Great music, cuisine from all over the globe, lots of rides including helicopter tours and loads of fun kids’ activities are just days away as the 33rd annual Belleville Waterfront and Ethnic Festival gets underway Thursday.
The four-day event hosted by the Belleville Chamber of Commerce promises to have something for everyone with a vendor marketplace, midway full of rides and games, ethnic food village, Quinte Craft Beer Garden, live entertainment, helicopter rides and much more.
Event organizer Susan Walsh said in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, the festival has increased the multi-cultural entertainment this year to celebrate Canadian diversity.
Walsh stated there are some stellar acts hitting the mainstage on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m.
Walsh beamed there are some new additions on the menu this year with the addition of the Quinte Craft Beer Garden.
On Thursday the midway opens at West Zwick’s Park at 4 p.m. and that is the only discount bracelet day. The Ethnic Food Village at opens at 5 p.m. along with the Quinte Craft Beer Garden.
The Quinte Ethnic Council’s Ethnic Food Village celebrates 11 different cultures this year with Caribbean, Greece, Holland, India (India Curry House), Italy (Jim’s Pizzeria), Korea, Mexico (Chilangos), Poland, Portugal, Thailand (Thai Riffic) & Tibet (Oriental Wok). You can also find a taste of Canada at Goin’ Coastal and options for gluten-free diets. With the new addition of the Bay of Quinte Craft Beer Garden this year, ten local breweries are coming and will have beer and cider on tap. Admission is free to the Festival and tokens are sold on site.
The official opening is on Friday, July 7 with the Parade of Nations starting from the main gate at 6:00 to the opening ceremonies at the Mainstage. Admission is free. Parking is $5.00 but there are free shuttles into the park from the Belleville Transit terminal on Pinnacle St. Midway wrist bands are on advance sale until Wednesday, July 5 (or until supplies last). They can be purchased for $20 cash at the Log Cabin or on site for $22 (Thursday) and $27 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
The Children’s Village will have RJ The Balloon Dude & Face Art creations daily – along with the Zoosemobile and the Canada 150 Monster Colouring Mural.
Also on Friday, the virtual reality SESQUI tour is under the Tom Gavey Pavilion with 6 “real life” tours celebrating Canada along with an instrument petting zoo and Bob the Builder by Mainstage.
On the mainstage, it’s Flashback Friday with hits from the 50s, 60s and 70s coming on with the Rooke Band at 7:00 p.m. followed up by the 70s Revolution on stage at 9:15 p.m.
Saturday’s Mainstage events begin early at 12:30 pm featuring both dance and music from local and popular entertainers… starting with Freddy Vette & His Rhinestone Plowboys for the country fans out there and then a taste of Canadian with Jeanette Arsenault & Friends followed by the live stage show “Canada Rocks” celebrating decades of Canadian music with live vocalists and a multimedia show.
On Sunday, it’s Princess & Pirate Day. The Canine Watersports show has been such a hit, they are back again all weekend on the hill. The Ultimutts Stunt Dog Show has been added for Sunday in the Children’s Village.
Sunday afternoon starts with a Cape Breton Celtic Kitchen Party at noon with PJ & Dylan Gown coming on around 2:30 and Carl Dixon and 3 other former members of The Guess Who finish out the Festival’s entertainment.