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WIARTON ECHO
Town gearing up for the Hip
With the expectation of 15,000 fans for the Tragically Hip concert at the Wiarton Keppel Airport this Saturday, a lot of the town is taking a wait and see attitude.
The town has never had so many people converging in one spot before and the question is "will they all end up in town or will they come straight to the festival and and then leave."
A quick poll of some downtown businesses found that while they are going to make sure they have enough staff on hand, they didn't go ahead and order a lot of extra stock either.
This Saturday, the Big Music Fest concert at the airport will feature the Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts Band, Arkells and the Spade and producer Mark Higgins said it was going to be a tightly controlled, heavily policed event.
With 70 security staff, along with more than 50 OPP officers, a ban on hard liquor, security searches at the venue's only public entrance and beer and wine limits in the 5,000-seat beer garden, the focus will be on music, Higgins said Saturday.
He plans to make this the first of 10 Big Music Fest events over the next decade -- watch for Our Lady Peace to headline next year -- and with his Georgian Bluffs and Wiarton Airport board partners is intent on laying a solid, worry-free foundation.
"It's about as safe as anything I've ever seen, which is a good thing," Higgins said. "If it's not safe, it doesn't matter if you have Aerosmith or the Hip or anything, you're not going back right? Because people talk about that."
Georgian Bluffs Deputy-mayor Dwight Burley, who chairs the airport board, said after "many, many meetings" he is "100 per cent" certain every detail is in place for a safe show.
There's no parking on any roads near the site and municipal officials are discouraging large groups of campers on any public or private lands nearby. Lawn chairs and umbrellas will also be banned from the site, with fans sitting on blankets or sleeping bags or the grass to enjoy the show safely.
The site includes food and drink concessions. Once inside, anyone who leaves won't be allowed back in.
There's a new gate off Con. 1, with both a new road across the airport property and a walkway now under construction. The parking area has room for 5,000 cars at $10 each, which goes to the airport board.
Whether it will have an economic spin-off is not being debated as already most campsites and motels were reportedly full because of the concert and other area businesses will be part of the vending group offered at the concert.
Following is some pertinent information from the Big Music Fest website <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bigmusicfest.com">http://www.bigmusicfest.com</a><!-- m -->.
Gates to the Concert Bowl opens at 3 p.m.
Parking
Gates to the Parking area open at 1:00pm
Parking is available at the concert site for $10.00
All vehicle access to the concert parking is off of Concession Road 21 only
The main entrance to the Wiarton Airport will be closed to the public the day of the concert. There are no in/out privileges or re-entry to the parking area.
Have what you need when you enter the parking lot.
Do's and donT’s:
Do bring…
A smile
Raingear
Bug Spray (ideally w/out deet)
Blanket for seating
Sunscreen
Hat for shade
Bandana for dust
Sunglasses
Earplugs (especially for minors)
Camera
Government issued photo ID if you plan to enter the Beer Garden
Video or audio equipment. (The hip are a taper-friendly band. Any gear you bring is your responsibility, so please keep an eye on it. Light mic stands will be permitted)
Cigarette Smokers, bring an empty plastic bottle or sealable plastic container for your cigarette butts. Please take responsibility for your own waste.
Do not bring
Umbrellas
Lawn Chairs
Coolers
Outside Food and Drink
Illegal Substances
Weapons
Fireworks
Pets (except for service animals)
Professional Photography Equipment Bag searches will be performed at all entrances.
Any items not permitted will have to be returned to your vehicle.
No Camping is permitted at the concert grounds or the on-site parking area.
There are several designated campgrounds in the area.
On site services
Vendors will be on site serving food, snacks, water and beverages.
There will be a beer garden (restricted to those 19+).
The site will have several ATM’s. To avoid line-ups bring in the cash you think you will require for the day.
Merchandise Tents selling Artist items will be onsite.
Medical Services
Portable Toilets with wash stations
