The 56th annual Wiarton Willie Festival provided a sneak-peak into next month’s festivities.
A news conference was held on Wednesday and Bayshore Broadcasting News was there as organizers tout the festival entertainment line-up as the largest in its history.
Headlining on Saturday February the 4th is five time Juno Award winner David Usher.
Part of the opening act for Usher is youtube sensation Walk Off the Earth.
Entertainment Organizer Joe Franczek says that group received over 20 million youtube views in under a month for their cover of “Somebody That I Used to Know.”
Franczek says joining them is the group 20Amp Soundchild — who won “Willie’s Big Move” battle of the bands in the park this summer.
The Zero Gravity Circus will also be performing during the entire festival.
Lee Grigg is the committee member organizing sports activities for the festival and says new this year is the 3 on 3 hockey tournament and a snow golf experience.
He also notes old favourites like indoor and outdoor volleyball and baseball games are back this year.
Willie of course will make his prediction on Thursday February 2nd.
From a financial aspect the committee has high hopes for a solid year.
Member Shane Sargent says as many tourist dollars as the festival brings during the winter, the return business in the summer is just as important.
Sargent says Willie is one of the most famous icons in Bruce County and in Region 7 — which is Grey, Bruce and Simcoe — and it’s a really important brand that Wiarton wants to build on to keep driving tourist dollars into the region.
Last year the Wiarton Willie Festival made the Top 100 Festivals and Events list in Ontario.
Organizers hope for a repeat of that this year.
For a complete run down of events visit www.wiartonwilliefestival.com
