54- 40 pumping up downtown Falls festival
Buskers, puzzle hunt added to draw crowds
Veteran Vancouver rockers 54- 40 will headline this year’s downtown Niagara Falls Springlicious festival.
Now in their 35th year, one of Canada’s most popular bands of the 1990s will play the main stage May 30. It continues the festival’s trend of familiar Canadian acts to anchor the event’s second ( and biggest) night.
Organized by Celebrate Old Downtown, the ninth annual Springlicious will run May 29 to 31.
Last year, with headliner Sloan, was the festival’s most successful. About 34,000 people attended over the three days.
Downtown BIA general manager Nemanja Kuntos says some family friendly additions should keep the crowds coming.
“We want to cater to as many younger people as we can,” he says. “People wanted to see more family oriented stuff throughout the day. Th e evenings are a more adult setting, but throughout the day we want to do as many things as we can with the kids.”
New this year will be a section for buskers, and a puzzle hunt along the street created by The Escape Room ( formerly the Q Club). Returning will be a band competition hosted by 97.7 HTZFM, and the School- a- Palooza talent competition among Niagara Falls’ six high schools.
Kuntos says there will also be 20 food vendors and at least 15 merchandise vendors stretching along Queen St. for the three days.
In addition to the main stage near city hall, there will be a stage set up near Crysler Ave. and another at Taps Brewery.
Events will also be happening at the Seneca Queen theatre throughout the weekend. A larger midway will be set up on the former Rosberg’s site.
Springlicious started with a splash in 2007, with headliners April Wine bringing the biggest crowd in years downtown. It has since been Queen St.’ s anchor event of the season, spawning other freebies like the upcoming Cruising the Q. From May 5 to Oct. 6, the street will host a car show every Tuesday night from 6 to 9.
“It brings awareness of the downtown, what’s going on,” says Kuntos of Springlicious’s fi rst nine years.
People wanted to see more family oriented stuff throughout the day. The evenings are a more adult setting, but throughout the day we want to do as many things as we can with
the kids.” Nemanja Kuntos