Kingfest will be over three days, thanks to grant from the Province
By Bill Rea

The upcoming Kingfest Music festival is taking off better than even the organizers had planned.

They learned officially Monday that they will be receiving grants from the province totalling almost $94,000. And King Township councillors kicked in with some good news of their own, approving a grant for $2,500, as well as another $2,500 to come from the municipality's economic development fund.

Kingfest Executive Director Nancy Bodi appeared before council Monday night to announce that the extra funding from the province means the two-day event in June will now take place over three days. The festival will be at the King campus of Seneca College June 22, 23 and 24.

Festival Chair Patrick Gossage was also on hand for the council meeting, expressing gratitude for the support the Township offered for last year's event, and expressing the hope there would be more of the same this year. Council did not disappoint.

"This is going to become a much more important event for King and York Region," he declared, adding it's a great opportunity "to make people in Toronto aware this beautiful, beautiful township here."

Being able to run the festival over the Friday evening now means the anticipated attendance figures for the event have been increased. Bodi said they are hoping to attract 8,000 over the three days, which is a big increase of the 650 who were entertained last year. The 2006 festival was held indoors over two nights at Country Day School. This will be a large, outdoor event, she said, featuring "multiple genres of music," including jazz, blues, roots, country, pop and rock. It will also be the first outdoor festival to showcase the diversity of talent in York Region in one forum. And it will be in support of Habitat for Humanity.

The program is still being prepared, but the closing acts for the Saturday and Sunday nights will include renowned singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn and famed band Prairie Oyster. She added a full roster of performers should be announced early next month.

"There's so much exciting news still to come," Bodi

"There's so much exciting news still to come," Bodi declared.

Kingfest is one of 57 festivals across the province receiving a total of $4 million in grants under the government's Celebrate Ontario initiative. The maximum available was $75,000 for programming enhancement of the festival, plus $18,750 for marketing and event enhancement, making a total of $93,750.

The letter from Tourism Minister Jim Bradley stated there were more than 350 groups that applied for funding through the program, and Bodi observed that simple arithmetic indicates not all of the successful applicants received maximum grants, as Kingfest did.

"The McGuinty government understands the importance of festivals and events to Ontario's prosperity, culture and quality of life, and we are pleased to do our part to help renew, revitalize and promote our province's tourism industry," Bradley stated in his letter. "This contribution reflects our government's commitment to the quality of life in your community and throughout Ontario."

Organizers are working on a program for the Friday night show. They are planning to have highprofile artists on the bill, with the aim of attracting people aged 20 to 35. Bodi said the Sam Roberts Band is being considered. They are hoping to get 4,000 out for that evening.

Numerous community organizations are involved in this effort, including the York Region Media Group's Celebration of the Arts; Artslink, York Region Arts Council's Music Alive program, which attracted some 15,000 participants last year, and Seneca's independent music program.

Bodi said the festival will see five stages, including a main stage, one in the beer tent and two workshop stages where artists will hold jam sessions. In addition to non-stop music until 11 p.m., there will be an artisan village, children's activity area and food. There will be accommodation available at the residence at Seneca, as well as the Hilton in Markham.

She also said they have ambitious plans to advertise the event, and that includes putting notices on the two billboards advertising King along the sides of Highway 400. They are hoping to draw a lot of people from Toronto and Barrie.

There are a host of sponsors and supporters lined up, including provincial agencies, media outlets, Laceby Real Estate, TD Bank in King City, and there are more being sought.

Bodi said ticket prices will be competitive, with two-day and three-day passes being available.

"This is a really, really big deal," she declared, pointing out 8,000 visitors to the area will benefit local businesses and increase awareness of of King. As well, the festival will provide lots of volunteering opportunities for local young people.

The festival is a massive volunteer effort "We're all doing this because we're passionate," Bodi told councillors.

"I think it's a huge coup that you've got Bruce Cockburn," Councillor Cleve Mortelliti commented.

Bodi told Councillor Jane Underhill $2 of every ticket sold will be going to Habitat for Humanity. If they can sell the 8,000 tickets they hope to, that means $16,000 to the cause.

"I don't see how we can refuse to give you a grant," Underhill replied.

Mayor Margaret Black proposed the $2,500 grants, as well as the money from the economic development fund. She stressed this is an important event, and people should be proud it's taking place in King.

Councillor Jack Rupke said he normally doesn't take his wife to events, but Kingfest was an exception, and she told him that the best one he had ever taken her to.

Bodi also saidprofits from this year's festival will go into the budget for the 2008 show, with the hope that it will be self-sustaining in a couple of years.