‘Jam-packed’ Simcoe Heritage Friendship Festival set for weekend

The Simcoe Heritage Friendship Festival will be in full swing this weekend with old favorites and lots that’s new.

The festival has roots going back to 1967, when it was launched as a Canadian centennial project.

“We’re saying this is the 55^thanniversary,” said Sara Moody Veldhuis, who has been involved in organizing the Civic Holiday weekend event since 2009. “There wasn’t one in 2020 because of COVID, but the intention was there.”

Moody Veldhuis said visitors “this year will be quite pleasantly surprised” by the scope and variety of festival events and activities filling Wellington, Clifton and Grand Anderson parks from Friday to Monday.

The tradition of Pancakes in the Park continues with members of the Rotary Club of Simcoe serving breakfast each day from 7 am to 1 pm

Other service clubs, including the Lions Club of Simcoe, will be selling Dixie dogs and burgers. The Lynn Valley Lions have folded their ice cream festival into the Friendship Festival and will be offering visitors a chance to make their own sundaes.

“Our mandate is trying to provide opportunities for service clubs to use the weekend as their primary fundraising opportunity,” said Moody Veldhuis.

A Friendship Festival highlight will be a packed schedule of entertainment on three stages. Performers, many of them local, will offer an eclectic mix of music, including rock, jazz and country.

Visitors are invited to bring their own instruments to the Sunday Morning Gospel Jam from 10:30 am to noon.

“Music will pretty much be a constant all day long, every day,” said Moody Veldhuis. “In a festival, there’s a lot of movement and by switching genres we’re giving a real rotation to the audience.”

Another festival highlight is an extensive Kids’ Zone, which will be operated by members of the Young Theater Players. Children can tie dye a shirt or get their face painted for $5. There will be dance demonstrations, lots of free crafts, lawn games, a photo booth, and a chance to perform on the Be A Star stage. On Sunday, Katie’s Music Studio will be at the festival with her “instrument petting zoo.” A pet contest on Monday will be an opportunity for children to dress their pets in costumes and have them perform tricks.

A parade of food trucks will offer visitors everything from jerk chicken to bubble tea. More than 60 vendors will offer handmade goods, artwork, jewelry, clothing and other gift items.

Toast the Coast is a twist on the festival’s typical beer garden, with six Norfolk craft breweries and wineries offering their products.

Abel Enterprises will operate a “smash room” and a “smash car,” where visitors can use their weapon of choice and take out their frustrations by breaking some stuff.

The festival will have a unique kickoff on Friday at 6:30 pm in Wellington Park with Christmas in August, in support of the Simcoe Christmas Panorama. There will be carol singing and Santa will take a break from his vacation to make an appearance. A screening of The Grinch will start at dusk.

“We’ve tried to give a really jam-packed festival to people,” said Moody Veldhuis. “There’s something for everyone.”

A full listing of all events and activities is available at friendshipfest.ca.