Musical Muskrat Festival

Despite losing three years to COVID-19, the Musical Muskrat Festival is back for 2023 and plans are underway to transform Riverside Park in Wingham into a weekend long party featuring music and family-centred entertainment from June 9 to 11.

 

As co-chair Melinda Wheeler points out, it takes a team of volunteers to put the event together. In addition to the nine person committee that organizes it, there is a whole host of people who take care of the logistics during the weekend.

 

As she starts to list the activities that are happening, it becomes clear why so many volunteers are needed. The childrens’ activities area is bustling all weekend with crafts for all ages and the ever-popular inflatables area. A crowd favourite is the touch-a-truck where the kids get to get up close and personal with some big equipment!

 

The annual car show and shine is a popular part of the festival and will run on Saturday afternoon. 

 

There are also some games planned for the adults, including a corn hole tournament on Friday and a bottle toss happening on Saturday.

 

The duck race has been transformed into a duck “drop” with 500 little rubber ducks being dropped from a crane, and the lucky ticket holder whose duck lands closest to the target will win the 50/50 pot.

 

Local musicians are the focus of the event and will be playing Friday from 6:30 pm until 1 am, and Saturday from 12 pm to 1 am. The licensed area is fenced and tents are provided and is family friendly until 9 pm each evening when the event becomes age of majority only.

 

The festival winds up on Sunday morning with the traditional community church service on the banks of the Maitland River.

 

There will be food trucks on site all weekend, so you can come and spend as long as you want enjoying the festivities! The committee aims to keep this as affordable as possible and offer an all-day pass so that families can come and go as they want. 

The event schedule was still being fine-tuned as this article was going to press, so follow Musical Muskrat Festival on Facebook to keep up to date with all the plans. Riverside Park, 145 Park Dr, Wingham On.