Hub Staff
The 1st annual Lake Huron Children's Festival took place downtown Port Elgin in the Bricker and Green Street municipal parking lot on Saturday, July 11th.
Speaking towards the end of the festival, representative Heather Hyde was pleased. "It's going really well. We have a fantastic turnout. We couldn't have asked for better weather. A really great response."
Proceeds from the Children's Festival are going towards a splash pad for Saugeen Shores. Half a million dollars is needed for the splash pad, with the goal for the money to be raised within three to four years.
"This is the first kick off event for it (the splash pad). We're going to try and do it (the festival) annually from here on out but we're going to be having other events throughout the year to fund raise for it," explained Hyde.
Festival events were held from 9am to 3pm but the day started with a pancake breakfast at the Queen's Bar & Grill and ended with free SUP lessons in the evening at the Port Elgin main beach.
There was a whole range of activities at the festival for children and families to enjoy including a vendor's market, inflatables, face painting, family yoga, life size games such as Krazy Kerplunk, crafts, a 'Bubbleolology' show, a magic show by pirate Captain Corbin and a live reptile show from Reptilia where children could get up close and touch the reptiles, plus many other events that were sponsored by local businesses and organizations.
The Red Cross had a Hydration Station set up and were handing out bottles of water, which were well received on a hot, sunny day.
Paramedic Derek Stephenson was offering demonstrations and an ambulance tour but had looked after some scraped knees as well.
Juno Award Winner, Fred Penner put on a performance for families inside the Port Elgin Missionary Church with Tara McCallan of the Happy Soul Project opening for Penner and Tim Edgar, Port Elgin branch manager for TD Canada Trust introducing him.
Entry tickets for the Lake Huron Children's Festival were $8 or $20 including entrance to the Fred Penner performance.
See more photos HERE.
