Diane Johnston
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TEMISKAMING SHORES – Yes, there will be beer.
But there will also be local live music and regional food, spirits and wines and non-alcoholic beverages at the 2025 edition of North on Tap on Saturday.
And in the lead-up to the day-long craft beer festival, Friday will see a golf mixed social at the Haileybury Golf Club and an alcohol-free family fun night event.
“We’ve got great entertainment. We’ve got a lot of the same breweries and distilleries,” said Danielle Bélanger-Corbin, a member of the organizing committee.
And the event also has fans.
The first round of tickets sold out in April A second limited run was released June 1. Altogether, close to 2,000 tickets, an increase from last year, will be available, said Bélanger-Corbin in an interview last week.
Sponsorship is also up.
“We have more sponsorship than we’ve had in any of the previous editions, so that’s going to help us be able to write some nice cheques once all is said and done,” she said.
Supporting not-for-profit projects, she said, is the driver of the event.
“It’s a fabulous Saturday spent on our beautiful waterfront in Haileybury, but it’s about touching so many not-for-profits,” she said, describing North on Tap as event “that also gives back.”
To date, it has donated $425,500 to a number of organizations, including a record-setting $100,000 last year that was shared by six recipients.
This year, it received 11 applications from hopeful beneficiaries. Organizers selected three:
• the revival of a literacy program by the Fondation communautaire du Témiskaming that provides magazine subscriptions to more than 900 young francophone students
• an electrocardiograph machine for Temiskaming Hospital
• roof repairs at the Northdale Manor retirement residence in New Liskeard.
DETAILS
The event informally kicks off with the second annual golf mixed social on Friday, beginning at 5 p.m.
“It sold out in a few days,” said organizer Hugo Rivet in an email.
Meanwhile, non-golfers can take in Family Fun Night at Harbour Place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Inflatables, face painting and a showing of the movie Moana 2 at 6 p.m. are free.
“We hope people will spread the word,” said Bélanger-Corbin.
Attendees at North on Tap itself will be able to sample the wares of nine brewers, distillers and wine providers from across the Northeast.
A newcomer this year is Ferme Nordvie of St-Bruno-de-Guigues, which will offer non-alcoholic strawberry slushies and sparkling juices.
Four food providers have been booked.
The music starts at noon. Makinna Givens will be followed by Addison and Adams, Nico See, Steve Benoit, Breeze Z Creek and the Mud Dogs. Radio Daze wraps up the live music, taking to the stage at 7:30 p.m.
For ticket information, check out North on Tap’s Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Bélanger-Corbin invites not-for-profits with specific projects in mind to begin thinking of applying for edition number eight.
“We’re already talking about next year,” she said.