With Canadian Country Music Week underway, Halifax is welcoming the best of the best in Canadian country music to venues across the city.
“We’re really excited about four days of country music just filling the streets of Halifax,” says country music fan Sarah Cleland, who travelled from Manitoba for the event.
Organizer Stacey Oxner says the biggest names in Canadian country music, as well as emerging artists, will be taking part in the four-day music festival.
“Playing at a variety of venues from Scotiabank Centre to the Schooner Room at the Casino to the Cunard Centre down along the waterfront,” says Oxner.
This is the first time Halifax has hosted the event since 1982 and it’s expected to give a big boost to the local economy.
“We are expecting an economic spinoff of just over $3 million,” says Oxner.
Chris Mosher of Halifax’s Delta Barrington says rooms are scarce at the hotel this week.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for bars and restaurants in town and hotels. I’ve heard that five hotels in the city are sold out at this point,” he says.
“The major festivals in Halifax area over, so this is actually a really great time. After the major summer festivals and events are through, this brings additional revenue to the city.”
Sunday’s CCMA Awards Show is also a re-launch for the newly-renovated Scotiabank Centre, which now boasts expanded washrooms, new seats and new concession stands.
“We will serve a lot of local product so they’ll taste that, they’ll see some significant expansion to our washroom areas, but … most importantly, they’re going to see it in some wonderful seats,” says Scott Ferguson, president and CEO of Trade Centre Ltd.
Canadian Country Music Week runs until Sunday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster
