Arborg’s beloved Street Festival took over the downtown core this past weekend, welcoming hundreds to two full days of homegrown fun, flavour, and free community entertainment. With the streets closed off by Friday evening and fireworks capping off the night, residents and visitors alike packed the sidewalks to take in the sights, sounds, and summer celebrations.
From food trucks and live music to a parade, market, art show, and games, organizers say this year's turnout may have been the biggest yet.
Susan Bauern Huber, chair of the Arborg Street Festival, says the response from the community has been nothing short of incredible.
New attractions and returning favourites
This year’s festival ran August 8 and 9, kicking off Friday evening with the ever-popular parade and street party. Food vendors were set up across both days, offering local eats and sweet treats, while beer gardens kept the atmosphere festive well into the evening.
Local art was on display at the Creative Cocoon show, and bands like Lanny & The Pipes and Leddwyn brought high-energy performances to the library stage.
Saturday offered a family-friendly lineup packed with activities. Including a pancake breakfast at the Legion, 3-on-3 basketball, and a massive community-wide yard sale. Kids and adults alike lined up for human hamster balls, henna tattoos, and laser tag. Over at the Legion, a $10-per-plate perogy supper drew a hungry crowd Friday evening.
The always-popular Amazing Race started at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a full day of music and entertainment. Performers included magicians, dancers, and bands like FlipSide and Big Lloyd, keeping things lively from morning to night.
Keeping it free for everyone
What makes the Arborg Street Festival special, Huber says, is that nearly all the activities are completely free.
“The one nice thing about this is that it's all free. The only thing you pay for is your food and the artisans,” Huber notes.
The event’s success is only possible thanks to a committed crew of volunteers and the generous backing of local sponsors and residents, Huber explains.
“Without the businesses in town and our northern businesses like just north of town here, we would not be able to do this. The businesses here all jump in for us. We even have private people that donate for us,” Huber says.
Volunteers behind the scenes
While the event may look seamless to festival-goers, the real credit, Huber says, belongs to the hardworking committee members who bring it all to life.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com.
PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.
