The first day of school for 2023 has come and gone and with the dawning of a new school year, comes a stack of picnic tables in Clan Gregor Square.
The annual tradition is set up in the Bayfield park, facing Highway 21 for all to see. But have you ever wondered why?
According to Jeff Graham, owner of The Albion, this phenomenon has been happening for years.
"The picnic table pile up is something that's been going on since the 1970s in this town and it signifies back to school for the Bayfield local kids," said Graham. "It's one fun thing that they do and when they drive past in the bus heading to school, they get to look at what they created overnight. It's kind of a rite of passage and signifies the end of summer."
When it started, it was all a joke. But, it seemed to catch on.
"From my understanding and talking to one of the originators from way back when, it started off simply as just a prank," said Bill Whetstone, Bluewater councillor and longtime Bayfield resident. "Many, many years ago, they were just in the park and decided, 'hey, why don't we stack up these picnic tables?' They weren't being decorated or anything at that time. It has just evolved since then and now it's an annual tradition."
Graham said his father even participated in the annual event.
Tyler Hessel, another Bluewater councillor and owner of Bayfield Landing 1851, says as long as he has lived in Bayfield, over 40 years, this has been happening.
"I know there are some businesses that aren't happy with it existing or happening," said Hessel. "I think there's a bit of a difference when you've lived here and seen it happen year after year. It's a celebration of the end of a long, hard season, not just for the youth, but also their celebration of going back into the school system."
Graham added it isn't as significant to those who aren't local to Bayfield.
"If you're not from the town, it doesn't really mean anything to you other than if you just happen to drive past the morning it's set up in the park," he said.
Business owners have started helping out the local teens by leaving out items that are free for the taking, that they don't mind being used for decor.
"They just grab what you leave out, whether it be a chalkboard, umbrella, or whatever it is," said Graham. "The significance is to let these kids have a little bit of fun at the very end of the year. There's a lot of other things that kids could be doing that's worse than stacking picnic tables and high fiving their friends at the end of it."
What Hessel did this year to help out other businesses was gather up more than just what he left out to return back to the shops that donated them.
"At the end of the day, we have a unique community and I think that's one of the small inklings at the end of the summer, that unique part of it," said Hessel. "The tranquility of Bayfield itself is so special. At the end of the summer, there's this one thing that reminds everyone, hey, that was a great summer."
Whetstone said he was present at the set up this year, ensuring everything went smoothly.
"I spoke with the OPP just to see how things were going and also spoke with the kids and said, 'hey guys, if you ever think this is going to keep going, you need to make sure you're not doing damage and you're not taking stuff that's not set out for you.'," said Whetstone. "Those types of things and then it will be fine. I think it's fantastic, something for kids to do."
Whetstone added it's not a riot at all, it's harmless fun.
Graham said there was only one event where something was damaged accidentally, and locals and various businesses came together with donations to fix the damage.
"I know one year a bench was broken," said Graham. "Business owners, including myself, we all donated money and we had it fixed. We didn't want to see this mistake ruin a tradition that's been going on for so long."
Now, it has expanded into a lot more, loved by people from surrounding areas.
"I've been down there early in the morning years ago and I met people from outside Bayfield that bring their kids from a first day of school perspective," said Whetstone. They bring their kids down to get pictures in front of it, also other ones coming from Auburn, Blyth, because they heard about it."
Dianne Brandon, another long time resident of Bayfield and owner of Brandon's Hardware, loves the tradition.
"I like to get up early in the morning and go over there and see what's on the stack," said Brandon. "That's the most exciting part, see how high it is, how creative they got."
In the past, there have been pool floaties decorating the benches, as well as flags, various signs, and more from local businesses.
"It's important to the kids and they come together and do this on the one night," she said. "It's important to them. With my children, it was, 'when do we get to do this?' and they participated."
Brandon's Hardware has had its front bench taken and used for the stack. Where the store is located, they get a front row seat to the fun every year.
Bayfield residents were very glad to see the stack back this year, just a day later than normal, due to a PD day on September 5.