Media Release: October 2019
After much consideration, it is with mixed emotions that we announce the Kirkland Lake Festivals Committee is taking a indefinite hiatus and we will not be hosting the Kirkland Lake Winter Carnival and Homecoming festivals in 2020.
For the past 19 years, our committee members have poured our hearts and souls into organizing these festivals. For the past few years, it has become evident that our Directors need a much-deserved break.
Since 2001, the Festivals Committee has partnered with several local organizations to present Kirkland Lake’s Winter Carnival. It has been a tireless effort by everyone involved to host 18 days of events each year.
In addition, a large group of local volunteers has joined us to present annual Homecoming events. Over the past 19 years, we have hosted concerts that have made our town the envy of many larger communities in the North.
Over the past two decades, we have presented more than 100 artists who have earned more than 500 Juno nominations including 9 Group of the Year winners and 7 members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
We are extremely proud of our history of summer concerts including: Blue Rodeo, Arkells, Hedley, Jann Arden, Marianas Trench, Simple Plan, The Sheepdogs, Terri Clark, Alan Doyle, Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, Tom Cochrane, Walk Off The Earth and two historic nights with The Tragically Hip in 2015.
There have also been many memorable nights at North College including performances by: Chantal Kreviazuk, Randy Bachman, Scott Helman, Bruce Cockburn, Steven Page, Ria Mae, Kim Mitchell, Bobby Bazini, April Wine, David Myles, The Trews, Alan Frew, Colin James, David Wilcox and Jimmy Rankin.
KL Festivals’ storied history includes hosting an Olympic Torch Celebration, Under-17 hockey championships, RCMP Musical Ride, snowcross races, rodeos, fish derbies, drive-in movies, and numerous magicians, illusionists, hypnotists & comedians, plus 17 Canada Day celebrations, 17 Stars of Pop concerts and 19 Kids’ Carnivals.
We want to thank the thousands of people who have attended our events, the hundreds of volunteers, and our support crew of loaders, security workers, and lights & sound technicians. In addition, we thank all three levels of Government for providing financial assistance and support to our festivals.
In addition to the efforts by our committee members, past and present, our spouses and friends have been an integral part of the success of our events. Over the years, these people have been involved every step of the way.
Lastly, we want to thank our local sponsors. The tremendous financial support from our sponsors made it possible for our committee to present hundreds of events for all ages, many of which have been free to attend.
As mentioned at the outset, this is a hiatus. Our committee is taking a break for an undetermined length of time. At some point, we will reassess the future of our committee and the future of both Winter Carnival and Homecoming.
In the words of our late friend, Gord Downie, “Let’s just see what tomorrow brings."