RotaryFest returns for its 101st edition in Sault Ste. Marie

The biggest event of the summer officially began Thursday afternoon in Sault Ste. Marie: the 101st RotaryFest.

“I love the RotaryFest,” one person said.

“I come here for three days straight and I’m from Sturgeon Falls. I drive here every year, and I think it's super fun that they do this every year.”

A full weekend of fun is scheduled along the waterfront in the city. The annual event has something for everyone in the family, and serves up the best that summer has to offer for the young ones.

A number of community groups set up at festival, letting attendees know what they do, and showing them first-hand.

“It's a chance for us to get out there and to talk to parents and tell … the community about the great program we have,” said Bruce Graham of the Sault Ringette Club.

Tens of thousands of people take part in RotaryFest each year, and organizers say it’s steadily growing -- something that helps Rotary help the city.

“We will turn back into this community one close to a quarter million in services that we've paid for, musicians we've paid for,” said Rod Goodall, RotaryFest co-chair.

“Then with what we take in combined, we can turn another $250,000 back into the community. So it's basically a half-million dollar event.”

Big crowds expected

Big crowds are expected throughout the weekend once the music kicks off at RotaryFest.

The stages will be rocking from 5-11 Friday night, and there's 12 hours of music starting at noon Saturday.

Rotary has also added an all EDM stage at the Downtown Plaza for the first time this year.

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