Flinton Festival to Celebrate Community 50 Years of the Flinton Rec Club
The Flinton Rec Club is inviting everyone to join them for a day of family fun as they
celebrate both the Village of Flinton and the 50th Anniversary of the Flinton Rec Club at
the Flinton Festival on Saturday, August 1, from 11am -4pm at the
Flinton Recreation Centre, 72 Edward Street, Flinton.
This special celebration marks an important milestone for the Flinton Rec Club, which
has been serving the community for 50 years.
Janice Andrew, who is working on a history of the club, said that the origins of the club go back to 1976, when Peter Rook and Larry Allen decided that the village could use a rink because kids were skating on the river at the time. They put some volunteers together, raised some money and got some materials donated and bult a rink. It was located on the site of the current Flinton Recreation Centre and Park, but in a different location than where the rink is now, and it did not have a roof.
Out of that effort, the Rec Club was born. Art Freeburn was an early President of the club. AS club membership grew, so did its activities, and ambitions.
There had been a hall in Flinton, but it had burned down, and when the local township needed to build an office, the club partnered with them to include a hall with the capacity to host weddings, concerts and other events along with the township, and the Flinton Recreation Centre was built. The club had to raise $100,000 over five years for the hall, and they raised the money in one year.
Over the years the club has run a bingo in the basement of the hall weekly, and many other events in the hall and in the community. For years the club sponsored the Flinton Jamboree on the August long weekend, and that was one of the reasons behind holding the Flinton Festival on August 1st this year.
The idea for the Flinton Festival was brought forward by Festival Organizer Maude Formosa-Topping at the Rec Club’s September 2025 monthly meeting, with planning beginning shortly afterwards. Since then, the Flinton Festival Committee has dedicated countless hours of planning, organizing, and preparation to create an event that celebrates not only the Rec Club’s 50th Anniversary but also the spirit, history, and people of the Village of Flinton.
"We wanted to create something special to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Flinton Rec Club, but also recognize and celebrate the wonderful community of Flinton. A lot of time, energy, and teamwork has gone into bringing this event together, and we hope everyone from Flinton and the surrounding areas will come out to enjoy the day, reconnect with neighbours, and celebrate the community spirit that makes Flinton such a special place," said Maude Formosa-Topping.
The festival is a free community event that promises something for all ages. Visitors can enjoy live music by Little Peter & the Elegants, horse-drawn wagon rides through the village, interactive animal encounters with Zoo To You, exciting demonstrations by The Eyrie Birds of Prey, balloon twisting by County Balloons, local vendors, community displays, demonstrations, a BBQ, food vendors, and a licensed beer tent.
The Flinton Festival is a chance for residents, former residents, and visitors to come together and enjoy an afternoon filled with entertainment, activities, and community spirit.
Bring your family, friends, and lawn chairs, sit back, enjoy the live music and activities, and experience the warm community spirit that makes Flinton such a wonderful place to
live. Admission is free, with food and beverages available for purchase.
Come celebrate 50 years of community, friendship, and volunteer spirit at the Flinton Festival—it's a day you won't want to miss!
