This was a great year for Vankleek Hill’s summer Festivals. This was also the year it became very clear as to just how fragile Vankleek Hill’s Festivals really are.

This was the first year, for example, in almost 25-years that there was no ‘Horse & Buggy’ parade. According to The Review, this was due to changes in the Highway Traffic Act, which meant the Main Street / HWY34 intersection (the only one in Vankleek Hill with a traffic light, and the only way for a parade to get to the Fair Grounds from town) couldn’t be blocked.

This was also the first time ‘PorchFest’ — an outdoor one-day event featuring more than 20 bands over a few hours, wasn’t organized by the VKH Business and Merchants Association (VKH BMA). Close to the last minute, the ‘Vankleek Hill Live-Music Co-Op’ (VKHLM Co-Op) took over the organization of the Event… it was a success, but it shows just how things are changing from one generation to the next.

The reason Vankleek Hill has had 40+ years of successful Festivals is because of its volunteers. People like Phil Arber, Samme Putzel, Susan Jehpcott, Michelle Landriault (my mom), the Agricultural Societies, and so many others, started the Festivals such as The May Arts Show, the Festival of Flavours, and PorchFest.

But forty years is a long time, the volunteers age. For example, the people who started The May Arts Festival — which is in its fortieth year, and still bringing hundreds of tourists to town, are now in their late-60’s and mid-70’s. For a variety of reasons, most of the Founding Members don’t even participate anymore.

This years PorchFest almost didn’t happen, and the only reason it did was because a new group took it over at the last minute. Last year’s Christmas Parade almost didn’t happen and only took place because the Township took over the planning.

…the next five years are going to be interesting as more of the organizers retire.

…anyways. These are some of my favourite photos from this year’s Summer Festival Season. You can find links to the individual posts at the bottom of this Page. So, if you’re down with it, just click on a photo to get the carousel going.

Links (they all open in a new tab):

It’s Festival Season Again… So Here Are Some Photos Of The 40th Annual Vankleek Hill May Show [link]
The Renowned RCMP Musical Ride Comes To The Legendary Village Of Vankleek Hill [link] [link]
Vankleek Hill’s ‘Gymkhana’: Cowboys, Kids, And Their Horses Feeling The Need… The Need For Speed [link]
Photos From The 2024 Vankleek Hill ‘Truck And Modified-Tractor Pull & Show N’Shine’ [link]
Photos From The 2024 ‘Vankleek Hill PorchFest’ Music Festival… Now Under New Management [link]
Photos From The 180th Annual Vankleek Hill Agricultural Fair [link] [link] [link]
Photos From The 2024 Vankleek Hill ‘Art In The Garden’… Also, Artists And The Curse Of The ‘Silo Effect’ [link]
Photos From The 2024 ‘Vankleek Hill Festival Of Flavours’… This Was The Year The Crowds Came Back To Vankleek Hill [link]