Facility will help draw major talent
PROVIDENCE BAY—Country music fans on Manitoulin have been reeling since the announcement of the cancellation of Manitoulin Country Fest, but great news is on the way. Thanks to the Providence Bay Agricultural Society as well as the championing and design work of committee member Wayne Legge, a new venue with the potential to host literally thousands has arisen—and it will be operational at this year’s fair on August 17.
Saturday night headliners Jade Eagleson and Nate Haller will be bolstered by the immense talent available on Manitoulin. Mr. Legge noted that local musicians will take to the stage on the Friday evening and all of the usual Providence Bay Agricultural Fair events that people have come to expect from the fair will be there along with some new things as well.
“We really wanted to support local,” he said.
Providence Bay Agricultural Society committee member Mr. Legge, the champion and designer of the new venue, is someone who usually prefers to remain in the background—but no good deed goes unpunished—so The Expositor has dragged him into the limelight to talk about all the things that have been going on. “I designed and orchestrated the whole build,” he admitted. That new build at the Prov Fair is no small undertaking, being ostensibly able to host audiences up to the 20,000 range, along with a stage/food prep/green room combination building.
“The loss of Manitoulin Country Fest (MCF)has left a big hole in the Island entertainment scene,” Mr. Legge said. When he learned of the loss of the venerable country music festival this year, the owner of Manitoulin Chrysler and a perennial supporter of MCF set about building something new to replace it. The Providence Bay Fair seemed the perfect opportunity, especially given that there is more than enough land available at the fairgrounds to make it a possibility.
“The new concrete structure is 64’ by 50’ with a 40’ by 50’ stage, a food prep area and two dressing rooms for the musicians,” explained Mr. Legge. “It is very large.”
The property itself could hose as many as 20,000 audience members, being located where the former motocross track was, but there will not be on-site camping this year. “Hopefully, we will be able to have up to 200 camping spaces,” said Mr. Legge.
He stressed that all of the usual Prov Fair events and attractions will be in place, including the Midway and a host of vendors. That is one of the beauties of setting the new musical event as part of the fair. “We will be able to leverage all of the food and other vendors that are at the fair during the day,” said Mr. Legge.
“We have had wonderful support from local businesses that have all come onside, it’s been amazingly helpful,” he said.
Tickets will be available at the market in Providence Bay each Thursday and can be purchased online either by scanning the QR code in the ad on Page 13 in this week’s edition of The Expositor or by visiting www.events.frontdoor.plus/event/633.
