Events in northern Wellington County are among the top 100 in the province.
Minto’s Canadian Redneck Games and Mount Forest’s fireworks festival made Festivals and Events Ontario’s (FEO) annual listing, announced on March 7.
The Top 100 Ontario Festivals program acknowledges excellence. The Top 100 designation carries the highest visibility of all of FEO’s awards programs.
To be selected festivals and events must attract visitors regionally, provincially and/or nationally; provide a quality, community-based experience; be an annual and unique event; demonstrate or show potential for growth; involve audiences; and contribute to the community.
The Mount Forest Chamber of Commerce recently informed the Wellington Advertiser that, for the second consecutive year, the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival was recognized. The award is sponsored by Via Rail Canada.
The chamber release stated “The Mount Forest Fireworks Festival is the largest event in Wellington North. A successful event run by volunteers, among over 3,000 festivals in Ontario.”
Attractions include one of the largest classic car shows, the Farmall dancing tractors and the Ballagh Bunch family entertainers.
The event website is mountforestfireworks.ca.
Another release came from the Town of Minto, whose Canadian Redneck Games was also honoured in Burlington.
The games were recognized for Best Community Involvement for the second time in three years (other finalists included the Fergus 175th celebrations and the Keene Pumpkin Festival).
“It is a huge honour to be recognized at a provincial level for the Canadian Redneck Games,” said Belinda Wick-Graham, of the Canadian Redneck Games.
“This award is for all of the community groups and businesses that help make the event happen.”
Additional information about the games is at canadianredneckgames.ca.
Other Wellington County events making the list of top 100 festivals included: The Fergus Truck Show, the Hillside Festival (Guelph) and the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
