REGINA, Sask. — The Warehouse District is ready to reintroduce itself to the community.
District Fest takes over Dewdney Avenue and The Yards this Saturday, turning the neighbourhood into a free, 12-hour celebration of the businesses, people and culture that make the area uniquely part of Regina.
The first annual festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with activities ranging from a morning business showcase and Kids Zone to live music, food trucks, cultural performances, a local craft beverage patio and a massive outdoor Banjo Bowl watch party.
For Regina Warehouse Business Improvement District board chair Jeff Boutilier, the timing is significant.
The festival follows the completion of a multi-year revitalization of Dewdney Avenue, including major infrastructure work beneath the street that Boutilier says creates new possibilities for development in the district.
“Obviously it's now one of the most beautiful streets in town. That's where a lot of our nightlife exists. A lot of our great businesses and breweries exist on that street. And in addition to the beautiful stuff you see above ground, there was a huge investment made in infrastructure, some of the stuff that you can't see that actually makes a lot of the development that we're excited to see in the Warehouse District possible.”
District Fest is designed to introduce people to that changing landscape while putting the businesses already operating there in the spotlight.
Boutilier says organizers deliberately built the festival around the neighbourhood's diversity, with something for families, sports fans, music lovers and people looking to discover local businesses.
“Right from day one, I think there's been a real desire to showcase how diverse and interesting our community is. We have a huge array of businesses, everything from the companies that you would call out to work on your home, all the way to those sort of nightlife providers, retail, restaurants, all sorts of stuff in the district.”
The day begins at 10 a.m. with the Business Showcase and Kids Zone, including Storybook Princess Parties, while Métis jigger Derek Racette and traditional Indigenous drummers provide cultural performances.
Food trucks open at 11:30 a.m., followed at noon by Regina Rams player meet-and-greets and the opening of the 19-plus Local Tap Patio, featuring beverages from Bushwakker, District Brewing, Rebellion, Copperhead and Outlaw Trail.
Mayor Chad Bachynski will take part in the official opening ceremonies at 1:30 p.m.
At 2 p.m., attention turns to football as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Banjo Bowl, with a large outdoor screen set up for the watch party.
The festival also includes martial arts demonstrations from Spirit of the Dragon, puppy greetings with Running Wild Dog Rescue, beach volleyball exhibitions and line-dancing lessons.
As the football crowd gives way to the evening entertainment, the Dewdney Avenue Mainstage takes over.
Darryl Anderson performs at 6 p.m., Indigo Joseph follows at 7:15 p.m. and country-rock artist Brayden King headlines at 8:45 p.m.
For businesses that endured the disruption of construction, the festival represents more than an opportunity to sell products.
Tyler Polowy, co-owner of Rooted Living Designs, says the event gives businesses along Dewdney a chance to reconnect with Regina residents who may not have seen what has been happening behind the construction barriers.
“We've been longing for a Dewdney reopening and District Fest seemed like the perfect event and avenue to go down. Having a bunch of Warehouse businesses pop up here and food trucks and live music just to bring a little light to what has been the last two years of construction.”
Rooted Living Designs will have staff working extended hours and a table outside the store, giving visitors a chance to discover the business and explore the surrounding neighbourhood.
Polowy says he is particularly looking forward to seeing the people behind the businesses that have shared the challenges of the past two years.
“Honestly, interacting with other Warehouse District businesses is what I'm most excited about. Knowing or putting faces to the names because you always talk to them about their hardships over the last couple years. But now that we're all in one place, it will be fun to celebrate together.”
Boutilier hopes that sense of celebration becomes part of the district's future.
He says the neighbourhood's historic buildings, mix of businesses and evolving public spaces give Regina something worth showing off, both to residents and visitors.
“It's sort of that neighbourhood that a lot of cities wish they had. It's got the great old buildings, it's got really cool and interesting businesses. And it's one of those places that sometimes when we live in Regina, we tend to overlook a little bit some of the amazing things that we actually have right in our backyard.”
Organizers are encouraging people to bring lawn chairs for the football watch party and evening concerts.
Boutilier hopes Regina will not simply visit the Warehouse District for a day, but rediscover what is already there.
“This is a great opportunity to get reintroduced to that and help us start to move the neighbourhood in that direction, that type of community that people want to visit when they come from out of town. And the people that live here want to spend their time hanging out. And so hopefully people will come out and see what's happening in the district.”
City of Regina also announced that Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. to Sept. 13 at 11 p.m. Dewdney Avenue – Cornwall Street to Broad Street will be closed for District Fest.
This restriction includes set-up and take-down.
Bus routes have been modified.
"Please check TransitLive for alternative bus stops," the city said.
