Post by Rick (Admin) on Aug 1, 2013 4:14:21 GMT -5
Summer in the Park just days away
The city's public works crews are busy putting up staging, fencing and posting signs on the Kate Pace Way reminding people of road and bike path closures during this weekend's Summer in the Park festival.
Lee Park is now filled with various midway rides and Veteran's Field is being prepared to host the Million-Dollar-Hole-In-One.
The country open stage, craft and food vendors will soon occupy Lee Park and the main stage is being set-up this afternoon.
Jacques Lacourse, festival chairman, said weekend wristbands are about 50% sold out.
He said if sales are like last summer's festival the majority of wristbands will be sold this week.
“I couldn't be prouder of what the festival committee has done. We've definitely picked up a great festival.”
Lacourse said they were able to bring back key components of the festival like the live musical entertainment and car show.
“We're still looking at other events, but the budget constrains us,” he said.
“The air show is the hidden gem. I would like to see the air show happen again. We've laid some groundwork, but it will never be as big as it once was unless we get a corporate sponsor that has deep pockets.”
Lacourse said the goal of the festival is to keep what has worked in the past.
“So maybe instead of a weekend airshow, we'll have an hour-long airshow. There's tons of private airshow acts that want to come and perform, but how are we going to pay for it?”
The festival is also auctioning off meet and greets on its Summer in the Park Facebook page.
The current price as of Tuesday afternoon to meet Carly Rae Jepsen is $85, $10 for Metric and a $1 for Dragonette. There are no bids for Hey Ocean.
Lacourse said the festival committee is working at making the event an economic driver for the region.
He said gas stations, restaurants and hotels are starting to see the payoff.
Lacourse, whose full-time job is the general manager at the Clarion Resort Pinewood Park, said rooms are 90% full Saturday night.
j.hamilton-mccharles@sunmedia.ca
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Kate Pace Way is closed from Lee Park to Lee Avenue (Veterans Field) until Tuesday Aug. 6 at 4 p.m.
Daytime Programming – Lee Park
Alex the Lion from Madagascar, Art in the Park, Birds of Prey, button making station, face painting, Hero – bubble blowing and agility dog, inflatable land, Little Ray's Reptile Zoo- Crocodiles of the World, Million Dollar Hole-In-One, North Bay Multicultural Centre cricket tournament, Northern Ontario Country Open Singing Contest, petting zoo, Shriner's Clown Unit, car and bike show and World's Finest Shows Midway.
Drive-in movie at Canadore College Commerce Court Campus Sunday. The movie, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, starts at 9 p.m. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $25 per vehicle.
Evening programming
Friday
Nightbox 7 p.m.
X Ambassadors 8 p.m.
Hey Ocean 9 p.m.
Metric 10 p.m.
Saturday
Tease Group 7-7:20 p.m.
Holly Cunningham 7:30-7:50 p.m.
Depatie and Hyatt 8-8:20 p.m.
Dragonette 9 p.m.
Carly Rae Jepsen 10 p.m.
Sunday
Terrorbirds
The Beat Walkers
Jim Harney and Friends
Myles Goodwyn and April Wine
*Sunday concerts are free however food bank donations are being collected.
Wristbands can be purchased for $30 for a one night pass or $40 for the weekend up until Friday at 9 a.m. The price will then jump to $40 per night or $50 for the weekend.
Wristbands can be purchased at the City of North Bay parks and recreation department, chamber of commerce, Capitol Centre, Clarion Resort Pinewood Park, TD Bank, Northgate Shopping Centre and Canada Post in Callander, Bonfield, Corbeil, Sturgeon Falls and North Bay.