Festival Updates and News
News about Ottawa Festivals and our Member festivals, special events and fairs.
Super Ex leaves Lansdowne, but never Ottawa
“There will be a Super Ex next year, and if there isn’t it will be over my dead body,” said David Presley the former president of the volunteer board that operates the Super Ex.
Mr. Presley and his wife Lyn have been involved with the Ex for their entire lives. The two actually met for the first time at the fair.
Lansdowne Park has been the home to the National Capital Exhibition for the past 122 years. As time has passed, the land space has changed, from land set aside as a fairground, to marshaling grounds for troupes, to an entertainment facility for football, and hockey. A constant, however, in the memory of all of those who know Ottawa has a pre-fall fair where people go to meet friends and family, and where they have a chance to act like children again. The Super Ex is leaving Lansdowne Park, but it will never leave Ottawa.
“I met David with a group of my friends,” said Ms/ Presley, the current president of the Super Ex. “He had a group of his.”
In the fair’s history, it wasn’t only a space for people to meet, but for farmers and the rural community to gather. Cattle and pigs, sheep and produce were brought in from around the area to be weighed, judged and exhibited.
“We now own a space by Albion Rd. where we’ll have an agricultural fair again,” said Ms. Presley.
She envisions the fair’s new space as a place to hold cattle and horse shows again, even tractor pulls, and an international grain show that will bring the farmers from around the world.
In years past, the Ex was also a place that brought world-class entertainment to Ottawa. Before
Bluesfest could walk on two legs, the Ex had the likes of Tina Turner, Bob Hope and Rod Stewart. Most recently, the Rolling Stones played to an enormous crowd filling Frank Claire Stadium and its field to a capacity that hadn’t been seen for decades.
While this year’s Ex was a time to reflect on the fair’s history, there were still a few new features.
“This is one of the first times that I got to perform all of my songs in English, it was a great opportunity,” said performer Bruno Roy, 26, who performed at the Super Ex on Monday, Aug. 23. “This was a great chance for me to start getting some exposure here in Ottawa, all of my music is mixed between French and English, in Ottawa I can perform both.”
One of this year’s most popular attractions was Carnival Diablo and the World of Wonders. The horticulture museum served as a twisted yet beautiful freak show museum. An equally decorated showman, Nicolai Diablo hosted the World of Wonders.
“Come to the World Of Wonders and see the murderous ventriloquist dummy that has been found at the scene of three separate murders and a shrunken head the size of a fist,” he’d rhyme off to passers by.
“Really, I want to bring mystery and wonder into peoples lives,” said Mr. Diablo, whose real name is Scott.
Scott recently moved from Toronto to Carleton Place and was using the Super Ex to introduce himself to the National Capital Region. He exhibited his traveling museum to help promote a show he’ll be running in Kingston at Fort Henry, called Fort Fright.
“This was the perfect venue for me and I can understand how the Ex has had such an enduring impact on Ottawa,” said Scott.
For the Presleys, the final days of this year’s Super Ex found them continuing to do things for the very first time. On Sunday, Aug. 29, the fair held its first demolition derby.
“We weren’t allowed to do this in previous years, the city wouldn’t let us,” said Mr. Presley. “But this year, what were they going to do? Kick us out?”
For the pair that have made a 40-year impact of the Super Ex and Lansdowne Park, the change of venue isn’t a finale, but simply a new beginning.
“We’ll keep the Ex going as long as we can continue to watch the pure joy of having young people take to the stage to perform, their excitement before they get on a ride. We can have a good year or a bad year but those smiles and screams make it all worth it,” said Ms. Presley.
Next year, the venue for the Super Ex is still up in the air. While the land by Albion Rd. and Rideau Dr. is owned by the Super Ex, it could be a couple years before the permanent facilities that are planned to built there will be ready. But, the Presley’s assure the EMC that alternate venues are available for the end of summer celebration.
New Mosaika Sound and Light Show video
For anyone who hasn’t had a chance to check out the new Sound and Light Show Mosaika, on Parliament Hill check out this video by Kaan Bayulken. Then see the show for yourself.
Don’t miss this free, bilingual show. Presented nightly in Canada’s Capital Region. Until September 12, 2010.
For details about the show visit the Mosaika website.
Big weekend for Ottawa festivals
By AEDAN HELMER, QMI Agency
Okay, music lovers of the nation’s capital. You’ve had a good five days now to rest up, give your ear drums a break, sleep off that hangover and soothe that sunburn.
Between the Jazz Festival, HOPE Summerfest, Music and Beyond, and Bluesfest, it’s been a solid month of nightly live music, but there’s no rest for the weary in Ottawa’s festival season.
Country music lovers will soon get their day in the sun with Carleton Place’s Riverside Jam (July 30 to Aug. 1). The inaugural Capital Hoedown (Aug. 5 to 7) just over the horizon and the countdown is on for family-favourite Folk Festival (Aug. 13 to 15), but in the meantime, the weekend has plenty to offer on a crowded festival calendar.
Classical music lovers, from the casual to the aficionado, will delight in a double helping of orchestral and chamber music, with Saturday’s launch of the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and with Orchestras in the Park already in full swing at Lebreton Flats.
Read more: Big weekend for Ottawa festivals
No need for revelry when Hargrove’s band takes the stage
By Peter Hum, The Ottawa Citizen
The big band of trumpeter Roy Hargrove impressed with a satisfying blend of powerful, precise ensemble work and effusive soloing Tuesday night in Confederation Park.
OTTAWA — The big band of trumpeter Roy Hargrove generously delivered two kinds of treats Tuesday night in Confederation Park.
The 40-year-old’s hard-hitting band grabbed listeners from the get-go with updated, original fare that more often recalled the turbulent music of John Coltrane instead of those traditional big-band influences Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
Read more: No need for revelry when Hargrove’s band takes the stage
Festival season kicks off in Ottawa
Tracey tong, Metro Ottawa
With about 50 festivals planned in the capital this year, Ottawa Festivals launched its 2010 season yesterday.
Ottawa Festivals also launched its info and ticket sales centre at 47 William St. yesterday, making it easier to get in on all the action.
“This is a great opportunity for visitors and residents to find out more information about Ottawas events”, said Ottawa Festivals executive director Barbara Stacey. “There are some very unique festivals and events going on in Ottawa that they may not be aware of.”
Full story: Festival season kicks off in Ottawa
Swing into summer: The ‘feel-good-Ottawa festival season’ is here
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
Marc Charron gets a warm fuzzy feeling when he thinks about summertime in Ottawa. That’s peak festival season, of course, and being able to see fantastic concerts outdoors night after night is one of Charron’s favourite things about his hometown.
Published: Thursday, May 06, 2010
New President for Ottawa Festivals
EMC News – Ottawa Festivals, a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 50 festivals, special events and fairs in the National Capital Region, recently announced the election of John Brooman, executive director of the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, as their new president. Mr. Brooman has served on the board of directors since 2004, and helped shape the growth the organization has seen in recent years.
Full article on EMC website: New President for Ottawa Festivals
Ottawa festivals continue celebrating good times
Ottawa Business Journal, Krystle Chow
The festival’s relative strength is reflected in other events across the city, says Ottawa Festivals executive director Barbara Stacey. Although there are currently no concrete statistics for local festivals and special events, she says she hasn’t seen any large-scale downsizing among her organization’s 51 members.
“Our members are run very well, they’re very good business models for success,” says Ms. Stacey.
She speculates that recent increases in support from all three levels of government may have played a role in helping local festivals attract and maintain corporate sponsors, since government funding typically equates to increased visibility and an indication that the event is viable.
But even without government funding and with no title sponsor, the Ottawa Race Weekend is an example of the health of the local festival industry.
To read the full article, click on Ottawa Festivals continue celebrating good times.
Study examines festivals’ impact
Ottawa Sun
By Donna Casey
How much money do Ottawa’s festivals bring to the city? How many visitors come from out of town? Would a volunteer who’s an accountant by day prefer to help with the books or take tickets at the gate?
Ottawa festival planners want answers to those questions and are launching a five-year study to determine the social, economic and environmental impact of festivals in Ottawa.
To read the full article, click on Study examines festivals’ impact.
More than 48 fests for some feel-good fun
TRACEY TONG from METRO OTTAWA
Ottawa Festivals launched its 2009 season in style yesterday, announcing more than 48 festivals and special events – sometimes more than one per weekend – this year.
“Festivals are a great way of bringing people together,” said event emcee, comedian and star of the Jon Dore Television Show, Jon Dore. “Festivals are not always about bringing tourists into the area for the economy. It’s about the beer tent,” he joked.
Read full story on the Metro website: More than 48 fests for some feel-good fun
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