Sakamoto brings stars to fireworks festival

Ron Sakamoto is doing it again. The renowned Lethbridge-based promoter is once again organizing the artistic part of a music and fireworks festival in northern Ontario. Sakamoto is lining up the talent for the Stars and Thunder 2018, the Timmins, Ont. international music and fireworks festival that runs for eight days starting June 24 and culminating on July 1.

Organizers have eight fireworks teams from countries around the world putting on spectacular shows each night after the Sakamoto-organized entertainment ends.

Sakamoto told me last week that this year’s inaugural festival attracted people from all Canadian provinces and several American states.

It’s a huge undertaking for the small northern Ontario city but was a fantastic success with every hotel in the area filled. Sakamoto says parking lots were even being used as campgrounds for festival-goers.

Until April 30, people can get early-bird pricing on tickets with eight-day admission costing $275. An eight-day VIP pass is $450 while day passes for the first six days are $80.

Day passes for Day 7 are $125 while the finale is $150 and available at starsandthunder.com.

Canada Day entertainment features Sons of Maxwell, Matthew Good and Our Lady Peace with Canadian superstar Bryan Adams closing the festival.

The diverse lineup throughout the festival includes acts such as 54-40, The Beach Boys, High Valley, Burton Cummings, Paul Brandt, Lindsay Ell, Gord Bamford, Marianas Trench, Aaron Goodvin, Colin James and Blue Rodeo.

Timmins is a long drive from southern Alberta but the city is also accessible by Air Canada.

This year’s festival cost about $4 million to organize and generated about $50 million in spinoffs to the city, according to Sakamoto.

I don’t know how many southern Albertans, aside from me, make a habit of heading to northern Ontario for vacation but if forests, crisp clean air and spectacular scenery are appealing to you, then Timmins may be worth a visit next year.

ONE SCOTCH, ONE BEER: Yes, the legendary George Thorogood and The Destroyers are coming to Lethbridge.

The band plays the Enmax Centre on May 5. Tickets go on sale Tuesday.