We're not sure if there's going to be patio lanterns at Valley East Days, but veteran Canadian musician Kim Mitchell will be there, headlining the event's rock night Friday, Sept. 7.
One of Mitchell's most popular tunes, of course, is his 1986 song "Patio Lanterns.” Given the song's summer vibe, it's the perfect tune for the event, which takes place as summer 2018 winds down.
Also playing at rock night will be Clash of the Bands winner River Face, Carl Dixon and local band Toe Jam Tequila.
The next evening, Saturday, Sept. 8, is country night. Headlining will be Canadian country rock group The Road Hammers, which includes members Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy and Chris Byrne.
“They're very big in country,” said Valley East Days organizer Chris Vitiello. “They're kind of the biggest band that we've ever booked in that genre.”
Also playing during the event's country night are two popular local country bands, Roadhouse and Northbound.
Vitiello said he's excited about this year's evening musical lineup. “We're ecstatic that every year we're getting bigger with talent,” he said.
A big upgrade to this year's evening shows are the large LED screens that will be placed on either side of the stage to give people a better view.
Tickets to the evening shows, which, by the way, are 19+ events, cost $50 for one show or $75 for both at the gate. They can also be purchased at Cousin Vinny's Restaurant.
Of course, these shows are far from all that's happening at Valley East Days, which runs Sept. 7-9 at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre and École Secondaire l'Horizon. With the exception of the Friday and Saturday evening shows, events are free.
There's several other daytime performances, including tributes to popular musicians, a youth band showcase and a show by Sudbury musician Stef Paquette.
There's also a wrestling show, magic show by The Amazing Rene, classic car show, food drive in memory of former Valley East business owner Michael Biglow, who died in a motorcycle crash this summer, and the King Miner Contest.
The community festival is also family friendly, with activities for kids such as inflatables and a petting zoo. Valley East Days closes out at dusk Sunday evening with fireworks at the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre soccer field.
Now in its 43rd year, Valley East Days just keeps getting bigger each year, with about 30,000 people attending over the course of the weekend, Vitiello said.
For more information about the events, and to view the festival's full schedule, visit valleyeastdays.com.
