Voyageur Days largest yet — PHOTO GALLERY
News
Success: Festival draws more than 35,000
Posted By BRANDI CRAMER The Nugget
Updated 1 month ago
Alex Simpson stands out in a crowd.
The 45-year-old was decked out in a multi-coloured suit, sporting a wig of long, black curly locks on the concert grounds of Mattawa Voyageur Days on Saturday.
Thursday, he wore a pink suit to the Heart concert.
Friday, he sported a silvery disco getup for the country performances. His rainbow-like piece de resistance was his grand finale Saturday.
My whole theory in life is if you can't take a joke, then don't be one," he said.
The attention he gets also helps.
It's a great way to meet girls."
Simpson, a Petty Officer First Class stationed with HMCS York in Toronto, is enjoying his last few days of leave before having to report back to work Thursday.
He has been attending Voyageur Days since 2005, but missed the weekend event in 2008 and 2009 while on deployment in the Persian Gulf.
The Navy had other plans for me for the last two years," he said.
Back with a vengeance, Simpson stocked up with new costumes bought on eBay -- You can buy everything on eBay, right down to the platform shoes" -- and sang along like he didn't have a care in the world.
His costumes cost about $100 each, including shoes, and he has a closet full at his home in Scarborough.
I've done deployments and I've seen nasty things in the world, so when I come back home, I just want to have fun," he said.
Saturday's entertainment lineup saw thousands rock where the rivers meet at Explorer's Point to the likes of David Wilcox, Barney Bentall and The Legendary Hearts, Honeymoon Suite, Rough Trade, Haywire and Peter Frampton.
There wasn't a bad band in this year's lineup," Simpson said.
But for him, the music isn't the draw.
I would come to the festival regardless of the music," he said.
You go to the little restaurant and the people are nice. You go downtown and the people are nice. It's great."
Jacques Begin, co-chairman of the event's organizing committee estimates this year's event was the largest yet, pushing the small town with a population of 2,301 to about 38,000.
I think we got an increase. It will take a while to get all the numbers in, but a good estimate would be more than 35,000," he said.
In 2009, Voyageur Days attracted between 30,000 and 31,000 people.
The 7,000 weekend wristbands available for the concerts at Explorer's Point sold out by the second week of April -- an accomplishment Begin attributes to trust.
People know what our product is and what we will be offering. I think we were sold out before the bands were finalized. We have established a partnership and trust with the people."
Simpson couldn't have asked for a better lineup this year, he said.
His favourite in this year's lineup -- Peter Frampton.
Begin said its people like Simpson who give organizers the energy to do it all over again, year after year.
We all get our energy from the people smiling. When people are out there having a good time ... you see the excitement. Look at the guy who comes dressed up, he comes every year. You have to smile. They look forward to this vacation," Begin said.
Visitors to the area and residents managed to impress law enforcement with minor occurrences this year.
OPP Const. Carolle Dionne said 95% of the issues law enforcement had to deal with were liquor-related, with officers issuing tickets for public intoxication or drinking in public.
RIDE programs set up throughout the weekend only netted one impaired charge.
We are actually quite pleased with the whole weekend. People were well-behaved. You have 7,000-plus people at Explorer's Point on Saturday night. When you are looking at a couple dozen liquor offences, in the police world, that is not a lot."
Editor's note: The Nugget would like to thank Keith Benard for his work in capturing the spirit of the event through his photographs.
For more information on Keith Benard e-mail keithsvideos@ontera.net.
