The Wheatley Fish Festival enjoyed perfect weather, thousands of visitors and a perfectly planned weekend as the village celebrated the livelihood of many of its past and present residents over the weekend.
Organizers were excited with Friday night’s hoedown crowd and it just got better Saturday as the downtown area welcomed about 150 classic cars to the streets, all shining to the backdrop of the lively waddies tournament in front of the newly opened Legion.
Sunday’s activities at the harbour were very well attended and capped off by a spectacular fireworks display to mark the end of another successful festival.
Fish Festival Committee Chair Hilary Hodgson was thrilled with the turnout, the weather and everyone’s commitment to making the festival one of the best yet.
“It’s been a tiring weekend but everyone worked hard and we had perfect weather,” she said. “We are thrilled with how many people came out.”
Hodgson added that the Saturday night pickerel and chicken dinner-dance was sold out to capacity with all 400 tickets sold.
Wheatley is a hockey town and it didn’t take long to prove it with this skill-testing hockey display.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
The Fish Festival Car Show attracted some 150 classic vehicles, filling the uptown streets on Saturday.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
When darkness fell on Sunday night, the festival was given a proper send-off with spectacular fireworks at the harbour.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
One of the most popular stations at the kids activities was the balloon artist.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Legion President Tom Brown with his 1926 Model T Ford, on display at the Legion during the car show.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Scott Makey lets a steel washer fly during Saturday’s waddies tournament.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
The Wheatley Swans drove around in style over the weekend, as witnessed here by these two vehicles all decked out for the car show Saturday.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
The annual firefighters’ water barrel competition was held on the east side of the harbour with Lakeshore Fire taking the title for the second year in a row.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
The annual boat parade took place Sunday evening with a half dozen fishing tugs and another half dozen private vessels taking part.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Nashville artist Madison Olivia opened the country hoedown on Friday night.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
The Lasher O sits just outside of Wheatley Harbour under a full moon, anxiously awaiting the fireworks Sunday evening.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Everly Howe sits patiently while her face becomes that of a colourful cheetah during the kids activities Friday night.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Sarah Simpson shows the form that won her and partner Luciano Pannunzio the Legion waddies tournament uptown on Saturday.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
Members of the Collard Fisheries tug o’ war team dig in during their first pull against the team from Garage Gym. The Collard team bested Garage Gym and then beat defending champions The Hog Crackers in the final to take home the trophy.
SUN photo by Mark Ribble
