DRAYTON – Next year will mark 150 years since Drayton’s incorporation as a village, and locals are planning to celebrate with a big birthday bash.
The event will “bring together villagers, friends and families to honour 150 years of Drayton’s history and community spirit,” organizers state on the event website.
“This special milestone is a time to celebrate our shared heritage and create lasting memories.”
Weekend highlights include live music, a soapbox derby, pickleball, cornhole, a car show, food fairs, a parade, theatre performances and an interdenominational church service.
Serviced campsites will be available throughout the weekend near the Drayton ball diamonds.
The committee organizing the event released a schedule of events on its website on Dec. 10.
Friday
The event will kick off on June 27 at 5pm with an opening ceremony, followed by wings and live music from The Landlines, hosted by the Kinsmen, and an evening at the Drayton Festival Theatre with live music from Randy and Willie Smart, the Rogerson Family, the New Nelson Band, and the Moore Family Band.
Saturday
On June 28 a community breakfast will be served from 8 to 10am.
From 9am to 3pm, a vintage car show will take place at the Drayton Fair Grounds. Registration for the show is open from 8am to 12pm. There will be live bands playing music from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s (rain date is July 29 at PMD Arena parking lot).
Between 9:30 to 11am there will be a soapbox derby on Wood Street, organized and sponsored by the Drayton Rotary Club. The registration deadline for the derby is June 20.
Seven churches will hold open houses from 10am to 1pm: The Community Mennonite Fellowship church at 109 Wellington St. S.; Christ Anglican church at 32 Main St. E.; Drayton Christian Reformed Church at 74 Wellington St. S.; Drayton United Church at 34 Main St. E.; and St. Martins of Tours Catholic church at 12 Union St.
There will be activities for children and families taking place throughout the day, from 10am to 4:30pm.
From 1 to 5pm, there will be a historical society reunion at the agricultural building.
At 11am the history of Drayton town hall will be presented by David McCauley at the theatre.
The Taylor Moore Band will play at the ball diamond from 1:30 to 3pm, followed by Settlers Creek from 3:30 to 5pm.
At 2pm a historical grand parade will weave its way through Drayton’s streets.
A beef dinner will be served at the PMD Arena at 5pm, followed by live music from Symply Skynyrd at 7:30 and Bootleg Credence at 9:30.
Sunday
On June 29, breakfast will be served again from 8 to 10am, followed by an interdenominational community church service at the ballpark infield’s main stage area at 10am. “This will be a joint service of the Drayton ministerial, featuring a praise bank and a local choir,” officials state. The service will be geared toward all ages.
From 12:30 to 4:30pm there will be a pickleball tournament at the PMD Arena. The entry fee is $10 per team and the tournament will include up to 32 teams.
There will be a double knockout cornhole tournament from 2 to 4pm, with up to 40 teams competing. The entry fee is $20 per team.
Activities for children and families will take place from 1 to 4pm, including a children’s magic show at 2pm at the agricultural building.
Live bands will play at the ball diamond throughout the afternoon and evening, with Loose Change performing at 2pm, the 12th Line Band at 4pm and the Moore Family Band at 7:30.
A chicken dinner will be served at the agricultural building from 4 to 7pm.
The weekend celebrations will come to a close with fireworks at the ball diamonds at dusk.
“Join us as we honour our history, enjoy the present and look toward a bright future,” organizers encourage.
For more information or to sign up to volunteer, become a sponsor, book a campsite, or register for the soap box race, pickleball tournament or cornhole tournament, visit drayton150.ca.
