Migration Festival forging ahead this weekend

KINGSVILLE — The 51st Annual Kingsville Migration Festival will take place this weekend, with a number of events being scaled back due to COVID-19.

The Migration Festival Porch Parade will replace the traditional street parade for this year, with organizers asking residents to decorate their front porch, front yard or balcony and submit a photo. Entries must be submitted by midnight on October 16 to be eligible.

The Great Migration Paint Out begins Thursday, October 15 and runs through Sunday. It is an outdoor event, in which the community is able to watch the artist’s work unfold. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top artists. An exhibition and sale of the artwork will be held on Sunday, October 18 from 1pm to 5pm at the Grovedale Arts & Culture Centre at 103 Park Street. Gathering limits apply.

Honker the Goose hugs two fans at last year’s 50th annual Kingsville Migration Festival.

Sun photo

On Saturday, a twist to the annual pancake breakfast will see an event called PJs and Pancakes with Community Heroes. You can pick up a special free breakfast kit at one of the Migration Festival booths downtown from 10 am to 4 pm. Those booths will be at Toasted Meringue Bakery (6 Main St. W.), or the Jack Miner Statue (41 Division St. S.). Each kit will contain pancake mix and fresh strawberries.

The kits are free but they are also accepting canned goods or non-perishable food items for the Kingsville Community Food Bank.

On Saturday and Sunday, you can visit the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary on Road 3 West for special activities planned in celebration of Migration Fest.Visit www.jackminer.ca for information.

Parade attendees at last year’s Migration Festival parade. Sun photo

Sun photo

Down at the Carnegie Hall, there will be a Migration Marketplace on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Come out and enjoy the vendors. Free admission to the marketplace.

On Saturday, you can also do the “Walk with your Flock” as you and your family enjoy exploring downtown Kingsville. Stop by the Carnegie Visitor Centre where there will be a Migration Festival tent set up, and meet Honker, the Jack Miner mascot.

The Wild Goose Chase will allow you to locate about 30 geese placed strategically throughout downtown. You can pick up a map and locate all the geese. These passports will be available at the Carnegie Marketplace, Unico Centre, Kingsville Arena and the PJs and Pancakes booth.

The pancake breakfast kit available at the Migration Festival this year.