Turtle Time in Tillsonburg - June 16-18
Article content
The seventh annual Tillsonburg Turtlefest, June 16-18, promises three days of music, food and fun. This year there is even more to see as organizers have once again added to Ontario's Best Turtle Festival.
Friday's Downtown Block Party on Broadway, and Saturday at Annandale National Historic Site, Station Arts Centre and Memorial Park (fairgrounds) will be familiar to anyone who has attended Turtlefest, with a few new twists. This year's expanded Sunday program includes a special Canada 150 evening concert by Whiskey Jack, who will present 'Stories & Songs of Stompin' Tom' at Memorial Park.
"It's the second year as a three-day festival," noted Turtlefest Committee's Rick Cox.
Downtown Block Party
Turtlefest's stage entertainment kicks off Friday on Broadway with the Downtown Block Party, featuring the 2017 Country Concert in the Street, presented by the Turtlefest Committee in partnership with the Tillsonburg BIA and Country 107.3. This year's four-band concert begins with Small Town Girls (https://smalltowngirls.bandzoogle.com/home) on stage at 6:30 p.m. Tune in to Country 107.3 Monday, June 5, at 1:30 p.m. for an interview with Small Town Girls and live performances. The Langton-area band will be followed by Eric Ethridge, Marshall Dane and The Western Swing Authority.
There is no admission for the concert - bring lawn chairs and settle in for the show. Or purchase VIP tickets, which include food, drinks and premium seating ($50 +HST). Order a table of eight to get one free ticket (info@easy101.com).
Turtlefest opens Friday 4-4:30 p.m. with an official 5 p.m. ribbon-cutting opening ceremony at the Rotary Clock Tower, sponsored by Metro. Enjoy the street performances... and cupcakes for everyone.
Friday's Downtown Block Party includes a Hockey Circus show (5:30, 7 & 8:15), the FireGuy (6:15 & 7:45), Canadian Country Cruisers (5:15-5:45 near Coffee Culture), Zilly Zi Zoo 2 Go, Classic Car Show, The Ostrich Rider, Little Ray’s Reptiles, basketball, foosball and 'turtle belly' inflatables, Dotsy the Clown, Tilly the Tillsonburg Town Centre Mascot, merchant displays and games for children, Canada 150 Flag Signing, children’s colouring contest, music, dancing, hula hoops, derby car, spa services, crafts activities, food booths, and of course, turtles.
Unifor will be collecting personal care products for the Oxford Men/Women Shelter.
Turtley Treats Baking Contest
Have you got a sweet tooth?
Submit either a baked good or candy from scratch for this year's Turtley Treats Baking Contest as part of Turtlefest, Saturday, June 17 at the Station Arts Centre.
There will be Adult and Children's divisions and prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The event is growing, says Deb Beard, Station General Manager.
"Last year submissions were double from the previous year," said Beard. "Another fun aspect to the event is that guests and participants get to try a little of everyone's after the judging - so we all win."
This years' Turtley Treats contest is hosted by the Station Arts Centre, Tillsonburg Farmers Market and Sobeys. Submissions will be accepted 10-11 a.m., June 17, followed by judging 11 a.m.-12 p.m. (noon). For more information visit www.turtlefest.ca or www.stationarts.ca for criteria and details.
Saturday's events at Annandale National Historic Site begin at 11 a.m. Admission is free all day at Annandale House, 30 Tillson Ave., where there will be games and crafts for children on the front lawn, live turtles and tortoise, and displays.
"They're doing a fair amount to tie it in with the Canada 150 celebration," said Cox, noting the Hevenor Art Exhibit is inside. "This is a pretty big deal for Tillsonburg, and really, for the art world in Ontario - and it's happening here. If you haven't gone to Annandale House for Turtlefest before, this is a good year to check it out."
The majority of the events at Memorial Park Saturday and Sunday begin at 11 a.m. both days. Daily admission to Memorial Park is $5.
Creative Imaginations Festival
This year's annual Creative Imaginations Festival at Turtlefest will be Saturday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Memorial Park.
The Station Arts Centre's Creative Imaginations Festival offers brand new games, balloon animals, a giant mural to paint, crafts and more! Zilli Zi Zoo 2 Go will bring their animals and reptiles for an educational and fun experience. Play Plink-o or Spin-to-Win for an opportunity to win a coveted spot at the Station's summer art camp or craft camp. There are opportunities to win small prizes throughout your time at the festival. Stop by, grab a sno-cone, get your face painted and have a blast.
Saturday and Sunday at Memorial Park features the THI Turtlefest Stage, where there will be music and dance throughout both days, inflatables, vendors, food booths, and Canine Watersports (dogs jumping into a pool of water). Tillsonburg Soccer Club will have a station to see how hard/fast you can kick a soccer ball.
Canine Watersports, back for their third year, and the Turtlefest Stage will be in slightly different locations this year.
"We've got an entirely different park to work with... and a bunch of other things that need to fit in," said Cox.
"On both days the Honda Junior Red Riders are coming from Gopher Dunes. Kids up to 12 can try small motocross bikes, free, from 12-4ish, You sign up and you get to ride a little motorcycle."
Also both days, you can try roller skating in the arena.
Catapult Competition
New this year, there will a Saturday afternoon catapult competition. That's right, catapults at Turtlefest, sponsored by CJDL Engineering (Cyril J Demeyere Limited).
"You build your catapult ahead of time, and there are some rules - it can only cost so much and it can only be so big. It's a trebuchet, so it's gravity-powered."
Rules and specifications will be posted on the Turtlefest website. There are three categories - accuracy, distance, and appearance.
"We're expecting some school teams, and if there's a corporate team challenge, that would be fun."
The stage area has a Saturday lineup that runs from 11 a.m. to about 9:45 p.m., followed by a family-friendly outdoor movie sponsored by Home Hardware.
Saturday's stage entertainment includes Danscene dance studio, Gentlemen of Harmony from Simcoe (1 p.m.) - a 70-member barbershop chorus which includes local singer Terry Pond, Jason Maxwell, Patrick Campbell, Stacey Renee, and the closing act at 8 p.m. - Judi Rideout and the X-Husbands. Rideout writes songs about ex-husbands, boyfriends, and truckers. Her act sometimes contains one - or even a few of her ex-husbands, and maybe a trucker or boyfriend.
Canine Watersports Canada (registration forms on their website, link available on the Turtlefest website) starts again Sunday morning at 9 a.m., with the rest of the Memorial Park activities and entertainment following at 11 a.m. including local Long Story and classic rock band High Water Revival.
"Sunday evening we're extending it until dusk, with Kiana Woods - well-known in country circles - over the supper hour, and the (7:30 p.m.) grand finale, Whiskey Jack, which is Stompin' Tom's band, performing stories and songs of Stompin' Tom."
Admission to the Whiskey Jack concert, funded in part by the federal government (Canada 150 grants), is included in the $5 all-day pass.
Tillsonburg Thunder will be hosting a licensed patio garden at Memorial Park Saturday and Sunday.
ATV Madness
Also Sunday, ATV Madness, sponsored by Lockhart's Odyssey and Chesterman Power Products, returns for its second Turtlefest, starting at 12 p.m.
"That's an ATV mud bog, ATV drag race and ATV obstacle course," said Cox. "Anybody can enter that as well.
"This year's Turtlefest is sort of a trial run for our new Memorial Park layout. It's going to be different this year. The stage platform may be ready for Turtlefest, but if it's not, we will have a portable stage here for the weekend anyways. That's our backup."
Lake Lisgar Water Park opens on the weekend of Turtlefest with half-price admission, sponsored by Execulink.