Good times at high tide
Harbourville celebrates community spirit with another successful summer festival
With the sun shining brightly and a break from the humidity, Mother Nature helped ensure another successful Harbourville High Tide Festival.
Harbourville Restoration Society secretary Brian Van Rooyen said spirits were certainly high as everyone at the festival was enjoying the pleasant weather on Aug. 11 and the crowd steadily built.
“It’s quite gratifying to see such a beautiful day after last year. We had to cancel the Saturday festival and flip over to Sunday, and even Sunday wasn’t that great, but this year it’s perfect,” Van Rooyen said. “We’re having a really good time here today.”
The festival is intended to be a celebration of community spirit and it serves as the biggest annual fundraiser for the Harbourville Restoration Society, which is responsible for the upkeep of the community hall and wharf.
The rubber dingy races from the mouth of the harbour to the bridge and back were a hit with all eight small craft being deployed for the first run. A second run with fewer participants was also held.
Although the group has performed at other venues and has more gigs lining up, Van Rooyen was looking forward to performing at the festival with the Hi Strung Ukuleles for the first time. Other The Hupman Brothers returned to perform once again at the 2018 Harbourville High Tide Festival.
musical performers included Jon Hemingway and the returning Hupman Brothers and SWIG.
The High Tide Festival also included the annual scallop shucking contest, a beer tent, dunk tank, children’s games and activities, a
colouring contest, a silent auction, a jewelry table, a 50-50 draw, a pie baking contest, a pie sale and more. The food, including scallop skewers, was also a main attraction. The first run of rubber dingy races at the Harbourville High Tide Festival.