When a North Huron Council committee for the Wingham Homecoming folded, a local couple stepped in to plan the 2024 celebration.
Joe and Heidi Carter put the word out to local businesses and organizations, asking everyone to plan their own events.
"That idea just snowballed," Joe Carter exclaimed. "So the Wingham Legion, they're having their 100th anniversary of their cenotaph that's going to be all weekend long. Then the nice folks at Riverview local eatery, they said hey, we can do the whole homecoming kickoff and patio launch. So they're going to do live music all weekend. And the list of events just kept going on and getting bigger from there."
Carter said there was an overwhelming response from local groups
"Take Wingham Golf and Curling Club for instance. Instead of a committee putting on a Miss Wingham Homecoming, they said we'll put on a Miss Wingham Homecoming Senior," Carter continued. "So anybody over the age of 60 can now step in and be Miss Wingham Senior at their pageant on Friday at seven o'clock."
Carter predicted there will be something for everyone at the upcoming celebration.
"Family games. The Muskrat Festival Committee is hosting events on Sunday instead of putting on the Music Festival this year. A Lip Sync competition, an all-you-can-eat buffet at the golf course," he listed. "There's fireworks on Monday from the fire department. Maitland Valley Ride For Dad is putting on the motorcycle show with the Wingham Lions on Monday. Yeah, there's so many events and everybody in the community has just been so helpful."
Carter said there is no shortage of fun for the kids.
"We've got kids activities up at the Maitland River Elementary School, and we're talking 70 feet of bouncy castle and candy," he said. "There's a parade at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex. And I don't know if you had these when you were little , a bike rodeo where all the kids would dress up the bikes with streamers and everything and you go down the street. We're going to do the same thing with the parade. So of course grownup floats at the parade, but also kids can dress up their bikes and they can be part of a parade too. And we've come up with a theme of Pokémon."
He explained that since each event is being planned by various businesses and groups, those organizations control the agenda, and the funds.
"F. E. Madill, they've got a preteen dance going on, and that's hosted by the student council. They also have another dance from 8:00 to 11:00 for teens," he revealed. "And any money that they raised, stays with the school and goes to the programs. And, so yeah, all the events that are happening, all the money stays with those organizations."
Wingham Homecoming 2024 schedule:
Thursday June 27
Wingham Legion Branch 180, Cenotaph 100th Anniversary (all weekend)
Alice Munro walking tours (all weekend) – call 519-321-1867 to book.
12 p.m. -5 p.m. – Alice Munro exhibit (Thurs/Fri/Sat) at Alice Munro Public Library
6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. - Free Public Swim at North Huron Aquatic Centre
6:00 p.m. – Wingham Homecoming Kickoff and ‘Patio Launch’. Live music with Haley McNeil and more, at The Riverview Local Eatery
Friday June 28
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Business Decorating Contest / Residential Decorating Contest
5:00 p.m. – Wings and Live entertainment at Wingham Legion Branch 180
6:00 p.m. - Corn Hole Tournament /Pub Night at Wingham Sportsmen's Club –tournament FULL. To get on ‘wait list’ please text 519-531-0835
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Free Family swim at North Huron Aquatic Centre
7:00 p.m. – ‘Miss Wingham Sr.’ at Wingham Golf & Curling Club call 519-357-2179 to register (ages 60+)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Preteen Dance at F.E. Madill S.S. hosted by the Students Council
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Teen Dance at F.E. Madill S.S. hosted by the Students Council
Saturday June 29
8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. – ‘Wescast Reunion’ Golf Tournament, for past and present employees at Wingham Golf and Curling Club call 519-357-2179 to register.
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Kids Activities, inflatables, face painters, candy vendors, Dog agility show at Maitland River Elementary School
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Parade registration at North Huron Wescast Community Complex. Pre- registration email: winghamparade@gmail.com
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Parade starting at North Huron Wescast Community Complex through Josephine Street, Wingham. Theme “Pokémon”. “Kids Bike Parade” included!
12:45 p.m. – Sign in and Registration ‘Maitland Valley Ride for Dad Cornhole Tournament’. First Toss 1:15 p.m. Pre-register at Riverview Local Eatery recommended. Patio at Riverview Local Eatery will be open for supporters and on-lookers.
1:00 p.m.– 6 p.m. Live Entertainment by ‘Boiler Beach’, ‘Jevon Coxon’, ‘Whoevershows Up’ and ‘Nuclear Vibes’, with door prizes and more at The Riverview Local Eatery
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - St. Paul's Trinity Anglican Church, Strawberry Social with tours of the church
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. - Touch A truck at Fresh Wind Revival Centre
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - High School Reunion hosted by the Wingham and Area Historical Society at F.E. Madill S.S.
4:00 p.m. - Entertainment/bar/patio at Wingham Legion Br.180
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. - Live entertainment on the patio with Johnny Borton at Wingham Golf and Curling Club
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.– Sue’s Famous Fish dinner at Wingham Columbus Centre. Call 519-357-1270 to reserve.
8:00 p.m. – 12:00am – Dance hosted by the Belgrave Kinsmen at North Huron Wescast Community Complex, Arena floor.
Sunday June 30
10:30 a.m. – Community Church Service – North Huron Wescast Community Complex
11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. – Brunch at Wingham Columbus Centre. Call 519-357-1270 to reserve.
8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.– Golf Tournament at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club call 519-357-2179 to register.
1 p.m.-3 p.m. and 3 p.m.-5 p.m. – Robert Brown, “Building of the Trans Continental Railway. Focusing on Wingham and Area” at Wingham's Grand Trunk Station. A video and verbal presentation about Wingham's three Railways and the Transcontinental CPR Ontario to British Columbia.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Family Games, Activities, and Live musical performances hosted by the Musical Muskrat Festival Committee at Cruickshank Park
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Artisan Market hosted by PEACH (Promoting Emerging Artists of Huron) at Cruickshank Park
3:00 p.m. - Lip Sync Competition/Live Entertainment at Castings Public House
“dusk’ – outdoor movie night at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club
4:00 p.m.– 8 p.m. - Family Friendly ‘All You Can Eat Dinner Buffet’ at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club. Call 519-357-2179 to register.
Monday July 1
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Brunch at Wingham Golf & Curling Club call 519-357-2179 to register.
Noon - 4:00 p.m. – ‘Lions of Wingham’ and ‘Maitland Valley Ride for Dad’ Carand Motorcycle show – North Huron Wescast Community Complex
9:00 p.m. (dusk) The Wingham Firefighters Association annual Canada Day Fireworks at the ball diamond