Not one, but TWO, great bands will play at the popular IWK 250 Tailgate Party on July 13. High Society and The Privateers will rock the high banks and get the crowd revved up for the exciting two days of racing to follow.

High Society played the ’22 edition of the Tailgate Party and is back by popular demand; they cover classic rock & roll tunes and are rightfully known as Cape Breton’s party band. The Privateers cover Celtic rock and Maritime favourites. Both bands are high energy. The combination of the two in one show promises to provide toe-tapping, sing-along, and dance-along tunes for all to enjoy.

The IWK 250 Tailgate Party falls on day two of the four-day IWK 250 Super Race Weekend and has become one of the favourite parts of the event. It’s where folks gather with good friends some of whom they only see once a year, and also make new friends. It follows the IWK 250 Test’N’Tune held earlier in the day where fans get their first glimpse of the cars and stars that will race in the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis on Saturday (July 15).

Admission to the IWK 250 Tailgate Party will be available as a stand-alone ticket or as part of the weekend pass. The Party is expected to get underway between 9 and 9:30 p.m. 

Advance tickets for the IWK 250 Super Race Weekend will be available, with the on-sale date TBA. Subscribe to the Riverside newsletter to have the on-sale date delivered directly to your email, in advance. To subscribe, simply visit the RiversideSpeedway.ca website, click on News, and then Newsletter.

IWK 250 campsite renewals are well-underway with the February 28 deadline quickly approaching. New reservations are expected to be available online at RiversideSpeedway.ca by mid-March.

The IWK 250 is an iconic race on the North American stock car circuit with long roots, reaching back as far as 1977 when the first 250-lap event held in the Maritimes was contested at Riverside. Since then a who’s-who of Canadian stock car royalty and even a couple of NASCAR stars have won the event and seen their names on the revered John W. Chisholm Memorial Cup. It is the largest stock car racing event in eastern Canada and is on the bucket list for racers and fans from all over North America.

The IWK 250 is named for and is a fundraiser for the largest children’s hospital in the region – the IWK Health Care Centre – and, since the inception of the IWK 250 in 2007, it has raised awareness and over $525,000 for the IWK Foundation.

The IWK 250 Super Race Weekend starts Wednesday (July 12) when camping for over 800 RVs opens followed by evening practice for support classes, the annual IWK 250 Test’N’Tune followed by the Tailgate Party on Thursday, Sportsman and Legends racing on Friday, and culminating with the IWK 250 Presented by Steve Lewis on Saturday.

Hotel rooms are available at the Official Hotel of Riverside International Speedway, Microtel Inn & Suites Antigonish, just a 10-minute drive from the track. Fans can make reservations online  (www.microtelantigonish.com) or call the hotel directly (902-735-0101).

Fans should stay tuned to Riverside’s website (www.riversidespeedway.ca), social media (Facebook and Twitter), and sign up for the electronic newsletter (www.riversidespeedway.ca/media/newsletter) for further announcements regarding the 2023 season at Riverside.

About Riverside International Speedway:

For 54 years, Riverside International Speedway has been recognized as a premiere stock racing facility in Canada. The 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval roars to action several times a year for special events. It is the largest outdoor entertainment venue in eastern Canada and the home of the IWK 250 – widely known throughout North America as a “bucket list” event for racers and fans alike. Located in James River, between New Glasgow and Antigonish, the facility is easily accessible at exit 30 on Trans Canada Highway 104. For more information, please visit www.riversidespeedway.ca or call 902-863-2410 (May to September) or 902-404-7049 (October to April).