Taste of Summer promises variety of activities for next Saturday

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

While Tillsonburg residents usually look forward to the annual Taste of Summer event, there is sure to be extra excitement this year surrounding anything with the word ‘summer’ in it after a bout of cool, wet weather.

The annual fundraiser for the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation starts at noon on June 6 and runs until 8 p.m. The event, presented by 3E Power Corporation Ltd, has all the typical activities with a small change, in that organizers are asking people to bring their lawn chairs.

Musical entertainment, which used to take place off to the side, is going to be moved front and center onto the stage.

“Bring a lawn chair and spend the afternoon or evening in the park listening to local music,” said Gerry Dearing, executive director of the foundation.

The musical line-up for the day will begin with Fred Hodgson playing a wide range of music across many genres at 2 p.m. Local Sydney Barnabi will take to the stage at 3 p.m., with country being her main forte. Carter Nevill will play from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by Stunt from 5 to 6 p.m.

The 10 food trucks will be arranged in a circle around the stage. There will be something for everyone’s taste amongst the vendors. The Kinsmen stand with burgers, fries, and hot dogs is new. Soda Street, with its dirty sodas with ice cream, and 180 Coffee are also new. Returning will be Shaw’s Ice Cream Cool Convenience, Funnel Cake Factor, JTK Meats, Nectar and Poppin’ Kettle Corn. A beer tent will be set up in front of the stage, featuring Power House Brewing products, as well as family tents.

Flying Furballs dog show will thrill the crowds with the dog agility show. Captain Corbin’s Magic Show will be there to present magic for the youth in a display, as well as roaming through the crowd. Reptalia from London will have a static display featuring reptiles sure to thrill some and make others' skin crawl. Little Hobby Hill Farm will have a petting zoo, which has been popular in the past. There will also be inflatable slides, a youth inflatable obstacle course, and a trackless train at the event.

Vendor village’s 20-plus vendors will have a variety of arts, crafts, and home goods for sale. The TDMH Volunteer Association will hold a 50/50 draw, with proceeds donated to the foundation.

Taste of Summer is one of the hospital foundation’s largest fundraisers of the year, along with the golf tournament. Admission is by donation.

The foundation raises funds for hospital equipment not covered by Ministry of Health funding. A display of the hospital equipment that needs to be replaced will be in one of the tents in the vendor village.