Salaberry-de-Valleyfield comes alive each summer as over 130,000 fans of hydroplane racing, live music, and regional culture throng to the city. The 83rd edition of the Régates de Valleyfield got off to a strong start over the weekend with two evenings of concerts, special events, and activities around the regatta.
The Quebec government added to the noise surrounding the popular event on Friday by announcing it would be investing $205,000 in the annual regatta. “Every year, thousands of visitors take part, generating significant economic and tourism spin-offs for the province,” said tourism minister Caroline Proulx while congratulating the organizers behind the event. Beauharnois MNA Claude Reid noted how fans of hydroplane racing “will be treated to sensational performances, masterfully staged by seasoned pilots.”
Three days of spectacular racing will begin on July 14 as some of the world’s fastest hydroplanes take over the Lac Saint-François Bay in the heart of downtown Valleyfield. The weekend’s festivities kick-off the night before, however, with a concert featuring Brittany Kennel and none other than Roch Voisine. Performances by pop-electro artist La Bronze, FouKi, Mentana, and Salebarbes will complete the concert series.
The regatta is part of the Hydroplane Racing League, which features eight stops from Detroit to Brockville during its summer season. The drivers will be fresh off the Thousand Islands Regatta, which took place over the July 1 weekend. They will head to North Tonawanda, New York, for the Thunder on the Niagara event before returning to the region for the 16th edition of the Régates de Beauharnois over the Labour Day weekend in September.
The race site at Delpha-Sauvé park will open at 9 a.m. on Friday, with engines revving and the start of racing scheduled for 10 a.m. The site will open on Saturday and Sunday as of 8 a.m. with races running throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (SR)