If you’re looking for a day of community gathering and family fun, look no further – Errington’s 50th annual Hi Neighbour Day on Aug. 17 promises all that and more.
Bob Herbison is one of the organizers and serves on the board of the Errington Hall. He says it’s a great way to reconnect with neighbours and meet newcomers in the community.
“It’s a good get together. Lots of kids, lots of people. It’s a good time to reconnect with people you don’t get to see all the time. It’s a people day,” said Herbison.
The fun kicks off with a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. inside the Errington Hall, where members of the Volunteer Fire Department will be serving up pancakes and sausages.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the weekly Errington Farmer’s Market will take place in the community park across from the hall.
The market will have its usual assortment of fresh produce, home baking, cut flowers, bedding plants, local crafts, food and coffee. Additionally, volunteers from the Hall Board will serve up free corn on the cob during the market.
Participants from Errington’s Youth Summer Music Camp will perform on the community stage at 10 a.m. Following that performance will be a 30-minute set by the youth camp instructor, singer songwriter Mapumba Cilombo from South Africa.
At 12:30 p.m. the Hi Neighbour Parade starts. Billed as the “Biggest Little Parade around!” the route will head down Memorial Drive from Grafton Avenue and into the Farmer’s Market.
“The parade is always short, silly, and fun,” said Herbison.
Anyone wishing to participate in the parade can hop in – kids are encouraged to decorate their bikes, and adults, community groups and local businesses are encouraged to create a float and join in.
There is no registration necessary for the parade, but participants are asked to meet on Memorial Road next to the old school site and be ready to go just before 12:30 p.m.
Following the parade, the Greater Errington Memorial Zucchini Race is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
If you’ve never seen a zucchini race in action, it’s exactly what it sounds like. People of all ages create small vehicles out of real zucchinis by adding wheels, decoration and aerodynamic features, then pit the vegetables against each other in a high speed race.
At 3 p.m. in the Errington Hall there will be a ‘Hi Neighbour Days Revisited’ show, with photos from previous events being screened.
The day will finish with the Hi Neighbour Dance which starts at 8 p.m. and goes until midnight (ish). The dance is all-ages, and will feature the sounds of award-winning percussionist and composer Robin Layne and his band The Rhythm Makers. Layne plays the concert marimba and is noted for his collaborations in the folk and world music scenes. He’s toured internationally, playing shows across Europe, in China, Mexico, the US and Canada.
Tickets for the dance are $20 for adults and are being sold at Cranky Dog Music, Heaven on Earth and the Errington Store.
Tickets for youth ages 6 – 12 are $5 at the door, and children under 6 are free.
Tickets can also be purchased online at http://erringtonhall.tickit.ca.
