The highly anticipated grand opening of Gaslight District's public square next month will be a weekend-long bash full of Canadian bands and other entertainment.
On July 28 to 30 the city's newest public event space will offer a weekend full of free music and family activities.
Mainstream Canadian artists like Big Wreck and Walk off the Earth will be headlining the event, along with over 30 bands and performers running the gamut from Top 40 country to children's entertainers.
Organizers say there will be something for everyone.
"To say we're excited is an understatement," said Kyle Priestley, owner of the Foundry Tavern. "We're going to start ramping up our event schedule until the big party in July and go from there."
The public square has been a long-time coming as it was originally supposed to open on May 25, but construction issues put a damper on the grand opening plans.
Since the public square recently finished construction, it has been hosting movie nights, NHL and NBA finals nights on their large outdoor screen the owners claim is the largest in the country.
One of the main focuses for Gaslight District and HIP Developments owner Scott Higgins is to create a family-friendly environment and build a space where the community can come and celebrate togetherness.
The one-acre outdoor venue can hold over 4,000 people and will be lined with patios from the Foundry Tavern, Tapestry Hall and their Bell Flower Market, which will open at the beginning of July.
"We are looking at having over 20,000 people here for the event. It's going to be wild," added Priestley.
Below is the schedule for the Gaslight District Grand Opening.
Friday, July 28
Main Stage
Glenn Pelletier w/DJ Intro 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Ray Orser Band Classic Rock Band 3:30 - 4:15 PM
Beggars Banquet Rolling Stones tribute band 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Avalon Bridger Band Local Female fronted Hard Rock Band 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Vilivant Co - Headliner- a female driven rock band 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
DJ/Announcements 8 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Big Wreck Headliner Rock Band 8:45 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Foundry Tavern
Lisette & Tyler Duo 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Saturday, July 29
The Tap Room children's entertainment
Erick Traplin, 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Drew Ripley, noon to 12:45 p.m.
Erick Traplin, 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Drew Ripley, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Main Stage
Glenn Pelletier w/DJ — Intro Host/MC, 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Paris Pipe Band — Opening Ceremony - Gaelic pipe band, 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Stealing Dan — Steely Dan tribute band, noon to 12:45 p.m.
Pearl — Janis Joplin tribute, 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Jessie T Band — original country music artist (local with great following), 2 p.m. to 2: 45 p.m.
Tom Petty tribute fronted by Ben Rollo, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies Opening remarks by Paul K. Dignitaries to speak (TBC) 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Almost Hip — The Tragically Hip tribute band, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Conor Gains Band — original local artist (Blues/Neo Soul) with a good following, 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
DJ/Announcements — 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tebey — Top 40 Country 7:15 p.m. 8 p.m.
Announcements/Set Up/DJ, 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Walk off the Earth — headliner, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Foundry Tavern
John Knight and Steve Hogg, the former front men of The Lulu's Roadhouse Band, 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Buskers in the Square
JP Magician, 11 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Bob the Drawer — caricature/drawing artist, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tapestry Hall (Indoor Stage)
Cambridge Symphony, noon to 12:45 p.m.
Jesse Parent & The Pines — folk pop band with local following, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
The MacQueens — six piece band performing indie folk, pop, rock with good following, 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Downstrokes — rock duo with looper performing original, upbeat tunes, 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Feral Minks — modern rock band, 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Soulstack — local award winning soul, blues band, 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Tapestry Hall
(VIP After party Entertainment)
Romeo Sex Fighter — TICKETED EVENT — party band performing upbeat covers, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Sunday, July 30
Main Stage
Glenn Pelletier w/DJ, 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
The Uptown Girls Funk Band, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Oakland Stroke Funk Band, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Closing announcements, 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Foundry Tavern
Brunch en Blanc — TICKETED EVENT — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
