Summerfest has been around for 51 years now, but in no way is it getting old.
St. Marys Kinsmen Club host from July 3-6 at Milt Dunnell Field, with live music on the first three nights, featuring a variety of acts.
Kinsmen member Mark King said the event hasn’t always been focused on music, but it has brought a new element to Summerfest.
“This year, the club decided that we wanted to continue to expand the music side of it to make it a bigger fundraiser to do even bigger things in the community. We’ve expanded it into a three-day concert series where we are bringing in a lot of great local bands but also some young and emerging artists.”
Thursday kicks off with a rock and roll theme followed by a country vibe on Friday.
“We have Janna Leduc and Colt McLauchlin, both emerging country artists. Janna has just been in Nashville doing some recording. Colt, I saw him perform last summer at Music in the Fields (in Lucknow) where he finished second as the top emerging artist.”
Saturday night’s lineup features local favourite Darcy John, who is coming home from a stint in Nashville, along with Max Smith, an emerging young artist with a large local following.
Summerfest also features a four-day midway, face-painting, a tug-of-war competition and a cornhole tournament.
“There are plenty of ways young families can enjoy the event during the day and even with the concert series, it is an all-ages type of thing, so it’s even family-friendly.”
The Kinsmen Club has supported a wide variety of community causes over the years and King said they will continue to do so based on what the community needs.
“Just recently we made a significant donation to St. Marys Hospital to expand its west ward, donations to the All Wheels Park, renovations to the youth centre, and we give out scholarships and sponsorships to local youth sports teams.”
Once Summerfest is over the club decides where to help out next.
“We sit down and look at the upcoming year and we determine what is needed. Does the community need another park, or a basketball court?”
In addition to the 29 St. Marys Kinsmen members, St. Marys and Palmerston Kinette Clubs are volunteering time to make sure the event is well-staffed.
“It’s definitely a large operation where we have a lot of people volunteering their time to do some good in the community.”
