The Trews will headline Niagara College Night at the Niagara Food Festival on Sept. 6.
For the second consecutive year, Niagara College’s Orientation concert will be paired with opening night at the Niagara Food Festival.
Niagara College Night at the Niagara Food Festival, held in historic downtown Welland, incorporates the College’s Orientation Week concert into the festival. This year’s Niagara College Night, to be held on Friday, September 6, will feature Canadian recording artists The Trews, as well as Balconies, and Head of the Herd.
“We see the Niagara Food Festival as a great opportunity to welcome our new students into the community as we mark the start of a new academic year,” said Rick Anderson, Niagara College’s director of student services. “We’re very pleased to join with one of Niagara’s signature festivals, and we look forward to a very exciting and successful event.”
News about Niagara College Night was part of the Niagara Food Festival launch on July 17 held at Welland City Hall. The 20th annual Niagara Food Festival will take place Sept. 6-8.
To mark the Festival’s 20th anniversary milestone, organizers have raised the bar on one of Niagara’s signature events, with an expanded list of food vendors; major acts such as the The Trews, Wide Mouth Mason and Big Sugar; and appearances by Food Network celebrity chefs Chuck Hughes, Anna Olson and others.
“To mark our 20th anniversary, we really wanted to crank it up a notch,” said Brad Morgan, chair of the Festival’s Board of Directors. “We’re very pleased to offer a Festival line-up that brings something for everyone from foodies to families, and promises to deliver one of the most successful and exiting events yet.”
Niagara College’s Benchmark Restaurant will be among more than 40 food vendors who have confirmed their participation in this year’s Festival, including traditional favourites – MT Bellies, Country Corner Market, the Smokin’ Buddha, Rose City Pizza, the Rex Hotel and many more – as well as new vendors – Riverstone Event Centre, Chang Noi’s Thai Cuisine, the legendary Blue Star Restaurant, Paris Crepes, Moksha Indian Bistro, Bob’s Baked Taters, Caribbean Flavour, Shriners Kettle Creek Popcorn, Panzeroli Food, and Big Guys BBQ.
Saturday’s main-stage entertainment headliner will feature five time Juno nominees, the legendary Big Sugar with Gordie Johnson along with Canadian blues-rock act Wide Mouth Mason, as well as local favourites Street Pharmacy and standouts from the Niagara live music scene Redline.
Sunday will see local acts the Serpentine Gunners and the Hard Rockers along with indie artists Jessica Stewart Few featuring Jessica Stewart on the unique sounding 13 String traditional Japanese koto and the amazing Celtic sounds of Niagara’s Ceol Cara.
“We’re thrilled to offer some of the biggest-name acts we’ve had in the 20-year history of the Festival,” said Morgan.
Food Network celebrity chef Chuck Hughes, star of Chuck’s Day Off and Chuck’s Week Off, returns to the Festival’s Mobile Culinary Theatre (MCT) on Saturday, as well as Top Chef Canada finalist Danny Smiles. Fellow Food Network Celebrity Chef (and Welland’s own) Anna Olson will appear on Sunday.
An array of world-class street performers will also entertain guests on Saturday and Sunday at the corner of Main and Cross Streets.
Friday and Saturday night will both end with a spectacular firework display over the Welland Canal, which will run from approximately 10:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. both nights.
A wide range of community partners and businesses will contribute to the success of this year’s Festival through financial and in-kind support, including major partners like the City of Welland, Niagara College, and the Province of Ontario.
“We’re extremely grateful to the businesses and organizations who sponsor our event,” said Morgan. “These partners share our vision of presenting a signature community event that showcases local restaurants and food producers, and brings people to Welland and Niagara.”
In the lead-up to this year’s event, Festival fans will have a weekly chance to win up-close, VIP experiences with the headline acts and celebrity chefs through a regular contest on the Festival’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Currently celebrating its 20th year, the Niagara Food Festival – dubbed “The Peninsula’s Tastiest Party” – draws thousands of visitors to historic downtown Welland each year. The Festival features a diverse group of food vendors providing a taste of Niagara; live entertainment on the Festival Main Stage, celebrity chefs on the Festival’s Mobile Culinary Theatre; spectacular fireworks displays, contests and more. This year’s Niagara Food Festival takes place September 6, 7 and 8 in downtown Welland. Learn more at www.niagarafoodfestival.com; “Like” the Niagara Food Festival on Facebook and follow @NiagaraFoodFest on Twitter.
