All aboard for the Verona Cattail Festival!

Aug 12, 2010

Don Bates conducts The Verona Express, a festival favorite for youngsters

The Verona Festival underwent two major changes for its 15th season both in name-The Verona Cattail Festival - and place, the Verona Lions Club and Frontenac Farmers Market site. And judging by the turnout it seems that change can sometimes breathe some fresh life into what was already a good thing.

Cattails loomed large, especially at Friday night’s opening parade, which included frogs, fairies, Prince Charles Public School's float of “bog buddies”, the Deline family's prize-winning bog trailer, Debbie Lovegrove's fancily decorated boggy bug mobile and a number of other impressively decorated vehicles, costumed walkers and horse riders.

After the parade festival goers headed to the festival's new hub location and found ample entertainment, snacks and a record number of vendors at the marketplace, which all kept attendees entertained till well into the twilight hours and throughout the entire weekend. One of the organizers, Debbie Lingen, estimated the number of attendees this year as approximately 2000-2500.

The Lions canteen provided munchies and diners lounged comfortably under cover of the new Donna Clarke pavilion. Kids had their choice between a number of hands on crafts, mini-golf, petting zoo and took frequent rides on the Verona Express.

Photo Right: Team Whalen's Curtis and Justin off to a good start took best overall finish at the duct tape boat races

Regular events held at McMullen park and beach like the antique car show, dog show, antique engine display and classic car show, were well attended thanks to the frequent shuttle bus service. Long-time festival favorite, the duct tape boat races had a record number of entries this year, seeming to prove that attendees are embracing the new changes.

Many of the high lights occurred on the main stage and this years entertainment hit the mark many times over with an eclectic array of high quality groups ranging in styles that included rock, blues, gospel, bluegrass, reggae and country. A professional marquee naming the individual bands and their scheduled appearance times added a nice touch.

Doug Lovegrove was the festival’s “green guru” who organized the recycling station that took care of virtually all of the festival garbage and recycling and his booth was a particular hit with the youngsters.

Rain is forever an unfortunate visitor to any outdoor summer festival but Sunday's deluge hardly dampened the over 300 attendees who gathered undercover at the new pavilion and waited out the storm, enjoying Sunday's line up where Luther Wright and the Wrongs gave a heartfelt encore performance.

Festival organizers who might have been hesitant of this year’s changes warmed up by the end of the festival as visitors raved about the changes. Debbie Lingen, who emceed all weekend long along with Dick, said, “We've gotten great reviews about everything and we feel that every year it is just going to get bigger and better. Those who were unsure about the changes I think have been won over.”

The festival's general manager Wayne Conway was equally enthusiastic. “The new location is just terrific-I'd have to call it awesome. It's bigger, safer, and we have no health, safety or parking issues. I think that the numbers are up and the signage and the free transportation have made it easy for people to attend all of the events. The really great thing is that this year for the first time we are incorporating all of Verona.”

The festival is funded by a number of local and area sponsors and the Verona Community Association and is run solely by volunteers. It continues to be a long time favorite attraction for locals and visitors alike.