This year’s Colourfest has Gail Stelter buzzing with enthusiasm.
Hired by the Haliburton Business Improvement Area to be the co-ordinator of this year’s festival, Stelter has already got the wheels in motion to improve and expand the event.
Scheduled to take place on Sept. 29, Colourfest will be filled with exciting entertainment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Similar to last year, entertainment will include live music, a pancake breakfast, vintage cars on display and family friendly activities.
This year many of the attractions will focus on local talent, including a new performance by Artist in the Schools, who will be dancing in the streets.
“Julie Barban and Chyna Schell will be leading dances for about four hours with anyone who is there,” said Stelter.
Barban and Schell will be using props during their dances, which are open to people of all ages.
Stelter is working hand in hand with the BIA’s Colourfest committee, which has helped tweak the event, now in its fourth year.
“One thing that’s new is the inclusion of community groups and organizations,” said Stelter.
The co-ordinator put a call out to not-for-profit organizations, inviting them to use Colourfest as a venue for their fundraising initiatives.
“Anything they raise will go to their organizations,” she said.
For example, the Canadian Federation of University Women will be selling cookies in a jar at the event to support their scholarship initiative.
Another new idea this year is to have a farmers’ market incorporated into the event.
A pet contest will be held again in Head Lake Park and all are invited to sign up for it. Shout Sister will be providing a flash choir, at a surprise time and location.
Like last year there will be live music throughout the event, this year on two stages located in the village. One being in Head Lake Park, the other on Highland Street.
“Of the 12 bands that are going to be on these stages, you will have six bands at each stage and of those bands four of them are local talent.”
Held the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, Colourfest will be working in conjunction with the Haliburton County Studio Tour, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Organizers of the tour will have a tent set-up along Highland Street promoting the sites and artists included in the tour.
Hoping to draw visitors of the event into the downtown shops, Stelter has created a Colourfest passport, which will be handed out at the festival by street greeters.
“The passport will list the names of the local stores and if you go into the stores and get your passport stamped, at the end of the day your passport will be put into a draw for a wonderful prize,” said Stelter.
One of the biggest challenges has been logistics, with Stelter still trying to figure out where to locate all the attractions.
“I’m having fun. For me, the biggest part of it is meeting all the people involved.”
Stelter credits the hard work done in previous years on creating an exceptional event for the Highlands, which is now recognized throughout the province thanks to an achievement award from Festivals & Events Ontario.
“I think [previous co-ordinator] Jerelyn [Craden] did an excellent job and we’re just building on the excellence that was established,” said Stelter.
The co-ordinator is hoping more businesses will support the event through sponsorships, which have been categorized into fall themes, including golden oak, silver birch and red maple.
Stelter is still seeking interested organizations wanting to get involved with a fundraising idea and encourages them to contact her.
She is also looking for volunteers leading up to and on the day of the event.
For more information on Colourfest visit www.colourfest.ca or contact Stelter at 705-457-3768 or email info@colourfest.ca.