Timmins ready to ‘Rock on the River’

Timmins is ready to rock this week, with the highly anticipated annual Rock on the River music festival kicking off Thursday evening.

The event is expected to draw thousands of people from across the region and beyond.

Timmins will be rocking louder and longer than ever – at least that’s what city officials are hoping for.

This year’s festival is following record-breaking attendance at the 2023 edition.

“Rock on the River had a blockbuster year,” said Noella Rinaldo of the Timmins Economic Development Corp.

“The economic benefit was almost $800,000 with out-of-town visitors. And with the spinoffs, just locally, we're probably looking at over $1 million of economic benefit to the community.”

Last year saw around 6,000 tickets sold, breaking the festival’s previous sales records. And that was a two-day event – this year’s star-studded lineup kicks off with a Thursday country night, followed by two nights of electrifying rock.

Timmins is ready to rock this week, with the highly anticipated annual Rock on the River music festival kicking off Thursday evening. (Photo from video)

The festival is expected to attract even larger numbers.

“The economic stimulus that comes to our community through restaurants, through ticket sales, through lodging,” said Kraymr Grenke, of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

“It truly is a great event to have here in the summer.”

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Projections don’t account for daytime events and activities, including a Friday Indigenous-focused music event at Hollinger Park, Festa Italiana taking over part of the downtown, and a wakeboarding competition, making it a festival trifecta.

“This is the time to have those types of events,” Grenke said.

“In our community, it's great that, you know, you'll be able to bounce around to there different times throughout the day.”

Rock your heart out, enjoy some food, ride some waves -- officials said the week is on par with the Canadian Mining Expo and the Mushkegowuk Cup as one of the busiest for tourism in the city.