‘Big event’: Kempenfest requires more than city waterfront this weekend
51st annual arts and crafts festival, not to mention hundreds of stay enjoyment, kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. Finger Eleven hits the phase Friday night
Kempenfest is again at the Barrie waterfront this weekend and is expected to see about 150,000 people by the time the four-working day festival ends on Monday.
The 51st once-a-year arts and crafts and stay entertainment occasion kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. when the doorways open up to the new music part of the weekend. Rock band Finger Eleven hits the phase soon right after.
This year’s occasion will feature more than 300 arts and crafts exhibitors, 30 antique sellers, 34 meals and beverage stores, two entertainment phases with much more than 40 hours of programming, the Ontario Turkey Farmers Little ones Village, and the Robertson Amusements Concept Park Midway.

Bob Stones, who is the chairman of the celebration this calendar year, told BarrieToday it has been a hectic 7 days, but one all people is ready for.
“We started off scheduling this about August of last year, so now we’re as completely ready as we will be and seeking ahead to a busy but fun week,” he reported. “We have all the crafts and booths individuals love to see, as very well as some terrific songs we definitely lucked out on by acquiring.”
Canadian rock legend Tom Cochrane headlines Saturday night time while region crooner Jade Eagleson will take over the key phase Sunday evening.
“Those will happen on the OLG Primary Phase over by the Southshore Centre, with distributors and enjoyment lining the lakefront all the way around to the little ones spot,” claimed Stones. “On the north stop, we have the good and the KOOL FM phase with new music for the families and some qualified wrestling, with all of that staying no cost.”
The amusement rides and video games will be at the north conclude of Centennial Beach front, with Friday night currently being sponsored by Tim Hortons. Any child wearing a Timbits jersey getting on rides for free of charge.
A thing new at the competition is a huge, interactive mural.
“It’s a paint-by-variety mural that was built by a local artist that will be out there for everyone, young children especially, to fill in component of it,” said Stones. “It will then be on exhibit with the City of Barrie someplace throughout the thirty day period of August and then back for the 2024 Kempenfest exactly where we will maintain adding to it.”
Stones said that although the setup of the celebration will probably hardly ever change, the organizers of Kempenfest under no circumstances relaxation on their laurels year to year.
“We cannot actually get any bigger from a structure stage of watch, but we do attempt to make the practical experience greater for the viewers each and every yr,” he stated.
Stones approximated additional than 400 volunteers from unique businesses all through the city support out above the weekend, having up about 62 shifts.
“The definitely amazing thing is anyone may possibly help out Friday evening on a shift, but they’ll occur down the other days to aid because they just love it so much,” he stated. “It’s a major occasion, if the weather conditions co-operates it’s a pleasurable function and we all are wanting ahead to it.”
In addition to the total of dollars invested at the competition, it is estimated that Kempenfest has an financial effects on the neighborhood economy of a lot more than $7 million. This estimate is based on the Ministry of Tourism modelling and factors in these things as hotel stays, local restaurant and procuring shelling out, gasoline buys, hotels, and so forth.
Persons who have attended Kempenfest in the previous know it truly is also superior to have a parking plan.
Kempenfest delivers cost-free shuttles servicing the waterfront, as perfectly as park-and-trip destinations in the north and south stop of Barrie conveniently accessed from Highway 400 and by Barrie Transit. Shuttles work on a 15- to 30-moment frequency, relying on website traffic. Stops are indicated with a Kempenfest Shuttle sign. Support several hours are as follows: Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Monday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For extra data on the Kempenfest shuttle provider and the function alone, head to the website by clicking here.
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