Rock on the River: NEED TO KNOWS

Before you rock out near the Mattagami River this weekend, make sure you’re well prepared.

WHAT NOT TO BRING

There will be bag checks as you enter the festival grounds. Folding chairs are not permitted, and neither are beach balls.

(There will be covered seating located on the grounds.)

Everything else not allowed are pretty much common sense (weapons, outside alcohol, etc.)

There is one ATM on-site, so it’ll be wise to bring cash to avoid lineups.

DRINKING/SMOKING
First, there is a designated smoking area in the northeast corner near the river.

(TFEC says smoking in an undesignated area of the park is grounds for removal.)

Now for the drinking. A beer tent is set up along the east side of the grounds, and beer tickets are $5.00 each.

STARTING/FINISHING THE NIGHT RESPONSIBLY

Continuing on the drinking note, remember to drink responsibly.

If you need a ride home, two shuttle buses will be running at the end of the night. One east to the Timmins Square, north on Shirley, east onto Lafleur Drive and then south on Airport Road.

The other will run west straight to South Porcupine.

Make a request to the driver along the way to be dropped off.

As well, Vet’s Taxi cabs will be parked on site.

TICKETS

Full weekend tickets are no longer available. If you didn’t purchase tickets ahead of time, it is $60 per night at the door.

Children 10 and under get in free with a cash donation to a local charity. Friday’s donations will benefit the South Porcupine Food Bank. Saturday will support the Timmins Food Bank. (TFEC says bring proof of age if your child looks over 10.)

If you have paid but haven’t picked your physical tickets up yet, “Will Call” starts at 5:00pm.

Gates open at 6:00pm and the night finishes at 1:00am both nights.

PERFORMANCES

There will be no shortage of music throughout the weekend. Performances will alternate from the main stage and side stage, so someone will be performing at all times from 6:15pm to 1:00am.

Main stage is in the northwest corner of the festival grounds. The side stage is just north of the parking lot.

MAIN STAGE
FRIDAY

• Midnight Shine will bring the shine from the James Bay coast at 6:15pm.
• Following that, Tyler Shaw is dealing his “House of Cards” at 7:30pm.
• Then, Coleman Hell and his “2 Heads” come up at 8:45pm.
• And headlining it all is Classified. He’ll release his “Inner Ninja” to finish the night off at 10:45pm.

SATURDAY

• Blackwood Sinners will show why they we’re the “Epic Band Battle” winners of 2017 by kicking things off at 6:15pm.
• Adam Gontier follows that with a special acoustic performance at 7:30pm. Gontier is the lead singer of Saint Asonia, and formerly of Three Days Grace.
• Finger Eleven have some ‘Good Times’ planned for the Timmins crowd at 8:45pm.
• And the finale of this year’s Rock on the River will be Big Wreck. They’ll rock so hard, ‘You Don’t Even Know’ what will hit you. They hit the stage at 10:45pm.

SIDE STAGE
FRIDAY

• Care-Oh starts at 7:00pm
• One Hitters play a double set at 8:25pm and 10:25pm
• Danny Thomas goes at 12:15am

SATURDAY

• Rough Outlook starts at 7:00pm
• Ruuster goes at 8:25pm and 10:25pm for a double set
• One Inch Speaker plays at 12:15am

OTHER ACTIVITIES

As it is an all-ages event, there will be plenty of activities for the kids to enjoy.

A dunk tank runs from 6:30pm to 9:30pm with numerous special guests ready to take the plunge.

(That includes radio personalities such as 92.1 ROCK morning host Ryan Daly, midday host Vanessa Smith, KiSS 99.3 morning man Mark Kinsman and 92.1 ROCK/KiSS 99.3 Street Team girl Cambria Bryce.)

It’s $5.00 for three balls and all proceeds will go towards next year’s Rock on the River event.

A 50/50 draw will happen both nights, and much like Stars and Thunder, the prize can go up to $50,000.

The Rogers Radio team will be in attendance at their tents with games and cut outs (be Slash or a radio DJ!), and Rick Lemieux’s “Heroes for Hire” is on site too with Batman and Captain America.

On top of it all, a booth to make a model of your hand and free airbrush tattoos for the kids.

(Adults can get the tattoos as well, but comes with a fee.)

SET UP

Here is the full layout of the festival grounds: