The Great Canadian Kayak Challenge and Festival got underway on Friday with Aboriginal hoop dancing, rock, rocking bagpipes, food, and fun for the whole family.
Let the weekend celebration of the Mattagami River and kayaking begin.
Things got under way with a sunrise ceremony at 6 a.m. with Indigenous elders lighting the sacred fire and blessing the waters.
Kayaking events got under way in earnest with a series of kayak races beginning at 9 a.m.
For a complete list of activities for today and tomorrow at the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge and Festival click here.
The races include the elite challenge and elite challenge recreational races. A celebrity challenge, open little boat, youth and novice challenges.
The kayak challenge award presentations take place at 5 p.m.
The afternoon music is sponsored by the Ontario 150th celebration committee or ONTour. The performers include Stef Paquette, Jonathan Roy, Next Generation Leahy, Philospher Kings and Bill Farquahson.
At the Aboriginal Village, one can sample traditional foods like bannock, listen to Indigenous singers and dancers. After dark Indigenous hoop dancer will perform with flourescent hoops.
This evenings main stage performers will be Harlequin and Saturday Night Special.
On Friday night, centre stage featured the indie sound of Twentiest who played an hour long set of original songs much to the delight of the crowd both young and old.
Across the way at the Aboriginal Village, revellers were welcomed by traditional singers singing the Welcome Song. The village once again sponsored by The Timmins Native Friendship Centre and other Indigenous groups in Timmins also featured a sensational 14-year-old hoop dancer Theland Kicknosway, from the Pottawtomi First Nation at the mouth of the St. Clair River on Walpole Island, Ont.
It was the first time Theland has danced in Timmins.
At 9 p.m. the main stage thundered with the rocking Celtic sounds of Scottish bag pipes and the music of the Mudmen from the Alvinston-Petrolia. The band is anchored by the bag pipe playing Campbell brothers Robby and Sandy.
The night closed out with Hotel California a band that sang the praises to the music of the Eagles.
And DJ Goliath provided the music until the lights were turned off at 1 a.m.
A reminder that because of tonight's fireworks Algonquin Boulevard/Riverside Drive will be closed and detours set in place from Shirley Street on the West and Theriault Boulevard on the east.
Please consult the Great Canadian Kayak Festival website for public transit and shuttle bus service to the event.
Parking is limited.
