“We promised Petrolia a series of events this year, and we promised a few surprises too!” Said, Petrolia 150 Chairperson, Denise Thibeault. “So, we’re pleased to be making this announcement about the big August weekend, with a few surprises!”
Presented on the TD Stage, Petrolia will host the Hard Oil Music Festival from Thursday, August 15 through Saturday, August 17 and have arranged for some incredible Canadian artists to fill out the lineup.
Kicking of Petrolia’s weekend full of celebrations is the Thursday, August 15 country night of the Hard Oil Music Festival. Organizers are pleased to welcome Canadian Country artist Josh Ross to Greenwood Park. In support of Josh Ross, the oil town will welcome special guest Madeline Merlo.
Friday night, August 16, the event’s classic rock evening, will see Canadian Royalty Tom Cochrane take the stage, with support from special guest April Wine.
The Canadian rock night, Saturday, August 17, will see the evening welcoming The Sam Roberts Band will wrap the music festival with an evening full of fan favourites.
Parking is sure to be at a premium, so the Committee has partnered with Lang’s Bus Lines for free concert shuttles for Petrolia residents. Leave your car at home, and plan for a safe night with thanks to the buses. The stops and schedule will be posted with lots of time to plan your best route.
The Hard Oil Music Festival will take place on the TD Stage, with support from title sponsors Co-Operators – Pinto Financial Group Inc. Petrolia, Bluewater Power Distribution Corporation, Cogeco, Intact Public Entities, Westhoek Construction Limited, MIG Consulting Engineers, Tea Outfitters, and Kraz Co. Brand Promotion.
Tickets are $90 (+HST) for a single night, and $225 (+HST) for a Weekend pass and are available at www.petrolia150.com.
Saturday morning, August 17, brings fun for the entire family to downtown Petrolia! The Petrolia Farmers’ Market will be open from 7:30 a.m. until noon and will be full of local vendors and will provide an opportunity for young residents to meet BLUEY! All kinds of fun and games are planned during the Market, but the biggest surprise that morning is the addition of the Hard Oil Car Show all around the Market site featuring several cars from both the Sarnia Street Cruisers and the Sarnia Street Machines. Residents are invited to view the cars from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
For the Hard Oil Car Show, the following road closures will be in place: Robert Street from Centre Street to Fletcher Street, Fletcher Street from Petrolia Line to Robert Street, and Station Street from Petrolia Line to Robert Street. These streets will be closed from 6:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Petrolia 150 Parade will take to the streets of Petrolia at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 17. The Petrolia 150 Committee is excited to welcome The Canadian Cowgirls, The Sarnia Legion Pipe Band, The Sarnia Street Cruisers, Sarnia Street Machines, and many more groups and organizations to this historic parade. Also planned is a Canadian Snowbirds fly over during the parade.
The parade route is a familiar one for residents, with the parade departing LCCVI high school, traveling West on Dufferin Avenue, North on Maude Street, East on Petrolia Line and dispersing at the corners of Petrolia Line and Oil Street and Tank Street. The parking lanes will be closed for the parade on Petrolia Line also.
Immediately following the parade, the Petrolia Discovery will open to the public for free tours, free live music, games for kids, treats for sale from First Petrolia Scouting and even Petrolia 150 cupcakes! Residents are encouraged to “follow the parade” to experience some Petrolia history told in a way that only a historic, working oil field can! The Petrolia Discovery will welcome visitors from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 18, will start at 10:00 a.m. at Greenwood Park with a non-sectarian church service. Attendees are asked to please bring a lawn chair or blanket. The Petrolia 150 Committee is delighted to welcome the Lambton Youth Choir to support this event.
Following the church service, Greenwood Park will be turned into a celebration built specifically with kids in mind. Hard Oil Kids Day kicks off at 11:00 a.m. and will feature all kinds of fun events for kids and teens. A magician will wow the crowd from the TD Stage, there will be roller skating inside Greenwood Recreation Centre (with skates available!), live music, food trucks, face painting, BINGO, games, bouncy houses, and we are pleased to welcome the Homebuilt Soapbox Racing Association for a Soapbox Derby!
The Hard Oil Kids Day has been generously sponsored by Beth Hackett Insurance Agency Ltd., Bourque Renovations, Barb and Rick Charlebois, Kiwanis Club of Petrolia and Area, Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club, Royal Canadian Legion Br. 216, MacFarlane Chevrolet Buick GMC, The Rotary Club of Petrolia, the Petrolia Lions Club, Juce Computers, Waddick Fuels, RayMac Automotive, Sarnia-Lambton Crime Stoppers, Needham-Jay Funeral Home, Starlight Casino Point Edward, The ArtZ Den, Oil Springs Optimist Club, and Egan Heating and Cooling.
None of these events could take place without an army of dedicated volunteers and community groups and service clubs. The Petrolia 150 Committee extends a huge thank you for these priceless contributions, and for the generosity of our sponsors.
For a full list of community events for the year of Petrolia150 celebrations, or to order some Petrolia 150 gear, please visit www.petrolia150.com.