Summer Kickoff Music Festival Draws a Crowd!

Kelli McRobert | May 31, 2023

On Saturday afternoon, Harrowsmith Centennial Park and the park was a hub of activities as vendors, performers, and volunteers descended upon the venue.

They were arriving for the first ‘Annual’ (we hope) Summer Kickoff Music Festival and the township had a well laid-out plan for timings, locations, and flow for pedestrians and traffic. Radio personalities Sam & Gord warmed up as the emcees for the evening as guests began to arrive. Some had a chair in tow and others had a full accompaniment of children, chairs, blankets, and toys, ready for an afternoon and evening of food, fun, and entertainment.

There was ample parking as carloads bumped along the fresh mowed fields and found the perfect spot to stow their ride for later. Some were guided by ‘vested’ volunteers, who managed to keep the traffic flow moving as the waves of vehicles and pedestrians ebbed and flowed throughout the day. Greeters were at both entranceways, as large and small families strode in with a curiosity as to what this free event was about.

On stage, Jess Wedden, fiddled her way into everyone’s heart, and if you have not seen her perform yet, you are missing out. She plays fiddle and guitar, sings, writes songs, and can dance as well, all with skill and charm.

.As the grassy areas continued to fill up with creature comforts, you could hear the children playing at the north entrance. The kids were drawn into a playground filled with large blow-up games, obstacle courses, story time, face painting, and more, all in a park like setting. The Not so Amateur Amateurs shared their Fairy-tale Medley and children ran and played with green blow-up sabres well into the evening, cotton candy staining their hands and faces, summertime red.

The smell of BBQ wafted through the air as guests lined up to sample the wares of The Cheesecakery Bakery, Barb’s Homemade Pierogi, More Smoke, Chubby Baby’s Bakehouse, and Beavertails. Adult beverages were also available from Harrowsmith Brewing Co., The Local Brewery, Kick & Push Brewing Company, Hard Way Cider Co., and Auralis Botanical Brewery.

The OPP and Frontenac Paramedics were on hand and milled about the crowds ensuring everyone enjoyed this family-friendly event. After a friendly smile, they were off to be greeted by the next set of volunteers clad in green, as 1800 people milled about the large, well-organized festival. A free festival is a rarity and we are fortunate enough to have some great sponsors who make this event accessible to everyone. Here is the list:

At 5 PM the crowds were entertained by Mellow Lily “a Verona-based singer songwriter. With a musical talent for switching instruments and blending vocals, her shows are entertaining and intriguing. 

By 6 PM, everyone was settling into their mini camps as they munched and slurped their way through suppertime with Jay Smith “formerly known as “Smitty Kingston,” Jay is a country/rock artist and singer/songwriter.

While some families had called it a day by 7 PM, others were just arriving as the older crowd came to see the evening performers, starting with, Uncoded aa 5-piece classic Rock, folk and alternative band hailing from the South Frontenac region and Kingston. The band formed in 2015 , and their unique brand of entertainment fuses unconventional acoustic covers and tight harmonies.

At 8 Still Standin’ filled the air with sweet sounds as the adult crowd partied like the ‘good old days’. They have been together for over 15 years, “borrowing tunes from all different genres and decades. They are well known, and loved, across the township and in the region.

By 9 PM, the large crowd was enjoying the summer-like evening with calm skies and cool breezes.

With the children put to bed, the adults could dance and groove to Jordy Jackson, who comes from Seeley’s Bay and performs out of Kingston. Two of his singles, ‘Can’t Cruise Without a Country” and the recent “Where we Are” are well known by local country fans and helped him and his band get called back for an encore when they finished their set.

From first blush, it appears that the festival is a huge hit and one that we will look forward to next year? Apart from the vendors underestimating the amount of food we would all want to eat, the event went off very well, enhancing the reputation of Centennial Park as a multi-purpose event space. There was lots of space to roam, meet new friends and mingle while children were able to play, yell, and yes, dance too to the beat of their own drum.

Bravo to the Township of South Frontenac and all that opted to volunteer, work overtime, sponsor, and attend this fantastic celebration of food, music, and community.

Get your lawn chairs out and ready for the next one!