30 Years of Rosy Rhubarb Festival by Peri Hayes The highly anticipated Rosy Rhubarb Festival is coming up on Saturday June 8th, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, and from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday the 9th at 35921 Talbot Line, Shedden. In 1993, a group of residents united to promote the village of Shedden, proclaimed the Rhubarb Capital of Ontario in 1990. This fundraising event, scheduled annually during the second weekend in June, caters to community celebration and Shedden’s cherished rhubarb. Since its inception, the Rosy Rhubarb Festival has contributed to raising more than two million dollars and independently donating over five hundred thousand dollars. In addition to building the Southwold Keystone Complex, funds from this event have supported its wheelchair-accessible walkway and Gazebo, as well as abundant landscaping and also an array of community groups. During Rosy Rhubarb, artisans and craft vendors will welcome guests on the Keystone Complex grounds. Food trucks will offer familiar and favourite treats to savour, and special interest groups will present a variety of displays.. Contests include the largest rhubarb leaf and stalk, as well as the Baked Rhubarb Competition. Their renowned rhubarb sauce will be available, in addition to scrumptious ice cream, pies and salsa. Meanwhile, the joyous entertainment entails bouncy castles, a Classic Car Show, country music, petting zoos and beyond.. The Optimist Club will hold a 10k and 5k run and walk, as well as a 1k Fun Run. Aviva Fournie, a participant in the 10k marathon, shares, “This is the first year that Rosy Rhubarb has ever held this event, run by, and held in celebration and
support of the events within the community of Sheddan! This is my first 10k race, and I’m happy it’s at Rosy Rhubarb, an event I’ve gone to my whole life.” Sharon Degraw offers, “My husband, Leonard and I joined the Rosy Rhubarb Committee in September 1999. We organized three Barn Dance Country Shows with sold-out crowds. All proceeds from these shows went to help with the fundraising for the new Shedden Library, which opened in 2016.” Sharon continues, “Since this is our 25th year on the Committee, we have decided to retire, mainly for health reasons. We have enjoyed working with the Committee and have met many nice people over the years; however, it is time for some younger folks in the community to join and bring new ideas to the Committee.” The Rosy Rhubarb Festival Committee meets on the third Tuesday of each month, with the exception of August, September and December. Email Sandy at sandy.rosyrhubarb@ gmail.com with inquiries about volunteer opportunities, while contact details for further information about Rosy Rhubarb Festival are accessible on their website, rosyrhubarbfestival. com/home. Sharon concludes, “See you all at the Festival, and remember -- it’s our Rhubarb Sauce that made us famous!”
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Hometown St. Thomas • June 2024 • Page 27
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