The 54th Morden Corn & Apple Festival has come and gone, with early indications suggesting it could have been the best attended ever! According to Executive Director Tim Hodge, all the indicators organizers use to determine attendance are pointing to a record setting event. He expects final numbers to be determined and released by the end of the week.
Festival food, rides and the Big Wreck concert were highlights for Morden Mayor Brandon Burley, but he has an extra special highlight from the community weekend.
"Before Corn and Apple, when we were down at Stephen Street, the Festival was taking place in all the rides there, I mentioned to my wife, 'Can you imagine what it would be like if you're a parent who couldn't afford to put your kids on rides after these many years?' The desperation I guess, of being a parent in that position kind of hit me, and I went home and put out a call on Facebook and said, 'Hey, I'm going to give away 10 tickets (wristbands). If anybody wants to join me, I'll make sure they get into good hands and put it to good use. The community came forward and the final count was 111 tickets for the midway."
Businesses and individuals donated over $4,000 over the weekend, including a single mother of two, who had saved money at Christmas for her kids to receive wristbands to use at the Corn and Apple, plus she had saved for one for herself. She approached the mayor and donated her own wristband, so a kid could use it instead.
"When people donate like that, and when people give when most people say they're not in a position to give, it's pretty humbling to think about what that kind of sacrifice means to people."
While the Festival can potentially bring in a million dollars into the community over the weekend, Burley said the economic value carries on.
"When you look at it, and down the road, everybody knows Morden is Corn and Apple, and this is a key part of our identity. The opportunity to showcase our community to a much broader region, that is where we really see the value as a community, because it demonstrates, very well, how we come together, and we work together, and we're proud of our community."
This year's Corn & Apple was without its traditional largest parade in Manitoba due to a lack of volunteers and coordinator early on in the year. Burley remarked on the success of the first year back after pandemic restrictions were lifted, noting he was willing to forget the one or two features not here this year. He encouraged people, especially his age, to get involved in the coordinating level of the event, or to volunteer with their family in some way, to make sure the event is sustainable in the coming years.
"Thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and folks who put so much energy into this. It makes our city sparkle, and it makes it such a fantastic way to round out the summer, and bring the joy back to our community. Thanks for the hard work, no matter what they were doing or what their role was, there were no unimportant roles when it came to pulling off something of this size. I am very thankful to volunteers, and to the organizing committee, and to the board."
