After a successful revamp last year, Milton Days is once again set to return for a full weekend of fun and activities. This year the festival runs from July 15-18.
“Everything worked so well last year, we’re bringing it all back,” says organizer Anne Conrad.
The only change for this year is the Little Miss and Master Pageant is being held on Thursday night, in order to space things out a little better.
It may say “Milton Days” on the title, but Conrad says don’t think if you’re not from Milton you can’t come. The events, including the pageant, are open to anyone who wants to stop by for some fun.
Conrad says many things went well last year, despite the torrential rains that came down for part of the weekend. However with a bit of quick thinking, events like the Garden Party were shifted to inside the hall. Everything went so smoothly, they’ve decided to hold the garden party in the hall for this year too.
The street parade was still successful too, with people lining the streets to cheer them on. The parade returns as well, taking place July 17 at 11 a.m. The parade route goes from the Milton Pool over to the Milton Hall via the bridge, so the streets will be closed while the parade is taking place.
Also returning this year is the dance, pet show, pancake breakfast and the Around the River poker run. For those that didn’t make it out last year, the poker run is a race around the Mersey River, going from the Milton Bridge to the Trestle Trail Bridge and back. Along the way, there are five stations set up where participants pick up a playing card. At the end of the run (or bike, or walk), prizes are given out for best and worst hands.
Lots of preparation goes into the revamped festival, and Conrad says it takes about 3-4 months worth of work to get things ready. It’s a lot of work for the nine-member executive, but one they feel is worth it.
Milton Days had declined over the years, to end up being just one day. A fresh-faced committee took over the reigns for last year though, and Conrad says they have work very hard to bring the festival back up to the event it once was.
Their hard work has paid off as well. With the amount of sponsorship coming forward this year, Conrad says it makes them feel like they are doing something right
All the proceeds made during the events go towards fixing up the Milton Hall. Conrad says the hall was in pretty Funds go towards hall, which was in rough shape when the new committee took over. So far, they have redone the kitchen, upgraded the electrical, installed new lights, done interior and exterior painting, put on a new roof, and built a new bar area.
“It’s all ways to make the hall more useful,” she says.
The work has paid off as well. Hall rentals have gone up dramatically, from weddings and receptions, to community groups and organizations.
nmoase@theadvance.ca
