(BlackburnNews.com file photo)(BlackburnNews.com file photo)
Midwestern

South Bruce Peninsula Takes Over Wiarton Willie Festival

South Bruce Peninsula council is looking for some new faces to help organize the next Wiarton Willie Festival.

Council has agreed to take on the responsibility of planning the 61st edition of Wiarton's famous Groundhog Day prediction event, after the Wiarton and District Chamber of Commerce informed the municipality they were no longer interested.

Councillor Matt Jackson says it's an opportunity to breathe new life into the festival, pointing out many of the same faces have been organizing its events over the years.

He says even though town staff will head up organizing efforts, they will still need volunteers to help keep the festival as one of the country's most iconic events.

"There's been a lot of sweat, blood and tears put into this festival over the years, we've had a lot of the same people pulling the same amount of weight and it's time to sort of refresh those ranks, and that's natural, that happens," says Jackson. "So I think it's just a call to everyone out there to rally around the festival."

Jackson points out town staff will only be organizing the events related to Wiarton Willie's prediction on Groundhog Day, and it will be up to local service groups to tackle the other events during the week-long festival, though he adds that is not a departure from previous years.

South Bruce Peninsula council has given 2017 pre-budget approval to spend up to $10,000 and Jackson says town staff will be working to secure grants and sponsorship to pay for the rest of the festival.

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