This weekend the inaugural Lelawala Music Festival is taking place at the Moose & Goose in downtown Thorold.
“It’s our first annual,” says organizer Christie Hails, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “We’re incorporated so we’ll be doing this for a long time to come.”
Hails, who's organizing the event together with Scott Thompson, had first hoped to hold the festival at Firemen’s Park in Niagara Falls, but this was not a possibility due to logistical issues.
“Our fencing and things like that were very hard to get,” says Hails. “Some things have fallen through due to the Games having access to the same things that we needed. The Moose & Goose has taken us on. It’s going to be fantastic.”
This is not the first time Hails has put on a music event in Niagara.
“It’s my life,” Hails says. “I work with bands all around the world, trying to find gigs, just trying to be a support to help keep our music scene as strong as possible. I’ve put a bunch of shows on throughout the region over the years.”
Hails says the music scene in Niagara is unlike any other.
“It’s so diverse,” she says. “There’s so many musicians in Niagara. I don’t think people realize just how many. We kind of get subjected to the same ones all the time and they’re so many more. It’s got a great vibe.”
This is the first event Hails has put on since the pandemic.
“I’m both nervous and excited, more excited than anything,” Hails says. “I’m nervous because it’s first one and I don’t want to fail. I just don’t want to let anybody down. I want to make sure everybody has a good time and has a lot of fun.”
Most of all Hails says she’s looking forward to celebrating being back together with all her friends.
“It’s a complete blessing,” she says. “Just go big or go home.”
The Lelawala Music Festival runs from Friday until Sunday at the Moose & Goose.
On Friday, Blizzard of a Madman and Riders of the Storm will headline the stage, on Saturday, Fool Proof is the main act, and on Sunday, The Mahones will close out the festival. To see the full festival schedule head over to the website.
Tickets can be bought online, at the door, or through the participating local bands.
