Printed from the Review
Making friends at the Friendship Festival
MELISSA CHURLY
Tuesday, July 03, 2007 – 07:00
Local News – For Rob Taylor the Friendship Festival was the perfect place to spend the holiday weekend with his family.
“It’s really family focused, right down to the people who work here,” said Taylor, who spent Saturday and Monday at the festival with his son.
“On one of the rides, my son got scared they let him off and even gave him the tickets back. They are very courteous.”
The festival, which began Friday night and ended Monday, has been an annual event in Fort Erie for the past 21 years. Held at Mather Arch on the waterfront, there were midway rides, games, buskers, and concerts to enjoy.
There was also a fireworks display Sunday night which organizers said attracted large crowds.
“One vendor said he saw a lot of the same people on all four days because there were so many great things to do and see,” said festival manager Flo Odding.
The festival capped a weekend of celebrations around Niagara, including Canada Day at Optimist Park and the annual Serbian Picnic in Niagara Falls.
Warm weather helped all the events draw large crowds.
Odding couldn’t estimate how many people attended the festival but said there were at least 6,000 who turned out for the evening concerts.
“There is no way of measuring because we don’t charge admission, but during the day it was packed every day.”.
Dave Sevcik, president of the Friendship Festival, said changes made this year were popular.
“This year, we beefed up the children’s area and the entertainment and we have seen great results,” he said.
Taylor agreed. He said the Early Years crafts and play area were the best parts of the festival.
“They were very friendly there and encouraging to the kids. There was lots for my son to do and the entertainment was good.”
Taylor said he goes to the festival almost every year and hopes to see the craft area and vendors expand to what it used to be.
“There were a lot of great things, but I’d like to see that area grow,” he said.
Hilary Lemmex from Welland said the reptile area in the Kids Zone was her favourite part.
“I’ve come here before, but I really like the snakes,” said 10-year-old Lemmex. She got a close-up look at a two-metre Burmese python.
“It felt really scaly but I liked it,” she said after running her hands along it.
Allana Kelly, a Reptile Party volunteer, said they brought a tortoise, some lizards, snakes and even a few baby alligators.
New this year was the Rogers Fort Erie Festival Idol contest.
About 19 bands competed for the chance to play in the closing concert on the main stage Monday night. Fans of the bands were encouraged to text message their votes and the band with the most text messages won. BOOM, a rock band with members from the Niagara region won with more than 1,700 votes.
Debbie Demers and her three kids spent three days exploring all the things at the festival.
“It was fabulous. Three beautiful days of sunshine and free entertainment.”
ID- 594901
© 2007 , Osprey Media. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Niagara Falls Review acticles reprinted with permission by the authority of Joe Wallace, City Editor of the Niagara Falls Review.
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