KELOWNA – Music is once again coming alive in Merritt.
Organizers of the Rockin’ River Musicfest announced Thursday the festival is relocating to Merritt.
For the past six years, the country music event has been held in Mission B.C.
Organizers say the venue change was necessary because the festival has outgrown the current site at the Mission Raceway Park.
“This is a natural choice as Merritt is not only the home of a very well established festival site and the home of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame but it’s also known as the Country Music Capital of Canada,” says Kenny Hess.
Hess, the president of the Rockin’ River Music festival, says Merritt’s central location was also a motivating factor in the move.
“With Merritt’s easy highway access from all four directions, this move gives the entire province a destination that is well within reach,” says Hess.
Merritt was home to the Merritt Mountain Music festival for 18 years until it was finally cancelled in 2012 due to what organizers called dwindling ticket sales.
Organizers of the Rockin’ River Musicfest say Merritt’s experience in hosting large scale festivals made it the perfect fit.
They say a well-established festival ground with a lot of camping facilities and permanent structures will be able to service the needs of the thousands of people that will come to Merritt for their summer country music fix.
The four day festival will be held on the August long weekend in 2015.
Last year the Rockin’ River Music Festival hosted 26,000 people.
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