Residents from Thamesville and the surrounding area attend the Threshing Festival in Thamesville. (Photo by the Blackburn Radio Summer Patrol)Residents from Thamesville and the surrounding area attend the Threshing Festival in Thamesville. (Photo by the Blackburn Radio Summer Patrol)
Chatham

Thamesville Threshing Festival returns

Another Chatham-Kent summertime tradition is back after a couple of years off due to the pandemic.

The Thamesville Threshing Festival kicks off Friday night at Ferguson Park.

"The big parade that we are so well known for is 6:30 p.m. on Friday. We're still taking entries if anybody still wants to come, just show up," said Festival Chair Ed Pumfrey. "We have the midway coming back this year, we got the beer garden, it will be opening up at 8. We've got Big Shiny Toons, which is an amazing band."

Pumfrey said the fun continues Saturday.

"We have the baby show, we have 17 entries for that. Mike Winia, the pro chainsaw carver doing a show. An exotic pet zoo, presented by Johnny Quests. There's pony rides for the little ones, then we've got our annual frog jumping (contest) that's been 45 years of that."

The Lambton-Kent Mini Pullers and the Western Ontario Outlaws Lawnmower racers are back. Pumfrey added that there are also some new events.

"The local Indigenous Dancers are going to be performing this year. Then after that the annual pie auction, Junior Farmer and Senior Farmer Olympics. Then our super famous fireworks will finish it off."

The fireworks will be set off at 10:15 p.m.

Pumfrey said they can't wait to welcome everyone to Thamesville.

"It's just seeing all the happy faces we haven't seen for two years. I think everybody is ready for this. It's like a homecoming for the whole community, so everybody's really talking it up, and we're ready to go."

For a full schedule of events, visit their Facebook page.

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