Stalk Up on Fun at the Rosy Rhubarb Festival
The sweet and slightly tart taste of rhubarb will once again take centre stage when the Rosy Rhubarb Festival returns June 13 and 14 at the Southwold Keystone Complex. A beloved early- summer tradition for residents of Shedden and surrounding communities, the festival combines food, entertainment and local pride into a weekend designed for families and friends to gather and celebrate. For Sandy Annett, the event is more than just a festival; it’s part of her life story. “I am a second-generation Rosy Rhubarber,” Sandy explains. “I grew up in Shedden, and my parents assisted with the early Festivals. My family always attended, and my husband, Danny, and I both volunteered to serve individual servings of fresh rhubarb pie, sauce and ice cream.” Sandy noted that after returning to the village in 1998, her involvement steadily grew. Today, she serves as Chair of the planning committee while Danny works as a gate captain. “I am now one of the people responsible for ensuring that every year, Rosy’s own rhubarb plants are harvested into fresh sauce,” she says. “Local villagers first began planning for an annual Festival in 1992 to fund replacement of the existing ‘Community Hall’, which was to be demolished,” Sandy notes. “Since the majority of village homes had a rhubarb patch, rhubarb became the central feature, and our mascot, Rosy, made her debut at the inaugural Festival in 1993.” Today, the event has grown into a vibrant celebration featuring more than 100 craft, manufacturing and food vendors, along with live entertainment for all ages. Visitors can also enjoy baking contests, rhubarb leaf and stalk competitions, the annual Dutton Lions Breakfast, and the Fingal–Shedden Optimist Car Show. Of course, no visit would be complete without sampling the festival’s signature treats. “Highlights include individual servings of fresh rhubarb pie, sauce and ice cream,” Sandy says. One of the returning features this year is a designated Social Area. “Rosy is striving to provide not only a fun event but also a reason and venue for people to gather and socialize with one another in a relaxed and family-oriented environment,” Sandy explains.
Beyond the fun, the festival continues to make a lasting impact in the community, helping fund projects such as the Keystone Complex building, playground, library branch, pavilion, and local memorial spaces.
Real Agricultural Elgin Living Spring 2026 cover The Historical Lighthouse in Port Burwell. Constructed in 1840, it is the oldest wooden lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Erie. Photo by Geoff Rae
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Real Living • Spring 2026 • Page 3
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