Thanks to our big banner sponsors:
The 42nd Annual Thamesville Threshing Festival is taking place on June 23 and June 24.
Organizers say a fun filled weekend is in store, with many of the annual activities and events set to take place once again.
Kristy Metcalfe, the advertising chairman and secretary for the Festival, says the event kicks off on Friday, June 23 with the parade.
“The parade is one of the longest and largest in Southwestern Ontario,” Kristy said.
“It generally starts and parade entries can start lining up at the park at 6:30 p.m. You will get put into a queue and proceed through the town. If you are on Main Street, it is a safe bet that you will be able to watch it if you are coming into the town that day, but it does have a distinct path through the town. Mary Street, Anne Street and Lemuel Street. So there is lots of opportunities to catch the parade.”
Kristy said the parade this year has a Canada 150th birthday theme.
“We don’t typically do a theme but because it is Canada’s 150th birthday the following weekend, we are asking for people to decorate their floats and entries to help celebrate it and we are going to be giving out trophies for the first, second and third best floats.”
Kristy said there is also a midway kicking off on Friday night as well.
“There is all you can ride pricing at the midway for families, which is a little bit lighter on the pocket book. For Friday and for Saturday as well. This year we also have an ATM on site for our participants and guests. The midway starts at around 6:30 p.m. on Friday along with our vendor fair. We do have some local vendors from around Chatham-Kent coming.”
Kristy said at 8 p.m. the beer garden and food booths open on Friday.
“The beer garden is a licensed beer garden hosted by the Dresden Kinsmen Club and there is age of majority required and a $5 admission fee for the Friday night only.”
Kristy said this year the O’Hara Brothers Band will be on stage in the pavilion.
They go on stage at 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. when the Beer Garden closes.
Kristy said there are a few new events this year on the Saturday of the Threshing Festival.
“Kicking off Saturday is generally our Car Show & Shine,” she said.
“It starts at 8 a.m. The first 100 to register do receive a dash plaque and it is free to register at our car show. There are lots of door prizes as well.”
“New this year coming for us is we have a chainsaw artist that will be demonstrating in the park from about 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. It’s Robbin’s Amazing Art from the Highgate area and he will be doing a carving that we actually get to keep in the park.”
Kristy said at 9:30 a.m. is the Baby Contest., with pre-registration happening just before that event.
The Frog Jump is at 10:30 a.m. and and pre-registration happens just before as well.
“You have to be creative about where you get your frogs,” she said.
“Most people end up in the creeks or in the pond just before the Festival but there is usually people with an abundance at the festival if you don’t have one or aren’t able to catch one beforehand you can probably borrow someones. There is lots of frogs available.”
The Midway also goes all day on Saturday.
The Midway and the Beer Garden opens back up around 12 p.m. in the Saturday as well.
“There is lots of entertainment in the pavilion,” Kristy said.
“That 70’s Band is on stage from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Jay Allen is on stage from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Bed By Nine takes the stage from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. So lots of entertainment.
The Silver Stars Precision Drill Riding Club is also set to attend the event this year.
“They are a horse drill team that is going to be demonstrating in the front ball diamond from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., which will be really neat. They are coming from Windsor,” Kristy said.
The lawnmower races will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Zoo 2 U is an exotic animal display. They are coming from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and then our Broasted Chicken Dinner and Pie Auction of course are around supper time from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Broasted Chicken Dinner tickets can be picked up at the Thamesville Home Hardware.”
She said the dinner has sold out in the past.
“We always sell between 400 to 500 dinners,” she said.
“We do highly recommend advanced tickets but if you can’t get to Thamesville to get tickets you can email or call us and we will certainly get them to you.”
Kristy said just before the fireworks, they are holding the Junior Farmer and the Farmer Olympics.
“Any inquiries, registrations and that includes parade entries, volunteer hours, or vendor inquiries. All of those things can be emailed to us at threshingfestival@outlook.com. We do have a new email address this year for those who have emailed us in the past.
Kristy said people can find any information on their Facebook page, by clicking here.
