NEWS RELEASE
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR
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TORONTO – Sensory pleasures will reach new heights at the 2018 edition of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
Today, event organizers announced details of a new program, The Country Music Culinary Festival, which showcases country musicians as well as veteran and up-and-coming Canadian chefs.
In partnership with Canada’s largest country music festival, Boots and Hearts, the 96th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will kick off with the first stop on Tim Hicks “Get Loud” tour on Thursday, Nov. 1. Tickets start at $55 for subscribers and went on sale to the general public Thursday, July 19 at 10 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.ca.
“The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is known for showcasing the best of the country in the heart of the city,” says Charlie Johnstone, CEO of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. “We’ve always offered great food and music. But this year, as we ramp up to our centennial celebration, we’re taking things to a new level. We’re delighted to launch the 2018 edition of The Royal with homegrown talent, both in live country music and culinary arts.”
The main feature of the festival is the first stop on the Tim Hicks “Get Loud” tour presented by Boots and Hearts, which takes place Thursday evening at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
Canadian country music icon and Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase alum, Tim Hicks, will be joined by The Washboard Union, Tebey and Madeline Merlo. The concert will feature a pre-show reception featuring Chef Matt Basile of Fidel Gastro.
The following night, on Friday, The Royal will feature the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase, which highlights new Canadian country artists. The culinary portion of this program is still being finalized, but guests can expect to take a cooking lesson from a notable chef at the Burnbrae Farms Culinary Academy, another new feature attraction this year.
Tim Hicks’ “Get Loud” tour launches new program, The Country Music Culinary Festival, at 96th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on November 1.
“At nearly one hundred years old, The Royal lives and breathes ‘Boots life;’ there’s no better place for Boots and Hearts Presents to bring a winter show to the city,” says Lisa Zechmeister, Director of Booking and Development at Boots and Hearts Music Festival. “These four Canadian acts are a powerhouse of talent and are the perfect combination to kick off the 96th Royal and the Tim Hicks Canadian tour.”
“There’s something for everyone at The Royal,” says Johnstone. “Whether it’s farm animals, artisanal local foods, equestrian sports or social opportunities and music performances in truly unique settings, everyone who visits The Royal ends up loving The Royal.”
Early bird pricing for the concert is available to subscribers of The Royal, July 18, with tickets starting at $55 plus fees. Tickets go on sale to the general public for $65 plus fees July 19 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.ca. More information can be found at RoyalFair.org/entertainment.
Tickets to the culinary component of The Country Music Culinary Festival as well as general admission to the fair grounds are scheduled to go on sale at the end of summer. For more information on The Royal, all show ticket prices or to become a subscriber, visit RoyalFair.org.
Since 1922, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair hosts a multi-day festival showcasing the best in agriculture, equine and animal competitions and exhibitions from across the country.
Hosted at Exhibition Place in Toronto, the 1,000,000 square-foot space is magically transformed into large-scale, interactive exhibits, featuring more than 5,000 animals and more than 120 agricultural competitions including artisanal cheeses, craft beer and cider, jams and jellies, honey, maple syrup, giant vegetables and butter sculpting.
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair officially opens Friday, Nov. 2, and ends Nov. 11.
The Country Music Culinary Festival at The Royal was made possible thanks to the generous support of the province of Ontario.
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