ROCKWOOD – Canada Day has come and gone, but there will be fireworks in Rockwood on Aug. 1 when the community hosts its annual Party in the Park event at Rockmosa Park.
“It’s kind of our Canada Day celebration,” said Guelph/Eramosa Mayor Chris White.
He explained the event was conceived in 2017 when the township was trying to come up with a way to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. It was supposed to have been a one-off event, but it became an annual celebration.
“It was such a success – people really liked it – that we just carried on,” White said.
Asked what is the biggest draw of the event, White couldn’t name just one.
“There’s a ton of draws,” he said.
There will be a whole host of kids’ activities, including face painting, train rides, a petting zoo, bouncy castles, children’s performers and more.
But the grown-ups have not been forgotten. The event will include live music from the Black Water Trio and Fiddlestix, a licensed area where people can buy alcoholic drinks, food trucks, axe throwing, and a local vendor market.
And don’t forget about the wiener dogs.
“Obviously the wienie dog race is hugely popular,” said White.
The annual Wiener Dog Dash is just one of the many attractions at Rockwood’s free Party in the Park celebration at Rockmosa Park. Submitted photo
Short legs, long bodies and floppy ears make for an adorable spectacle as a group of amateur hot dogs compete to support Canadian Dachshund Rescue of Ontario.
The Wiener Dog Dash takes place at 5:30pm, not long after the party gets underway.
The event starts at 5pm, and runs till 10pm, with the fireworks show wrapping things up at 9:45pm.
Between the wiener dog races and the fireworks, the entertainment area will also feature a fire show by circus artist Scarlet Black, and a dance showcase from IMPACT Dance.
Weather permitting, there will also be hot air balloon rides on offer, said White.
Though hosting an event like this on a Thursday evening rather than on a weekend might seem unusual, White said “the date is actually perfect.”
Rockwood is a small community, and its proximity to Guelph has meant that, in the past, the village’s residents have tended to head there for Canada Day celebrations, he said.
And many people go away for the long weekend on Friday, but the Thursday before the long weekend is different.
“That Thursday everybody’s still here,” said White.
He said residents enjoy the opportunity to invite family and friends from out of town to do something fun in their community, and last year an estimated 5,000 people attended.
“It’s like an old-fashioned fair,” he said. “Everybody’s out having a good time.”
