Take a bite out of Watermelon Fest Saturday
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Watermelon Fest 2013 will be capped by a movie.
It will be a ‘family’ film.
And it will start at dusk.
Beyond that, Watermelon Fest chairperson Pauline Schram remains tight-lipped.
“I can’t tell you, I’d have to kill you,” she laughed. “It’s still in theatres, so we can’t say until the day of.
“That’s part of the deal.”
Fun for the entire family, with a focus on kids will be an intentionally-consistent theme throughout the 16th annual Watermelon Fest this Saturday (August 24) in Straffordville.
“It is a family thing, that’s what it’s all about,” Schram stressed. “We need to do more things for families.
“Definitely no beer tent,” she continued. “Never have had one and I hope they never do.”
The day instead will kick off with a pancake breakfast hot off the griddle courtesy of local firefighters between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The annual Watermelon Fest parade will hit the streets beginning at 10 a.m., leading into grand opening ceremonies at 11. This year’s watermelon seed spitting contest will feature a celebrity-laden cast including Municipality of Bayham Mayor Paul Ens and Elgin-Middlesex MPP Joe Preston.
By the time their final distances have been officially recorded, children’s rides will be operational and ongoing live music will be tuned up both at the Straffordville ballpark pavilion and inside the adjacent community centre.
“The music starts following the grand opening,” said Schram.
Attendant activities include a silent auction, craft vendors, food options, a petting zoo, a traveling reptile show, a car show – and of course, all the free watermelon one cares to eat.
The car show closes down at 3 p.m. says Schram, “and everything else carries on until five.”
Admission to the one-day fun fest and the evening movie are by donation only, which support, but don’t cover its $15,000-$17,000 price tag. Its continuation depends on ongoing fund-raising efforts coordinated by a seven-member committee, supported by a host of volunteers.
“It makes life intereseting,” Schram admits. “It never gets easy, it takes a lot of effort from everyone, but we have good volunteers and a good committee.”
Funds are raised throughout the year via a couple of bingos, a euchre tournament, draw tickets a yard sale “and a lot of personal donations,” and on the day by the silent auction, a 50/50 draw and draw tickets ($2 per or three for $5). This year’s list of prizes includes Schram’s personal favourite, a two-night stay at Hidden Valley near Huntsville, a $300 barbecue donated by Home Hardware, and a trio of shopping sprees: $100, $200 and $300 courtesy of No Frills in Aylmer. Winning tickets will be drawn at 5 p.m.
“It’s really worthwhile,” said Schram. “You can do a lot of grocery shopping for two or three hundred dollars.”
The cadre of volunteers includes ’18 or 19’ teenagers acquiring volunteer hours, says Schram.
“We encourage that,” she said.
Additional teenagers seeking volunteer hours are invited to sign up by calling 519-866-5573. Those of any age seeking a positive experience are invited to simply show up on the day, and take advantage of a true community-based family event.
“Everyone come out and enjoy themselves,” Schram concluded. “I think you’ll have a very good, fun day.”