Thursday, 22 June 2017

Summer festivals are about dogs, cows, music, baseball and hockey

Weinerfest is this weekend (June 24) in Embro

Colin James will be in Woodstock for a free Cowapolooza concert

By Mark Schadenberg
Rain . . . rain . . . go away.
That was a cliché echoed several times last August in Southside Park when a free community concert by Canadian music icon Colin James was cancelled as part of the Saturday schedule of Cowapolooza in Woodstock.
Great news !!
The refrain “Colin James please please return” was heard.
On August 19, Colin James will make an encore appearance in the Friendly City and this time he will perform on the so-called toboggan hill in Southside Park – a natural amphitheatre – a terrific venue for an outdoor concert as music lovers bring their lawn chairs and their enthusiasm.
Tim Tyler will be the opening act for James.
Cowapolooza this year also includes The McCartney Years and The Mudmen on the Friday night for a free show. The family activities are numerous, including a petting zoo, children’s midway rides, crafting alley, skateboard competition, soapbox derby, pony rides, strongman and strongwoman competition, cow milking, and naturally the Lions Club of Woodstock beer garden.     


MORE SUMMER FESTIVALS
   June 23-24
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in St Marys inducts Roy Halliday and Vladimir Guerrero, plus the Team Canada 2015 gold team from the Pan-Am Games into the national baseball shrine. The ceremony is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 24.
Attend this venue in the summer of 2017 if you have never been there as the Canadian ball museum recognizes the first recorded game in Beachville, honours the Woodstock Wonder James ‘Tip’ O’Neill and Ingersoll’s Oscar ‘Lefty’ Judd.


   June 24
Dog lovers will flock to Embro for the annual Weinerfest Home County Festival at the Embro community centre / arena.
Cynder The Chaotic Dachshund is apparently the star of the show. This one-day one-breed party is more than just a dog show.


   July 1
Southside Park in Woodstock is a great place to enjoy the fireworks at dusk. Midway rides for the kids and lots of entertainment on stage too. Since Toyota is the annual sponsor of the fireworks show, this is truly one of the better light shows you will see anywhere in Ontario.


   July 1
You loved Embro for the dogs on June 24 and you will return for the annual Highland Games on Canada Day at the same venue. The Highland Games is also a 1-day festival to honour everything from Scotland – Highland dancing competitions, tug-of-war, marching band tattoo, bagpipes, tartans, crafts, sheep herding, Celtic music traditional strength competitions such as the caber toss and hammer throw, and of course more bagpipes.
The day begins at with the younger children’s divisions in Highland Dancing along with a running road race (10 km) at 9 a.m.

   July 1 - 2
Trackside Music Festival is all about country music at the Western Fair District in London.
An impressive roster will be performing
July 1 – Thomas Rhett, Dallas Smith, Aaron Pritchett and others including London’s rising star Genevieve Fisher
July 2 – Brett Kissel, Meghan Patrick, Brothers Osbourne, River Town Saints and others


   July 7 – 9
Ingersoll’s Yvonne Mott Memorial Park is the place to be for three days of live free music featuring folk and other genres, including Ian Thomas, Lennie Gallant, Valdy, Gary Fjellgaard, Red Moon Road, Tia McGraff and Coig.
The festival includes Friday pig roast, music workshops on the Saturday, community breakfast on the Saturday, plus vendors and crafts in the park, a food court area, and best of all is their zero waste program as all plates and cutlery are washed and re-used.


   July 12 - 16
London’s Rock The Park Music Festival is certainly not only rock music as the Wednesday, July 12 headlining act is Lady Antebellum. Kelsey Ballerina is also on stage on the opening night.
On Thursday, July 13th it’s Wiz Khalifa.
The July 14 schedule includes All For One, Naughty By Nature, Salt N Pepa, Colour Me Badd, and Vanilla Ice.
On July 15, the stage features The Offspring.
The fifth day is Sunday March 16 and includes Canadian sensation Alessia Cara, along with Marianas Trench, Scott Helman and Ruth B.   
Proceeds from this annual concert series go to Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, the Brand Prust Foundation, and Western Mustangs football. The event has raised over $2.7 million in its 15 years.

   July 14 – 16
Hillside Summer Festival is slated for Guelph with a huge roster of performers so be sure to memorize their website and where each performer will appear as they have four stages.
The long list of performers includes Sarah Harmer, Billy Bragg, Kacy And Clayton, Jenny Ritter, Begonia, and Kevin Breit.


   July 21 – 23.
If jazz is your favourite music genre, plan to attend the UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival. It should be a great weekend as it’s their 25th anniversary season and Matt Dusk is scheduled to perform on Saturday, July 22 at 9 p.m.
Their website notes the full lineup and stage times.

   August 4 – 6
The Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music doesn’t include the locale in its name, but this weekend is in Cambridge
The festival is in the Galt district of Cambridge and includes music and dance. Free admission for this festival which began in 1993.


   August 10-13
The Woodstock BIA hosts its annual 4-day Summer Streetfest in Downtown Woodstock with historic Museum Square as its backdrop. The Thursday to Saturday days are sidewalk sales days for local merchants, but there are three stages of live free music. Watch the BIA website noted here for details on performers for 2017 as the roster will include more than 30 singers / musicians. It can be said that Rik Emmett of Triumph will be on the main stage at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10.
On Sunday, Aug. 13 the main street of the city – Dundas Street – is transformed into a giant car show called Streetfest Cruise (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) and it features all makes and models. Bring your appetite for the beef bbq.


   August 10 - 12
The Stanley Cup will be in Tillsonburg.
Many hockey fans know that the NHL’s director of hockey operations and executive vice president Colin Campbell is from Tillsonburg, so with his assistance and a great committee in Tillsonburg there will be a 3-day summer hockey festival called NHL Fan Centennial Arena.
Memorabilia from the Hockey Hall of Fame will be displayed at the community centre, including a 52-foot truck with trophies, historic jerseys, vintage equipment and so much more.
Thursday, August 10, Hockey Night in Tillsonburg Gala Event, 5 pm - 1 am will feature Ron McLean as guest speaker.


Ron McLean
   August 24 – 27
The annual Woodstock Fair is a great way to end summer before kids return to school.
The Woodstock Fairgrounds is the venue and the midway, grandstand entertainment and Old MacDonald’s Farm are key attractions.
There are cattle competitions, plus prizes for quilting, crafts, horticulture and baking.
With Canada celebrating 150 years and the fair celebrating a remarkable 181 years, be sure to check out their advertising and marketing about free admission to the fair. Farm Fun is the theme for 2017.


   August 25 - 27
London Bluesfest is in Harris Park along the Thames River and near the downtown core.
Bluesfest this year is highlighted by three distinct schedules.
August 25 – Wallflowers, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Rick Derringer.
August 26 – Burton Cummings, Robert Cray, Molly Hatchet, and guitarist Scott Holt.
August 27 – Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Bobby Kimball (Toto), John Payne (Asia), Pat Travers, and legendary Canadian guitarist and Londoner Bill Durst.


Burton Cummings


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