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Rock the River, Saskatoon’s yearly summer festival of classic rock, is back at the Bessborough Gardens this weekend for its 10th anniversary.
From Friday to Sunday, nearly a dozen bands will take the stage and play the hits, entertaining thousands of old fans and new enthusiasts.
Here are five things to know about the festival this weekend.
1. What bands are playing at Rock the River this year?
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On Friday, Rock the River will kick off with shows from Albertan rock trio The Stampeders, Canadian Music Hall of Fame band Trooper and Scottish hard rock band Nazareth.
On Saturday, the festival will continue with shows from Quebequois new wave group The Box, multi-Juno Award-winning Lighthouse, longstanding Winnipeg band Harlequin and English rock band Foghat, best known for their chart-topping ’70s hits.
On Sunday, Rock the River will conclude with performances from Canadian band Toque, Juno Award-winning Prism, Montreal-born musician and music producer Aldo Nova and American rock band Great White, in their first performance since the death of founding band member Jack Russell.
2. Where are tickets available?
Tickets to the Saturday and Sunday shows are still available online, on the festival’s website. Friday tickets sold out in advance, but the festival still has a three-day pass available for the full weekends.
Day-pass tickets are not interchangeable, and the festival says shows will take place “rain or shine.”
At the festival site, Rock the River has put guidelines in place to keep musicians, staff and concertgoers safe.
Large bags are not permitted, and all bags are subject to search. The festival is also a non-smoking venue outside of the designated smoking area, and public nudity is not allowed.
Weapons, fireworks and pets are also prohibited.
4. What should people bring?
To get the most out of the festival experience, Rock the River organizers recommend bringing a “reasonably sized lawn chair” and empty reusable water bottle (outside food and drink are not allowed), sunscreen and bug spray, weather-appropriate clothes like jackets and rain gear, a phone charger, and cash or credit cards to pay for food and drinks.
5. What else is on in the area this weekend?
Festival-goers can also check out the cars, trucks and motorcycles participating in the Rock 102 Show and Shine weekend between Friday and Sunday.
The event, one of the biggest car shows in western Canada, is expecting to welcome “hundreds of classic and custom rides” to downtown Saskatoon, as well as food trucks and vendors.
The annual Show and Shine Weekend began in 1982, and in recent years has drawn crowds of more than 40,000 car enthusiasts to the city.
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