Bayfest in Port Rowan offers family fun

Bayfest 2023 offered up plenty of fun activities for the entire family in Port Rowan on the weekend.

One of the most popular events was the Build-a-Boat by the Bay competition.

Participants were given a skid of building materials – a sheet of plywood, nails, screws, duct tape, liner material and a variety of lumber – from which they had three hours to design and build a boat.

“I love to see the people build the boats. This is the highlight for us, seeing what people can do,” said Vince Lizotte who was visiting from Andy’s Corners near Langton. “It’s good, old-fashioned fun. The community atmosphere is amazing. We’ll definitely be coming back.”

Fred DeVries of Port Rowan helped his grandsons Judah, age 12, and Isaiah, 10 of Simcoe design and build a boat they dubbed The Black Pearl.

“You don’t know what you’re going to get for a kit until you show up,” explained the grandfather. “You have to figure out how you’re going to make a boat out of this.”

Judah said he felt like he was Captain Jack Sparrow, and his brother Isaiah was William Turner from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

The boys paddled steadily and won two heats of races to become the champions of the event.

Meantime, Keegan Amy of Burford didn’t fare quite as well.

“It was our first year doing it and we built it a little too high. It was too tippy,” Amy said, still dripping wet after having capsized his boat. “It’s fun, and we have a plan for next year now.”

Brandon Vermeersch of Port Rowan Home Building Center was the sponsor of the Build-a-Boat event.

“This is one of the better turnsouts we’ve had,” he said. “It’s really nice to see this many vendors here this year. It’s making a resurgence.”

Vermeersch said the timing of Bayfest is a “last hurrah” before all the kids return to school.

“This whole festival is about the kids,” he noted. “Anytime you can do anything like this is a small community, it brings (everyone) together.”

Elsewhere in town, musicians performed, people were able to create chalk art on the street, and take part in hula hoop, wacky hair, casting, and ice cream eating contests.

Over on Cenotaph Hill, 29 home-made carts were entered in soap box derby.

The Mercier family from Port Dover had three carts entered in the races.

“In Port Dover, I’m the four-time champion, and I won this one last year,” said twelve-year-old Nate Mercier, who described soap box derby racing as “fun and fast.”

He was joined by his brother Phillip, 15, and his mother Tanya who gave a neon orange morph suit and helmet to drive her multi-coloured derby car.

Larry Mercier helped tune up the cars in preparation for the races.

“We’re not too technical,” he said. “We put it up on blocks and spin the wheels. If it’s smooth, it’s good.”

Michelle Glendinning, who with her husband Jeffrey operates Jeffrey W. Glendinning Funeral Home – one of the derby sponsors – said people spend all year making their carts.

“It’s a wonderful community event, and a fun time for the community to get together for an event for all ages.”

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