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Celebrating rural Ontario: communities receive grants to enhance local festivals

Mar 12, 2018

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Recipients include the RAM Rodeo Series, Wilberforce Agricultural Fair and Port Elgin Pumpkinfest

By Kaitlynn Anderson

Staff Reporter

Farms.com

Rural Ontario residents may see improvements to many local festivals.

The provincial government is investing in 328 events across the province this year. In total, rural and northern areas will host 198 of these festivals, according to Wednesday’s government release.

The Wilberforce Agricultural Society, which holds their annual fair on the weekend following the civic holiday in August, is one of the recipients.

The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport will provide the organization with a grant of $4,392, according to a release the group provided to Farms.com on Friday.

Along with the help of the Municipality of Highlands East and the Old Rec FUNraising Committee, the agricultural society plans to purchase 60 new tables to replace the existing plywood ones, the Wilberforce release said.

The agricultural society will use the tables to “improve the look and sustainability of (various community) events” at the fairgrounds, curling club and arena.

The government will provide funding for other events across the province, including:

$14,737 for the Pefferlaw Creek Farms Maple Syrup Festival in Uxbridge (April 7 to 8)
$5,000 for Hops on the Water at the Quinte West Farmers Market (April 22)
$6,265 for the Fort Erie Race Track opening day (May 29)
$14,250 for Rural Roots: Concerts in the County in Goderich (Aug. 6 to 12)
$70,212 for Manitoulin Country Fest in Little Current (Aug. 9 to 11)
$31,630 for the Paris Fair (Aug. 30 to Sept. 3)
$18,750 for the Russell Fair (Sept. 6 to 9)
$77,000 for the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival in St. Catherines (Sept. 15 to 30)
$297,850 for the 2018 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo in Chatham-Kent (Sept. 18 to 22)
$14,375 for AppleFest in Brighton (Sept. 27 to 30)
$17,500 for the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest in Saugeen Shores (Sept. 29 to 30)
$46,000 for the RAM Rodeo Series in 16 cities across Ontario

Brandy Taylor photo / Getty Images

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