Pickin’ in the Park keeps getting better

July 9, 2015 · 0 Comments

The inaugural event raised $5000 in 2013, last year it nearly doubled to over $9000, and this year Pickin’ in the Park hopes to see en even bigger year. Pickin’ in the Park 2015 organized by Greg and Heather Holmes, and an anticipated annual event for many Ontario campers, just keeps getting better. The musical event will be held July 23-26 at Fiddler Park, 515677 County Road 11, just south of No Frills.
Greg and Heather Holmes, owners of Holmes Appliances and Music Store on Main Street Shelburne, call Pickin’ in the Park, “a jamboree style country music” event “with a little bit of fun thrown into it, and camping for the weekend too!” The couple saw Fiddle Park as a wonderful space for events with a need for “additional development.” The encouragement of camping friends and musicians prompted them to approach the Town for approval for Pickin’ in the Park in 2013.
The result is a highly successful annual event, supported by the Shelburne Lions Club, the Town of Shelburne, the Shelburne Kinettes, and Holmes Appliances and Music Store, that brings hundreds of visitors to Shelburne businesses each July and raises funds for the dream of a permanent structure to be built at the park. All proceeds from the event go to the development of Fiddle Park. The Holmes’ say, without the support of all the groups, “this event would not be profitable”.
Most of the entertainers at the event are campers and local musicians. In the inaugural year 45 different groups of all ages entertained, and by the following year 62 entertainers signed up to perform on the Saturday night alone. Greg and Heather reported that, “They all made it onto the stage.”
This year, the event is hosting an information session by the Royal Bank regarding fraud scams, senior banking and power of attorney among other things. There will also be a show by a dance group” fundraising with a bottle drive to perform at Walt Disney World, Florida next summer. Both of these events will take place Friday afternoon.
Saturday morning will see the return of the “Trailer Trash” yard sale. Campers and the general public are invited to bring their yard sale treasures, set up at their trailer, or in the case of the public – their car trunks, and sell their wares. The cost to set-up your trunk sale is $20, which includes admission for the day.
Greg and Heather say, “Everyone is welcome, you don’t need to be a camper.”
Day admission is $10 a person Friday and Saturday. Drop by the Kinettes’ food booth for famous “Deep Fried Pickles, Burgers, Fries, Hot Dogs, or Morning Breakfast Sandwich if you are an early bird. The Kinettes’ booth will be open Friday evening and all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. For campers, the park has water, hot showers and washrooms, but no hydro. Contact Heather or Greg Holmes at 519 925-3037 for more information and stay tuned for a complete event’s listing in next week’s Shelburne Free Press.

By Marni Walsh