The rain that fell on the weekend might have placed a damper on some local festivities, and it cut into the attendance, but it is amazing how resilient people can be in the face of some dampness on their parades.
At the Canadian Redneck Games in Harriston on Saturday, one fellow simply commented, “Mother Nature is a Redneck, too.”
The grounds might have been wet, and people’s clothing might have been damp, but visitors were there to enjoy the games, and they were adamant that rainy weather was not about to stop them. The squish of shoes into wet grass and mud was a constant, but hundreds of people did show up to enjoy the show. We spoke with one group, from London, who had spent several extra hours getting there because of a bad internet map. They were determined to stay all day and to enjoy every minute of the Redneck Games.
In Fergus at the Scottish Festival and Highland Games, people were enduring heavy weather, as they say. Rain came down in torrents around noon hour, forcing the cancellation of the opening ceremonies. It poured again later in the day, to the extent that people were pulling over their vehicles on Fergus’ main street for safety. At one point, it even hailed.
But the Scots are hardened to such weather, even though this was the worst storm they had endured in many years. The old Victoria Park site once had heavy rains seven years in a row, and the Scottish Festival and Highland Games continued onward. It rained prior to the Thursday concert, and in between opening acts and Johnny Reid’s headliner performance, but mostly the next day all we heard was that it was a great show.
When the skies brightened on Sunday, there were good crowds back, and several events were held in sunnier weather. Rain interrupted again, but organizers could only shrug. Most events did get completed in Fergus and Minto.
One elderly Scot told us that Saturday in Fergus reminded him of Scotland, where weather changes up to four times a day. He agreed that it is no different than an Open Championship, where the rain often comes down sideways on golfers and fans alike, and the winds swirl seemingly forever. Still, people keep coming back every year.
And they will, too, to these local events that got hit on the weekend. Organizers at the Drayton Fall Fair told us they were amazed at the spirit of the people – who stayed on Sunday right to the end, when a few events had to be cancelled. Such support bodes very well for the future.
Canadians are a resilient bunch. We spent several hours at the Minto and Fergus festivals on Saturday, and while organizers might have lamented the rain, we heard not one single complaint from any of those who came to take part. They wanted to enjoy the festival, and downpours or not, they were determined to do just that.
The tents, of course, were packed in both places. In Fergus, where the dancing was moved indoors, the dancers seemed just as intense in the arena as they would have been on the outdoor stage.
Would it have been nicer without the rain? Of course. But organizers will deal with it, and be back next year bigger and better – even as they pray for good weather.
