The Road Apples rocked the main stage at last year's festival
Downtown Smiths Falls is getting ready to crank up the volume with a full day of live music designed to showcase local talent, bring people together and give visitors another reason to explore the community.
The Downtown Smiths Falls Music Festival returns Saturday, Sept. 12, with free afternoon performances on Russell Street East before the celebration moves to Millar Brooke Place for a ticketed 19-plus evening show headlined by Canadian rock favourites The Trews.
Downtown Smiths Falls Business Association Coordinator Megan McIlvenna says the afternoon has been designed as an easy way for families and music fans to enjoy the downtown.
The Russell Street stage will feature Ambre McLean, Spencer Scharf, DaNielle Hewitt and Landon Bedor, giving the community a chance to hear performers with strong connections to Smiths Falls and Eastern Ontario.
McIlvenna says people can settle in and make an afternoon of it.
The festival is also an opportunity to introduce visitors to everything else available within a short walk of the performances.
Restaurants, shops and attractions throughout the core will be open, allowing festivalgoers to explore between sets and helping spread the benefits of the event beyond the stages.
The music continues into the evening with Smiths Falls rock band One Eyed Dawgs and Ottawa Valley singer-songwriter Vicki Brittle opening for The Trews.
There is even a familiar local connection behind the choice of headliner.
The 19-plus portion takes place at Millar Brooke Place on Main Street West, with tickets available through downtownsf.ca and at select Smiths Falls businesses.
For organizers, however, the festival is about more than bringing a major Canadian band downtown.
It is a chance to put local musicians in the spotlight, support downtown businesses and give residents and visitors a full day built around music and community.
With free family-friendly performances during the afternoon and a major rock show at night, Smiths Falls is hoping people come for the music — and leave having discovered a little more of what the downtown has to offer.
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