By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
A half a century of hometown spirit will be celebrated this weekend at the Thamesville Threshing Festival.
The event’s 50th birthday will see new features added this year, as well as the return of tried-and-true favourites.
Involved for the last 25 years, event chair Ed Pumpfrey said Friday’s popular parade will be followed by the first-ever Drone Show later in the evening at 10:15 p.m.
Saturday’s activities kick off at 9 a.m., Pumpfrey said, and will wrap up at 10:15 p.m. with the biggest fireworks display the festival has ever had.
“We doubled our budget this year,” he told The Voice.
Saturday also features 45 vendors as well as a host of performances, including Indigenous dancers from Delaware Nation at Moraviantown; the Canadian Cowgirls and 365 Pro Wrestling.
Play Rangers, a petting zoo, chainsaw carving and Farmer Olympics are also on the agenda.
Pumpfrey said all are welcome, noting many people travel to the festival from out of town.
“It’s become like a big family reunion,” he said. “Everyone comes home for it.”
Plans are also in the works, Pumpfrey said, to honour Ron Swackhammer and Ron Vanrabaeys. Both Thamesville residents have been helping make the festival a success since it started in 1975.
Live music is featured throughout the festival with Big Shiny Toons playing Friday night. Dirt County will entertain on Saturday evening.
The midway is also open both Friday and Saturday. A variety of food trucks will also be onsite.
Be the first to comment