by Deron Johnston
The 2024 Kemptville Buskerfest is almost here. Like spring itself, all of us on the Kemptville Buskerfest Organizing Committee can hardly wait for it to finally get here!
On Saturday, May 18, starting at 10 am, Prescott Street in Downtown Kemptville will be filled to bursting with all kinds of acrobatic feats, precision juggling, singing, dancing, pogo sticking, unicycling, magic tricks, balloon artistry, and we’re told that there have even been sightings of a Silver Elvis.
This year’s Buskerfest promises to be even more entertaining than the previous two. Not only that, but we’ve added even more food options, more vendors, and more local talent to show visitors that the event and the community have so much to offer.
Every year, our volunteers put in literally thousands of hours to bring this spectacle to life. We are so proud of and grateful to our volunteers that we wish we could name every one of them, but there’s only so much space in the newspaper.
We also want to mention title sponsor Urbandale Construction, and the Municipality of North Grenville, which have been instrumental as partners and have supported all of the craziness that the organizers can throw at them. Without them and our other 30+ sponsors, none of this would be possible, and it certainly wouldn’t be free for everyone to enjoy.
Many people think that their respective community is the best, but the support that Buskerfest receives goes beyond sponsors and partners. The small businesses of the Old Town Kemptville BIA are truly a family that has allowed us to grow Downtown Kemptville into a community unto itself that everyone can feel proud of, and everyone is welcome to be part of.
Once we’ve entertained you to the moon and back and helped you build a whole scrapbook full of happy memories, please enjoy the hospitality of our restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. Our retail shops are filled with unique products, and our service providers are ready to demonstrate the very definition of small-town service.
We can’t forget to point out the North Grenville Arts Guild which is hosting its own art show within our show. We’ve always been spoiled by the remarkable visual artists that call North Grenville home and you’ll get to see firsthand why we think that way.
This year, we’re also teaming up with the Navy League as they bring their annual duck race fundraiser to the Kemptville Buskerfest. They’ll be releasing 1,250 ducks into the South Branch right off the Prescott Street bridge at 1 pm. This annual tradition is an absolute riot as hundreds of people line the bridge and banks of the river to cheer on their ducks. There are still a few tickets left, so be sure to get yours.
Sometimes, we even surprise ourselves with how much food, fun, and frivolity that we can pack into this one day. So, hop in the car, drive to the North Grenville Municipal Centre parking lot and then catch the free ATS shuttle to Downtown Kemptville to enjoy simply the most wonderful day of the year (sorry Santa)!
To get a small preview of what’s to come, visit www.kemptvillebuskerfest.ca.
