Parade and harbour party planned to celebrate Meaford’s 150th this Saturday

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“Cancel your plans and get to Meaford.”

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That’s the advice from Janice Height, the co-lead of Meaford’s 150th celebration set for Saturday afternoon.

The bayside town is celebrating its sesquicentennial with a parade and harbour party.

The parade starts at 1 p.m. with floats gathering at the former Meaford high school at the corner of Aiken and St. Vincent Streets before travelling along St. Vincent Street to the Meaford Habour.

“There are pipe and drum bands, antique tractors, cars — both old and new — representatives from the military, the fire department, kazoos, Georgian Bay Coyotes, and giveaways along the route,” said Angie Hastings, Meaford’s 150th Parade co-organizer, “these are just a few of the highlights so make sure you come out to view.”

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After the parade, the public is invited to gather at the Meaford Harbour, Rotary Pavilion (a.k.a. fun headquarters), to join the party featuring free fun-filled, family-friendly activities from 2 to 5 p.m.

Height, who called the harbour “party central” said there will be lots of games, 150 giveaways, lawn bowling, curling and pickleball demonstrations, heritage and information displays, cow pie bingo, cake, face painting, prizes, surprises, and so much more at the harbour on Saturday.

The City Bakery wagon, which for years helped celebrate the town’s bakeshop roots when the Besworth family displayed it in front of their grocery store, has been tuned up and will be displayed at the harbour Saturday.

“My siblings and I are so happy that our store’s wagon has been refurbished and will be making an appearance at the after-parade party at the harbour,” said Jeni Besworth. “Dad had the wagon at Meaford’s centennial in 1974, so it feels like it’s come full circle. The wagon was Meaford’s original City Bakery wagon, used to deliver bread in the early 1900s, and Dad bought it for promotional services and it sat on display at our house and store on the hill for many years.”

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Height said hundreds of volunteers have gotten involved with the party planning and local businesses are getting into the spirit as well. Some local restaurants are designing special dishes for the occasion.

“Who doesn’t like a party,” Height said. “It’s going to be lots of fun . . . you know, the heart of Meaford is volunteerism and it’s certainly showing itself through this.”

Also planned for Saturday are mural paintings and downtown busking.

Saturday’s 150 Celebration is one of several events planned to celebrate the town’s sesquicentennial.

A local showcase concert is scheduled for June 29 at Meaford Hall and will feature Acapella Sound, The Marlins, Paige Warner and internationally known guitarist Michael Gagliardi — who moved away from Meaford at the age of 19 to pursue music and has since performed with B.B. King, Keith Urban, Buddy Guy and more.

Meaford 150 celebrations are also planned for annual town events such as the municipality’s Canada Day celebration and the Meaford and St. Vincent Fall Fair.

Meanwhile, retrospective banners with a timeline of every decade of the town’s past are displayed at Meaford Hall and the Meaford Museum launched a Meaford Sesquicentennial Cookbook.

Merchandise depicting the 150th logo designed by Jessica Kenyon is being sold at the museum and Meaford Hall, and special sesquicentennial decorations have been installed throughout the town and in storefront windows.

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