Doors open for revamped Heritage Festival

Heritage Festival chairman John Strang sells wristbands last night at the Capitol Centre. Photo by Bill Tremblay, Special to BayToday.ca

North Bay Heritage Festival organizers have lit a fire by booking the legendary rock band The Doors to play at the revamped event.

The group, now known as The Doors of the 21st Century, makes the only Canadian stop of its current North American tour in North Bay, hundreds of people found out lasts night at the Capitol Centre during the official festival launch.

And, juding from the line-ups to purchase wristbands after the launch, there will be no shortage of people to watch the three-piece ensemble perform.

Mayor Vic Fedeli was first to buy one, and was soon followed by hundreds of others.

The entertainment roster also includes two-time Juno Award winner Canadian Idol winner Kalan Porter, American Hi-Fi, and Amanda Stott.

Country fans will be able to see Carolyn Dawn Johnson, who was nominated for Country Recording of the year, and Aaron Lines.

Other attractions for the Festival will include a inflatable park, a petting zoo, a Much Music dance party, Monster Bingo, and an extreme sports show.

Five-hundred special wristbands will be sold for children for a “meet and greet” with Dora the explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Kids will also be able to see shows by Fairly Odd Parents and Blue’s Clues.

This year’s festival will take on a new image with a new logo and a tighter layout of the grounds. The festival will plan to be more concentrated to the North end of Memorial Drive instead of being thinned out along the entire waterfront.

Camping is also being offered to festival goers in Lee Park with onsite hydro, water and dumping station.

Wristbands for the festival will be sold for $20 for one or $80 for 5 up until July 29th, and wristbands at the door will $25. Children under the age of ten will be admitted free.