Stonetown Heritage Festival returns to Queen Street for its 21st year

Featured acts include The Amazing Corbin and White Pine Dancers 

Impromptu illusions, mini-busker shows and interactive storytelling will overtake Queen Street on Saturday, July 9 as St. Marys celebrates the 21^st annual Stonetown Heritage Festival. The free event will feature two new featured acts, along with family-friendly activities, food and retail vendors, historical tours, live music, a street dance and a fireworks display.

The festival begins at 8:00 a.m., with a pancake breakfast at the St. Marys Farmers’ Market. At 9:00 a.m. the event’s first featured act, The Amazing Corbin, will be on hand to perform up-close, mini magic shows. At 1:00 p.m., White Pine Dancers will share First Nations history through song, dance and storytelling. Sharing the street with the signature acts will be festival favourites like the Apple Land Train, Willie ‘B’ Ballooningand Katie the Great.

As in previous years, a variety of free, family-friendly activities will be available at the festival throughout the day. Children can bounce their way through a series of inflatables, take part in hands-on activities in the Kids Zone, or test their abilities in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame pitching cage. 

In keeping with its heritage focus, the festival will offer historical bus and walking tours of St. Marys. Attendees can delve further into the Stonetown’s past by viewing the “Carved in Stone, Etched in History” exhibit, which will be on display at Town Hall from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The festival is also a mecca for music lovers, with live bands from the World’s Coolest Music Store and Deep Waters Music playing throughout the day. At 7:00 p.m., local band Panic Station will kick off the Outdoor Family Street Dance. Headliners Corner Pocket will take the stage at 8:00 p.m. and will entertain the crowd with a selection of pop songs spanning the past 50 years.

At dusk, festival-goers will be directed to Milt Dunnell Field to enjoy a spectacular display of fireworks over the Thames River.

This year’s festival is made possible by the generosity of a number of local businesses and organizations. Platinum sponsors include the St. Marys Downtown BIA, Meridian, Nick & Dan’s Collision, the Rotary Club of St. Marys, St. Marys Landscaping and Shur-Gain (A Nutreco Company). A full list of silver and bronze sponsors is available at www.stmarysheritagefestival.ca. 

Make a weekend of it

Those looking for an early start to the festivities can attend a number of events on Friday, July 8. The Army and Navy Club’s Bavarian Garden will open at noon, while Nick and Dan’s Collision will host its annual barbecue from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.  An interpretive plaque unveiling in honour of famed violinist Nora Clench will take place at Riverside Bed and Breakfast at 7:00 p.m.

Events are also scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, July 10. The St. Marys Museum is hosting its 4^th Annual Roaring Twenties Garden party from noon to 3:00 p.m. From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., the St. Marys Horticultural Society is running its 28^th Annual Garden Tour, which will showcase an impressive selection of gardens throughout town and the surrounding countryside.

Additional information

For additional information about the festival, including a full schedule of events and activities, visit www.stmarysheritagefestival.ca.  The public can also follow the festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stonetown.heritage.festival/.

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Contact

Brett O’Reilly | Corporate Communications & Events Manager

519-284-2340, ext. 432 | boreilly@town.stmarys.on.ca