Regular rain squalls dampened things over the May long weekend but it didn’t stop the annual May Festival in Vankleek Hill.
“The weather was against us,” said Samme Putzel, representative for Excellent Events, “but all in all it was a great festival.”
Excellent Events has taken full charge of Vankleek Hill’s May Festival, inaugurated several decades ago by Phil Arbor, Vankleek Hill’[s “unofficial mayor” as part of his longrunning efforts to foster community events to entertain residents and visitors and celebrate the area’s wealth of culture and homegrown arts.
This year’s May Fest featured the popular Children’s Parade and also marked the continuing efforts of the Charlie’s Tree project to promote efforts to maintain neighbourhood trees and also encourage residents to plant new trees. This year about 100 seedlings were handed out during the May Festival for people to take home and plant.
Live music performances by individual singers and bands keep the village centre rocking, with old favourites like 50 Proof and new ones like Foreman & Company, a band from Harrington Township across the Ottawa River in Québec, who proved very popular with the listening audience in the street with their repertoire of original bluegrass-rock style of ballads and songs.
A variety of food vendors, local artisans, and home-based businesses provided food and opportunities to browse for people passing by their kiosks on Main Street. The Creative Centre at one end of the street featured a photo art exhibition while at the other end of the street an art show offered viewers examples of local artists’ visions.
“All in all, it couldn’t have been better, this year’s festival,” said Putzel, “considering the weather.”
