Fish Festival returning to Wheatley July 1-2-3

By Mark Ribble

The Wheatley Fish Festival is not only returning to Wheatley this year, but it’s returning with a bang.

It’s been about 15 years since Wheatley’s Fish Festival has featured harbour events like fish tug parade, tug-of-war and tote races, but the 2022 edition of the Fish Festival will include all of those things.

Committee spokesperson Terry Lobzun spoke to the Sun on Monday to outline the events lined up for this year’s festival.

“Wheatley has had a rough couple of years,” he said. “It’s time to let loose and celebrate.”

Lobzun says that in recent years the festival has been a bit of a subdued event compared to years gone by and the current committee has made a considerable effort to return the festival to its glory days.

Fish tote races at the harbour in 2000.

“We have the fishermen on board with this and they are happy to participate,” he said. “There is over 150 years of fishing history in this town.”

Lobzun says the committee has brought back the fish tote races across the harbour and the harbour tug-of war — two popular events from years gone by.

The committee was poised to bring all of the old events back for 2020 but the COVID pandemic put a stop to that. Now, two years later, they are excited to get going.

Friday night will kick off with the annual smoked fish contest at Talbot Trail Golf Course, followed by live music from Crossroads.

The Linda Jane in front of Wheatley Harbour during the 1993 fish tug parade.

On Saturday, the focus shifts to the harbour and arena as an open market will be set up at the harbour from 10-3, with a kids treasure hunt at 10 am and the popular tugof-war teams competing at 11 am. The tote box races start at 1 pm with entertainment by Lager.

The Wheatley Arena will be hosting the famous broasted chicken and pickerel spikes dinner from 5-7 pm, followed by the Jody Raffoul Band entertaining the crowds at 8:30 pm.

On Sunday, July 3, the Wheatley Legion Ladies Auxiliary will be serving breakfast from 9am to noon at Talbot Trail Golf Club, and there will be a fishing boat parade at the harbour at a yet-to-be-determined time.

A tug-of-war competitor digs in to keep he and his teammates from taking a dunk in the harbour in 2000.

Finally, to finish off the weekend, a giant fireworks display will be presented at the harbour starting at 10 pm Sunday.

According to Lobzun, the 2022 edition of the Fish Festival will help bring Wheatley back from the frustration of last year’s disaster.

“The timing for this is great,” he says. “With the evacuation zone being reduced this week, things are looking better. We’re looking forward to a party.”

The festival events are free and open to the public, with only the fish fry and Sunday breakfast requiring an admission fee.

If you’d like to get a team into the tug-of-war or tote races, send an email to wheatleyfishfest@outlook.com or visit their Facebook page.