Entering its ninth year, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) in downtown St. Catharines has stacked its 2024/25 season with more than 60 shows. Artists including Feist, Rick Mercer and Brett Kissel will perform, along with a visit from former comedy superstar Pauly Shore for a night of storytelling.
There will also be plenty of local content via partnerships with Niagara groups such as Niagara Jazz Festival, Brock University, Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, Niagara Folk Arts and Black Owned 905. PAC marketing and programming director Sara Palmieri said the diverse lineup announced on Thursday night — touching on areas that include Indian cinema and the Berlin Wall — coincides with audiences gradually coming back to pre-pandemic levels at the venue. “I think a few years of isolation from the pandemic really created a greater desire to come together once again,” she said.
“And what we keep finding is how excited people are to see those old-school favourites but also to discover new artists from around the world as international touring has ramped up.” The season will launch with a pair of shows by Feist — the second was added this week — on Sept. 17 and 18.
She’s followed by country band High Valley on Sept. 20 and iconic Canadian comedian Mercer on Sept. 26.
Concerts throughout the season include Tom Cochrane on Oct. 9, Glass Tiger on Dec. 4, The Strumbellas on Dec.
5 and Jully Black on Feb. 12. Shore, one of Hollywood’s biggest comedic stars of the .
