Canada Day weekend is here, which means the folks at the Downtown Barrie BIA are ready for a full weekend of Promenade Days.
The four-day festival kicked off Friday night with an airshow by the popular Snowbirds and a concert from local band Sonic Coalition taking the main stage.
The event is hosted by the Downtown Barrie BIA and will see over 50 vendors and a projected 50,000 to 60,000 people descend upon the downtown core over the weekend.
BIA creative communications director Kristen Eatch told BarrieToday they have worked long and hard to be ready for the crowds.
“We started planning for Promenade Days in February by recruiting vendors and getting all the details dealt with then, so it has been non-stop since then,” said Eatch. “But the day is here and the weather is beautiful, so get down here if you’re not already.”
The air show is the main attraction with many waiting out the rain to watch the first show last night. A huge crowd is expected for today’s 1 p.m. event over Kempenfelt Bay.
“It's so fun that we have (the Snowbirds) here and the cool thing is that you’ll be able to hear and see them throughout the next few days as they practise before their set times,” said Eatch. “We got fantastic feedback last time they were here and it doesn’t matter what age you are, everyone loves the Snowbirds.”
Along with the Snowbirds, the events schedule is very full with a midway, Summer Ice and Barrie Wrestling returning as well as concerts at the Meridian Place stage all weekend which will feature local favourites The Martels and country star Aaron Goodvin.
While everyone is talking about The Rolling Stones at Burl’s Creek tonight, the BIA’s office and events administrator, Stacy Zubczyk, said they feel it may actually work out well for Promenade Days as opposed to taking away from it.
“We have placement ads all over the area and honestly we’re not concerned,” said Zubczyk. “I met a lady from Richmond Hill who heard about everything going on here and despite heading to Burl’s Creek, popped in town to check this out. I think we’ll get a lot of spill over.”
Eatch added that one of their ads is a very clever one with one of the taglines stating: “What’s louder than The Stones and free? The Barrie Air Show.'
For a full listing for the weekend, head to the BIA website for times and locations of events.
