Bluesfest left in the dark, but generators used while power out

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A power outage in the west Centretown area left most of the Bluesfest site at LeBreton Flats Park, including the Canadian War Museum, in the dark for about three hours Sunday. 

At the main stage, generators were quickly hooked up and the first show went on, featuring Ottawa hip hop collective Training Season.

Rapper Nas was scheduled for the 9:30 p.m. headlining show on the festival’s final night.

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Generators were being distributed to the other stages, and most shows went on as scheduled.

Just before 8 p.m., it was announced that all the shows in the museum’s Barney Danson Theatre had been paused.

About an hour later, at 8:45 p.m., it was announced that the power had been restored.

Earlier in the evening, dozens of children and their families were waiting for their big moment at the SiriusXM stage in the tent. 

The entire evening had been dedicated to the youthful participants in the Blues in the Schools and Be In The Band programs. Eighteen bands and a choir were standing by as a generator was sent to the rescue. 

The online Hydro Ottawa outage map stated that the power went out at 5:46 p.m. An advisory from Hydro Ottawa soon after that said the cause of the outage was under investigation. It said 846 customers were affected in the area of Lett Street, Bay Street and Holland Avenue.

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