Meaford is marking the start of its 150th anniversary with a year-long party.
Deputy Mayor and chair of the celebrations Shirley Keaveney says they held the kickoff celebrations for Meaford 150 on March 10 at the Meaford and St. Vincent Community Centre.
She says they had a town crier, cupcakes, displays, and a local podcaster sharing stories of the municipality.
“The most special part of the day was the energy, the enthusiasm, the momentum in the room. It was just absolutely beyond amazing,” says Keaveney.
Meaford 150 Celebrations (Photo provided by Shirley Keaveney)
This official start to the major milestone will be followed up this summer with a parade starting at 1 p.m. on June 15 and events at the harbour between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
“These are all designed to be old fashioned type games which are going to be so much fun. An egg and spoon race, a cornhole game, connect four, frog flinger, there will be tattoos, a magician, line dancing, pickleball demonstrations, kite flying, buskers, and best of all in my opinion, cow pie bingo. It is a bingo game drawn out on cement and there will be a live cow, and wherever the cow leaves its droppings on whichever number, if that is your number, you win,” says Keaveney.
Additionally, the municipality is holding a hiking challenge between May 18 and Sept. 2, where there will be guided and self-guided hikes in the area.
“There will be prizes for the most kilometres traveled during that time period. That is a great way to get out and see the Municipality of Meaford,” says Keaveney.
She says Meaford 150 has been in the talks for over a year, but the team has been putting the event together over the past three months.
“The incredible part is that really every organization in this municipality is coming together. Everyone wants to participate, everybody is so excited about this,” says Keaveney.
She adds while she anticipates this celebration to attract tourists to the area, Meaford 150 is mainly for the residents.
“That’s the whole municipality, not just our downtown core. Bognor, Leith, Annan, all parts of this municipality we want to be involved in celebrating with us. We see this event as drawing a lot of Meaford residents back home,” says Keaveney.
More information on Meaford 150 can be found on the municipal website here.