MEDIA RELEASE
June 13, 2024
St. Catharines, Ontario - St. Catharines World Rowing is excited to announce the Mega Worlds Fan Festival in support of FEED Niagara, taking place from August 21-24, 2024, at Rennie Park in Port Dalhousie. This free, four-day outdoor festival will coincide with the 2024 World Rowing Senior, Under 23, and Under 19 Championships, held at the historic Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course from August 18-25, 2024.
The 2024 World Rowing Championships will bring together 2,500 athletes from over 60 countries, making it the largest and most significant World Rowing event of the season. With such a significant gathering, the Mega Worlds Fan Festival at Rennie Park provides an excellent opportunity for attendees to experience live entertainment, enjoy unique shopping with local area artisan vendors, indulge in sensational culinary vendors, and celebrate with unique wine-based cocktails and craft beverages presented by Niagara’s culinary, wine, distillery and craft brewery scene.
The Mega Worlds Fan Festival, open daily from 12:00pm-9:00pm, offers a wealth of activities for all guests to enjoy along the scenic St. Catharines waterfront while immersing themselves in the world of rowing. Visitors can explore the on-site Niagara Rowing History Exhibit, showcasing the evolution of rowing in Niagara through legacy trophies, artist creations, and rarely seen artifacts. Those inspired by the competitive spirit of the athletes can participate in the International Virtual Rowing Race, a digital experience that connects participants worldwide in a thrilling two-minute race. With opportunities for shopping, photo ops, and soaking up the sun, the Mega Worlds Fan Festival promises fun for everyone!
The festival is open to all members of the public, inviting everyone to join in celebrating community and culture while also supporting the fight against hunger through non-perishable food donations and financial contributions for FEED Niagara.
Located in Rennie Park and adjacent to the finish area of the Henley Rowing Course, the festival site will also host VIP & GOLD spectator seating for the championships, open daily from 9-5. For more information about tickets to watch the championships, please click here.
"The opportunity to partner with the St. Catharines World Rowing Organization and Sport Niagara for the 2024 World Rowing Championships is very exciting," said Paula Barrett, Manager of FEED Niagara. "FEED Niagara represents 10 regional food banks committed to stopping hunger in our community with care and compassion. The World Rowing Championships and the events leading up to them offer a great platform to spread awareness about food insecurity in Niagara and how it is impacting our neighbours."
Mega World Fan Festival Highlights:
- Festival Dates: August 21-24, 2024
- Location: Rennie Park, Port Dalhousie
- Live Entertainment: Free performances begin at 2:30pm
- Headliners (starting at 7:30pm):
- The Trews (August 21)
- DJ Shub (August 22)
- Owen Riegling (August 23)
- Scott Helman (August 24)
- Special Family Show: Splash n Boots (August 24)
- Special Daily Performance: The Strong Water Singers, a collective of indigenous and non-indigenous women, will perform daily at 2:30pm. Created in 2015, this community-based initiative uses drumming and singing as a means of achieving wellness, strength, and unity.
The festival offers a diverse lineup of entertainment, featuring family-friendly acts, Niagara-based performers, and renowned headliners to close each evening. Attendees can view the full list of programming here.
"St. Catharines is thrilled to host the world for the 2024 World Rowing Championships," said Bill Schenck, Chair of St. Catharines World Rowing. "The Mega Worlds Fan Festival provides an exciting opportunity for the Niagara and larger rowing community to experience our local culture, entertainment, and more. Rennie Park will be buzzing with activities during the day and will transform into a vibrant concert venue at night, offering incredible entertainment and supporting a worthy cause like FEED Niagara."
For more information on the Mega Worlds Fan Festival in support of FEED Niagara, please visit https://stcrowing2024.com/en/events/fan-festival/.
The 2024 World Rowing Championships and the Mega Worlds Fan Festival are made possible by the generous support of the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, including the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, and the City of St. Catharines.
“The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund is proud to support the 2024 World Rowing Championships and Mega Worlds Fan Festival. The Championships and Fan Festival will drive international tourism to the southwestern Ontario, showcasing the beautiful Niagara region while generating vital economic impact in the community”. Thomas Vaughan, OCAF’s Executive Director.
About the 2024 World Rowing Championships
From August 18-25, 2024, St. Catharines is set to welcome the world for the 2024 World Rowing Senior, Under 23 and Under 19 Championships at the historic Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course. Known for its legacy in hosting major competitions, including two previous World Rowing Championships, the Henley Rowing Course will bring together 2,500 athletes from over 60 countries in what is the biggest and most important World Rowing event of the season.
About FEED Niagara
Hunger has many faces. For some, yesterday’s full table doesn’t mean a full table today. Feed Niagara is part of Ontario’s member network, providing resources & support to those in need. No one in Niagara should go hungry. Collaboration and sharing partnerships with Niagara’s 10 member strong network allows FEED Niagara to share best practices and resources. Developing approaches together allowing for a more efficient and streamlined delivery across the Niagara Region. This is the first step in providing a united front of Feed Ontario Members within the Niagara Region knowing the demand is growing and our efforts must not be duplicated, but rather to complement and support one another.
About the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund is an investment program of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport. The Fund has three aims: (1) to increase cultural tourism by providing investments to assist Ontario organizations to develop, promote and present one- off or first-time events, or a significant expansion of existing activity, which are designed to attract new tourists and visitors to cultural events; (2) increase the earned revenue capability of the applicant organization; and (3) support events that foster economic growth and contribute to job creation. OCAF achieves this by providing up front working capital directed towards the applicant’s marketing and promotional costs, with the investment taking the form of a partially repayable loan.
Media Contact:
Vittoria Wikston |
Website: https://stcrowing2024.com/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/2024wrch
