Construction of a new cultural centre and renovations to the Stompin’ Tom schoolhouse and homestead on the grounds are in the final stages as the focus shifts to programming.
The grand opening coincides with Canada Day celebrations and the annual Tignish Irish Moss Festival.
In Skinners Pond, a songwriters circle on Friday night, June 30, hosted by West Prince musician Cory Gallant, serves as a warm-up event to the weekend celebrations. The songwriters circle will be followed by a jam session and entertainment that goes until midnight.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Stompin’ Tom Centre will be held on Canada Day, July 1, with free activities, including, a commemoration ceremony, open house and kids activities from 2 to 4 p.m.
The opening concert of the first annual Stompin’ Tom Fest will be held on the grounds of the Stompin’ Tom Centre from 4 to 9 p.m.. The day’s entertainment lineup consists of Small Town Jokurs (Kurk Bernard and Joey Doucette), Billy MacInnis, Mike Plume, Tim Hus, JP Cormier and Dave Gunning.
Fireworks at dusk will be followed by a VIP After Party that is scheduled to last until midnight.
Stompin Tom is the theme for the Tignish Irish Moss Festival Parade in Tignish Sunday, July 2, at 1 p.m.
Back in Skinners Pond, Day Two of the Stompin’ Tom Fest gets underway at 2 p.m. with a Stompin’ Tom impersonation contest. The concert continues on the grounds until 7 p.m. with performances by Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys, Matt Minglewood, Ivan Daigle, Billy MacInnis, Tim Hus, Mike Plume and Small Town Jokurs.
The fun then moves back indoors for the 7 -10:30 p.m. premiere of Skinners Pond’s summer dinner theatre, “My Island Home” - A Stompin’ Tom Story.
Ticket information and booking for all of the weekend events is available at stompintomfest.com or by calling 882-3214.
