THUNDER BAY – Sergio Buonocore says it’s always a good idea to shake things up from time to time.
After hosting a pair of successful rock concerts the past two summers, the general manager at Fort William Historical Park says the provincially-funded facility is heading in a new direction in 2017, introducing a new four-day event called Karnival on the Kam.
Boasting what Buonocore says will be the biggest fireworks display the country’s ever seen, the July 20 to July 23 Karnival on the Kam will also feature a skydiving show, a big-top circus, water stunts, a human cannonball, acrobats, musicians and gaming stations.
“It’s really about celebrating the role of the Fort in the development of our great community – how the Indigenous people came together, the francophones came together and English Canadians, and as time went by, immigrants from all over the world,” Buonocore said.
He added they’re not ruling out returning to music festivals down the road, acknowledging they were popular events that drew out thousands to the Fort. The event two years ago included the likes of Loverboy and Poison’s Bret Michaels, while last year’s lineup was topped by The Cult, Platinum Blonde and Sass Jordan.
It was simply time for a change, Buonocore said and a better way to honour both Canada and Ontario's 150th birthdays.
“We wanted to have an event that was very much geared to families as this event will be. It’s going to be at an international-class level. So this is going to be something we’ve never seen before,” he said.
“As I mentioned, the fireworks will be larger than the Olympics, bigger than what you see in Ottawa, Toronto or Montreal. It’s the biggest fireworks ever in Canada and that’s going to happen right here at the Fort.”
It’ll be an army of skydivers jumping out of a plane, with a special prop to guide them to the ground.
“They’re going to unveil a 1,000-foot Canadian flag as they come down and land on the Fort property,” Buonocore said.
Events will take place from noon until midnight each day.
Tickets are $10 for students, seniors and children aged 6 to 12 and $15 for adults, per day. Four-day event passes are $30 for students, seniors and children. Anyone five and under is admitted free of charge.
For more information phone 473-2344 or visit www.fwhp.ca.
