The start of Prince Edward Island’s Cavendish Beach Music Festival is just a day away, but the stars have aligned to treat concertgoers to another star on Thursday night.
Up to 15,000 people are expected to come out to see Rod Stewart, who will perform in Cavendish a day before the festival starts.
Organizer Jeff Squires says it was a stroke of luck the legendary artist was touring the East Coast at just the right time.
“That was one of those good news stories,” Squires said.
“Rod was going to the East Coast on July the 11th to play in Newfoundland and we were talking with some of the agents, and with Cavendish Beach the 10th to the 12th this year, there was an opportunity for Rod to stop in P.E.I. on his way to Newfoundland.”
Organizers are expecting 24,000 people to come out for this year’s weekend festival.
Squires says the event has grown into a vacation getaway for many people.
“I think in year one it was very much an unknown. We sold a lot of single day tickets in that year one,” he said.
“I think what's evolved over the last seven years is that people are now coming for the three days.”
On Thursday, fans were staking out their ideal viewing spots.
“We came here for 12 o'clock just to make sure we were first in line and I got a spot picked out down below, where I'm just going to run,” said fan Barb Carroll.
Food vendors, for their part, were ready for the hungry masses to descend.
“Oh geez, I think there's 125 cases of fries that I brought in, so hopefully that will do me,” said vendor Darcy Colepaugh.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jonathan MacInnis
