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ART OF BEING GREEN, LANARK
The Art of Being Green is a free, weekend festival in eastern Ontario that offers a fun way to learn more about the environment. This includes helpful information about the latest in fuel efficient vehicles and technology and energy efficient household products. With help from Celebrate Ontario, this year’s attendance increased from 4,500 to 7,000 people, filling every B&B within a 30 minute drive.
Photo credit: Lanark Era
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THE BEACHES INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, TORONTO
The Beaches International Jazz Festival kicked off its 20th anniversary with a new event at Woodbine Park targeting young adults. The “new generation” programming allowed the festival to attract new audiences and extended the event over two weekends, instead of one. In total, festival organizers estimate that the 10-day Festival attracted one million visitors from near and far.
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BURLINGTON’S SOUND OF MUSIC FESTIVAL, BURLINGTON
Burlington’s free, four-day Sound of Music Festival was proud to host new acts and attractions in 2008 with the help of Celebrate Ontario. Acts like the Jim Cuddy Band helped increase attendance on Sunday, a typically lower attendance period for the festival. Targeted marketing to Buffalo, NY and London, Ontario also helped draw out-of-town visitors to the festival.
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LAUGH OUT LOUD SUDBURY COMEDY FESTIVAL
Laugh Out Loud [LOL] Sudbury Comedy Festival is a hit with tourists, who have made their way to Sudbury from across Canada, New York and Michigan, providing economic spin-offs for local businesses in the hotel, leisure, retail and hospitality sectors. Thanks to funding from Celebrate Ontario in 2008, LOL Sudbury expanded its programming to include a Gala Show hosted by television sitcom and comedy legend Jason Alexander. The show was simultaneously broadcast live into 60 Cineplex Cinemas across Canada. |
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MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL, MORRISBURG
Knights in shining armour and medieval buskers were on show for the very first Medieval Festival at Upper Canada Village Heritage Park in June 2008. The festival attracted more than 7,300 visitors over three days, an impressive start for its first year. Over half of those who attended travelled from markets over 100 km away, a true testimony to the wide-spread appeal and potential growth of the event.
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OTTAWA BLUESFEST, OTTAWA
This year’s Ottawa Bluesfest was the most popular ever. An increase in the programming and production budgets contributed to the addition of the new “Roots” stage and expanded the depth of talent showcased at the festival. The result: An estimated attendance of 30,000 visitors over the 11-day event. Festival organizers estimate the direct economic impact to the region from out-of-town-visitors at $6.75 million.
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TD CANADA TRUST OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, OTTAWA
Celebrate Ontario helped enlist an impressive main stage line-up at the 2008 TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival, including performers Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, Lenny White and Herbie Hancock. Festival organizers estimate that attendance hit an all-time record with tourists staying longer in the city than in 2007.
Photo credit: Peter Jurunka |
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TD CANADA TRUST SUNFEST, LONDON
This year’s popular TD Canada Trust Sunfest 2008 set a brand new festival attendance record. From July 3 - 6, 2008, Sunfest attracted over 225,000 visitors to London’s Victoria Park, making it one of the biggest events of its kind in Ontario. Celebrate Ontario helped the festival create promotional opportunities not only in key out-of-town markets like Windsor/Detroit, but also across North America and beyond.
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