Paris Drinks Fest set to pour on the music, flavour and fun

The high-energy Trash Panda Brass Band, pictured performing at Paris Drinks Fest 2023, will be back to bring their signature sound to this year’s festival lineup. (Michelle Malvaso photo)

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Paris is about to welcome back one of its biggest summer celebrations — and this year’s Paris Drinks Fest is shaping up to be its biggest yet.

On August 15 and 16, the sixth annual festival will fill the grounds beside the Two Rivers Stadium beside the Syl Apps Community Centre with the sounds of Sam Roberts Band, Matt Mays, and a stacked lineup of talent including Born in the Eighties, Shania Twink, Shebad, Trash Panda Brass, The Wild High, Absolute Losers and Altameda. Add in more than 35 food and drink vendors and you’ve got a recipe for a weekend of great music, local flavours and community spirit.

What began in 2018 as a single-day gathering with 15 vendors and 1,300 guests has grown into a two-day destination event attracting more than 4,000 attendees from across Ontario, Canada, the United States, and even as far away as England and Spain. “It’s been amazing to watch this grow from a regional event into something international,” said festival founder and organizer Tim Des Islets of Noisemaker Presents. “People are planning their vacations around coming to Paris for the weekend.”

The lineup, carefully curated over the course of a year, blends big names with up-and-coming acts. “Sam Roberts Band has been a favourite of mine since high school, so it’s an honour to have them here,” said Des Islets. “Matt Mays has played Paris before and people have been asking for him to return ever since. And then there are bands like Absolute Losers and Altameda that I discovered while travelling — it’s exciting to bring them here and introduce them to a new audience.”

This is the second year the festival will be staged beside the Syl Apps Community Centre, after flooding forced a move from Lions Park. The new site, Des Islets says, offers better infrastructure, easy access for attendees and emergency services, and plenty of natural beauty thanks to the tree-lined river backdrop.

Organizers expect close to 5,000 guests over the two days. To keep traffic flowing smoothly, they recommend walking, cycling, carpooling or using public transit. Parking is available in municipal lots downtown and at Lions Park, but nearby residential streets are by permit only — with ticketing and towing in effect.

Des Islets credits the festival’s success to unwavering community support, a dedicated team and plenty of word-of-mouth buzz. “In a digital world, word of mouth is still the biggest driver in live events,” he said. “We’re grateful people keep coming back and telling their friends not to miss it.”

For Des Islets, the payoff comes during the festival itself. “Just being there and taking it all in — the music, the food, the crowd — that’s my favourite part,” he said.

While there may be a few tickets available at the door, organizers recommend buying in advance at www.parisdrinks.ca. Judging by the excitement building around town, this is one summer weekend you won’t want to miss.