Concert opens Virgil Stampede tonight
The 49th annual Virgil Stampede begins with a concert tonight, making it a four-day event this year.
The kick-off concert, indoors at the Meridian Credit Union Arena in Niagara-on-the-Lake, will feature a wide range of musical styles and genres by three Niagara bands performing at the over-19 event, with beer, wine and food for sale.
The Kerouacs, Figure Four and Renegade are all bands with their own following, seen most often at local events and bars.
Tickets cost $20 at the door and the show runs from 7 p.m. until just after midnight.
Tickets are available in Virgil at Penner’s Building Centre, the Meridian Credit Union, Phil’s Valu-mart, Niagara Motors and Simpsons Pharmacy, all on Niagara Stone Rd. in Virgil.
Homeniuk Rides is offering a reduced all-day ride price. Bracelets cost $35 if purchased at the stampede, and can be used for one day, all day, from the time the rides begin operating in the morning until closing time.
If purchased in advance at Phil’s valu-mart in Virgil, until store closing at 9 p.m. Friday, May 15, an allday bracelet will cost $25.
There will be a kids’ pavilion Sat- urday to Monday, with Mad Science, pony rides, kids’ karaoke and air-brush face-painter CarrieAnne McIsaac. Everything in the kid’s pavilion is free, except the face painting.
There will be a bike safety rodeo for kids in the Centennial Arena Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m., with some awesome prizes to be won and two bikes to be given away.
Magician and juggler Tim Holland will perform Saturday and Monday several times both days, and Mike London of London Reptiles will bring some of his favourite creatures Saturday and Monday.
The mud bog run has become one of the best-attended events at the stampede, and will begin Saturday at 2 p.m. with ATVs, dirt bikes and small trucks competing.
And of course, the crowd favourite — the fireworks — will wrap up the Victoria Weekend celebration Monday night.
The event opens Saturday and Monday at 9:30 a.m., admission is $5, with children under 15 free. There is no charge at the gate Sunday, when the stampede opens at 11 a.m.
The town is providing free busing to the stampede all day Saturday.
The Virgil Stampede is located at the Virgil Sports Park on Four Mile Creek Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
All proceeds support community recreation projects.