Wasn’t that a party?
This past weekend proved that the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival is, as its advertising says, truly “one of the best festivals this summer”.
From the Mount Forest Lions Bingo on Wednesday evening through to the Legion Branch 134 hospitality tent featuring local entertainment on Sunday, the whole event was a smashing success. Crowds of people were everywhere in Mount Forest all weekend-long. Of course it didn’t hurt that the “weather gods were smiling”, as Fireworks Committee Chair Ray Tout noted. It was a perfect summer weekend exemplified, as Mr. Tout pointed out, by people dancing on the grass at Cork Street Park on Saturday evening as the sun dipped below the horizon and people waited for dusk and the fireworks display to begin.
Mr. Tout says there were over 25,000 people in town on the weekend, with over 7,000 in the Cork Street Park watching the spectacular fireworks display by David Whysall International Fireworks. Nearly 5,000 people -- 4,825 to be exact – bought park admittance wristbands that evening. Side streets and lawns around town were also packed with people watching the fireworks that lit up the skies.
The 12th annual Kinsmen Car Show on Saturday also attracted large crowds – and almost more cars than organizers had places to park them. Over 600 cars – 630 to be exact – lined Main Street, side streets and even the parking lot at the now-vacant Khalsa Gas Bar. By 8 a.m. Saturday morning more cars had arrived in town to participate as had by 10 a.m. at last year’s festival.
The success of the weekend was the result of a tremendous amount of hard work by Mr. Tout and the Fireworks Festival Committee. However, he is quick to point out that the whole community came together – service groups, vendors and individuals – and that’s what made the weekend so successful.
The Kin Club resurrected the traditional Kinmen beef BBQ from years gone by and it was added as one of the numerous “new events” at this year’s festival. Wellington North Ringette got involved, providing both breakfasts and lunches on Saturday, as did the VON who provided a barbecue. Various new entertainers were also added to the lineup, both downtown and in the park.
An outdoor showing of “Avatar” at A&W on Friday evening, a Country 93 Video Dance, breakfasts, dinners, performances by the Cameron Highlanders, the motorcycle show and shine at the Legion, Flashback performing classic hits before and after the fireworks, a softball tournament and beach volleyball tournament – there truly was something for everyone in Mount Forest this past weekend.
As Mr. Tout wrote in an email, sent to all his committee members on Monday thanking them for their hard work, there’s only 364 days until the next Mount Forest Fireworks Festival. Not even that many now….