Guelph-Eramosa’s Hillside Festival and Centre Wellington’s Fergus Scottish Festival are two area events benefitting from the 2015 Celebrate Ontario program.
The province is spending $19 million to support a record number of festivals and events across the province this year that will “draw tourists, create jobs and grow local economies,” officials state.
This year the province is helping 270 festivals and events, including:
– Hillside Summer Festival, July 24 to 26, $47,700;
– Fergus Scottish Festival, Aug. 7 to 9, $46,125;
– Guelph Jazz Festival, Sept. 16 to 20, $90,000;
– Kultrun World Music Festival, July 9 to 12 in Kitchener, $36,000; and
– Kitchener Blues Festival, Aug. 6 to 9, $80,024,
Since 2007, Celebrate Ontario has committed $137 million to support over 1,700 events across Ontario.
From 2009 to 2013, festivals and events that were supported by Celebrate Ontario reported an increase of 6.2 million tourists and an increase of $1 billion in visitor spending.
