Demma, who volunteers with Harvest and several other community events. Volunteers are a key part to all successful Fredericton events, she says. And it’s not just the same few people. Many dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers give back, drawn by the sense of togetherness and joy events bring everyone involved.

“[We have] a group of volunteers passionate in the medium, and their passion is contagious,” agrees resident Stacey Russell.

When it comes to dynamic, toe-tapping events, Fredericton certainly sets the stage, offering everything from Canada’s oldest spirits festival to a major county music jam.

This year is ideal to check out events, several of which mark big milestones.

“Our focus for 2015 is ‘wow’ says Bobbi O’Donnell of Maritime Countryfest, the two-day, open-air festival held downtown in Officers’ Square each June, within the Historic Garrison District, a National Historic Site. “2015 will be the 10th annual Maritime Countryfest and we are anticipating upward of 5,000 patrons to help us accomplish just that,” she says of the event where emerging to international artists (past artists have included Travis Tritt, Trace Adkins, and Kellie Pickler) delight fans. (maritimecountryfest.com)

From pottery to rug-hooking, edVentures Fredericton offers fun learning experiences with more than 60 workshops between July 4-26.David Seabrook is manager of Fredericton Tourism, which presents the program in partnership with New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery and Kings Landing Historical Settlement.“Today’s travelers want to engage a destination at a deeper level, connect with a place and its people; and return home refreshed. edVentures Fredericton does that,” David says. (edVentures.ca)

The Picaroons Brewer’s Bash on July 11 celebrates Canadian craft beer, showcasing more than 300 products from the Yukon to Newfoundland. Organizer Sean Dunbar of Picaroons Traditional Ales wanted a way to celebrate brewers and get everyone together. The event, with food and entertainment, takes place in Officers’ Square and sells out well beforehand. (facebook.com/picaroons)

Government House’s historic setting gives the feeling of being on the grounds of a Scottish manor, but attending New Brunswick Highland Games, July 24-26, won’t set you back a pretty penny. A family of four can enjoy a day for $30.

From a five-kilometre kilted run to the largest massed bands in Atlantic Canada, the games offer Celtic entertainment, competition and free workshops in traditional Scottish activities and Gaelic language. (highlandgames.ca)

FredRock, a weekend of live music rock concerts in downtown Fredericton, also happens in July. (fredrockfest.com)

Come fall, more than 2,000 attendees from around the world converge for NB Spirits Festival, Canada’s oldest spirits festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary November 17-21 with 30-plus events including master classes hosted by international brand ambassadors, culinary and food pairings, seminars and tasting of the world’s finest spirits. It’s one of the few festivals with an on-site store. “We are the only spirits festival in Canada that gives every attendee a free taxi ride home at the end of the evening,” says festival chair Frank Scott. Each year, the festival also supports local charities. (raiseyourspirits.ca)

And Fredericton doesn’t forget winter! FROSTival, held over four jam-packed weekends in January and February, serves up 100 events, from sliding parties and sleigh rides to the Shivering Songs Festival and New Brunswick’s top winter festival, Winterfesthiver There’s live theatre, culinary offerings, and snowga (yes, yoga in the snow)! (frostival.ca)