Summerfest started in 2011 as a one-day celebration following the lengthy reconstruction of Downtown Fonthill. It grew to a four-day festival in 2012 and welcomed more than 25,000 people. Building on previous years and improving all components, this year’s festival promises to be the best four days of free family fun yet!
Thursday, from 4 to 10 pm will be the “Summerfest Opener” when Summerfest will add even more to the already amazing weekly Farmers Market and Bandshell Concert. While Jim Wittle, known as “the Piano Man”, takes the bandshell stage, Summerfest will add Art in the Park – dozens of local artists showcasing their talents – and an artisan beer and a local wine garden. Thursday will also be the start of the Community Art Wall project.
Friday, from 4 to 11 PM will be Pelham Night of Arts & Teen Movie Night. This will be the time to celebrate art in all forms – from music to dance to dramatic to visual art. In addition to the Art in the Park, the stage will include live, local musicians and dramatists. Summerfest will also host a Teen Movie Night “under the arches” and outdoor patios in Downtown Fonthill will be open late.
Saturday, July 20th from 10 to midnight will be an action-packed, community day. Featuring more food and non-food vendors than previous years, Summerfest will provide a wide range of activities including buskers, a kid’s zone with more bouncers and entertainment, reptiles and a puppet theatre. The Main Stage will include Fonthill Music Academy and a Zumba challenge and will later feature Niagara bands. Local service clubs will run a beer garden under the arches and Art in the Park will continue with music on a second stage in Peace Park.
Sunday from 9AM to 2PM will include Art in the Park and Community Pancake Breakfast that will be prepared by the travelling Enbridge crew and that will include blues bands. Finally, you can work off those pancakes with a family fun walk.
On behalf of Council and the community, thank you to numerous sponsors and the 2013 Summerfest Committee for their vision, hard-work, and dedication! Thank you to Councillor Gary Accursi, chair; Todd Barber, from the Downtown Beautification Committee; Bea Clark, Pelham Active Transportation Committee; Kathleen Goodman, Pelham / Welland Chamber of Commerce; John Wink, Pelham Business Association; and Vickie van Ravenswaay, and other Town of Pelham staff.
I hope you and your family and friends will participate in this year’s Summerfest!
For more information, please check out www.pelhamsummerfest.ca.
