Get ready for the Capital’s biggest party of the summer.
The RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest kicked off Thursday evening at Lebreton Flats Park. Ottawa’s biggest music festival expects to see well over 250,000 people pass through its gates over eleven days.
Day one features acts like Jimmy Eats World, The Cat Empire, and classic rockers Grand Funk Railroad. The opening night headliner is The Black Keys. The Akron, Ohio duo won four Grammys this year, including Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Album, and Best Rock Song.
This year’s edition of Bluesfest runs July 4th to the 14th. It features around 150 acts on 5 stages in and around the Canadian War Museum. The site also features food and beverage vendors, ATMs, free water bottle filling stations, and artist merchandise and autograph stations.
If you’re going, organizers recommend you leave the car at home as parking is extremely limited. OC Transpo is increasing bus service to and from the park, especially when the festival closes each night at 11 p.m. There's also a secure bicycle parking lot nearby.
Items to leave at home include non-folding chairs, tents, hard-sided coolers, glass water bottles, audio and video recording devices (cell phones and small, fixed-lens cameras are accepted,) pets (except service dogs,) weapons, drugs and alcohol. All bags will be searched at the gate.
