From Beachfest to backyard beats: Your guide for the long weekend

The Beachfest beach volleyball tournament is always a hit, drawing people from over two hours away for the competition. This is one of many activities in Port Burwell this weekend. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Alex Hunt, Post Contributor

Songs, swimming and fireworks? This long weekend, Southwestern Ontario has it all. Whether you’re splashing in the lake in Port Burwell or catching a show in Port Dover, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate the summer.

Fireworks will light the night sky in Port Burwell this weekend at the Bayham Beachfest which will run from Saturday to Monday. The annual summer celebration attracts an average of 8,000 to 10,000 people during the long weekend due to its abundance of activities that visitors and locals can take part in.

“This event brings the community together and invites visitors to the area to experience our beautiful little town, " said Kirstin Skinner, beachfest committee member. “It’s a nice family-oriented weekend where everyone can enjoy what we have to offer. The fireworks are fantastic and I’m excited for people to see them this year.”

This year’s Beachfest will feature activities and attractions such as beach volleyball tournaments, hot air balloon rides, a scavenger hunt, kayak runs, a kid zone, and many more. To conclude the weekend, the famous firework show will take place on the East Beach.

If people are looking for a relaxing Sunday evening, they can certainly find it at the Annandale National Historic Site in Tillsonburg from their Music on the Lawn, a free community initiative weekly summer event.

“We always have a great time and often get up and start dancing. There's a lot of singing and it’s a great place to interact with everyone while enjoying some great music,” said Kathleen Watkin, culture and heritage program coordinator of Annadale National Historic Site. “It's a great place to come on our lawn and enjoy the shade of the trees and listen to some great music.”

For people interested in checking out other events and attractions, there will be sponsored swims featured at Lake Lisgar Waterpark in Tillsonburg and an Oxford County’s Embro Truck and Tractor Pull from Aug.1 to 2 on 37th Line in Embro.

The Simcoe Heritage Friendship Festival makes its annual return over the long weekend. Visitors can gain free entry and experience various family friendly activities such as KidsZoneKaraoke, a car show, Zumba demos, food trucks and a showing of the WONKA movie.

“Visitors who are new to the Friendship Festival should come and check it out because it will give them a snapshot of what it's like to be a part of Norfolk County at its core,” said Sara Moody Veldhuis, artistic director at the Simcoe Heritage Friendship Festival. “It's important for us as board of directors to be able to provide this fun, family-centred festival to our visitors for free each year. We love seeing new people discover the festival every year, and decide to make it a yearly tradition, just as so many others have done annually since 1967.”

The festival will include many musical numbers from bands and artists such as The Jesse Murphy Band, The Felicia McMinn Band, The Ryerse Jazz Singers in Concert, James N. Wilson, and many more.

In Port Dover, Lighthouse Festival Theatre is gearing up to launch the world premiere of “Pinkerton Comes to Prospect”, a fast-paced comedic tribute to the classic western genre set in the late 1800s. The story kicks off when naïve surveyor Herschel Penkerten rides into town and is mistaken for a legendary lawman and gets quickly tangled up in the town’s shady past

Whether you’re a person chasing fireworks or swaying to live music, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the long weekend across Southwestern Ontario, just don’t forget the sunscreen and the long chair.