Kempenfest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kempenfest |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Arts festival |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Venue | Kempenfelt Bay |
| Location(s) | Barrie, Ontario |
| Years active | 44 |
| Inaugurated | 3 August 1971 |
| Attendance | 146,000 (2024) |
Kempenfest is a big outdoor festival held every year in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. It's a celebration of arts and crafts, featuring more than 300 talented artists and craftspeople. The festival also includes an antique show, cooking demonstrations, fun activities for kids, and live music. It gets its name from Kempenfelt Bay, a beautiful bay nearby, and first started in 1971.
Contents
About Kempenfest
Kempenfest happens every year during the August long weekend. It's a popular event that brings many people together. The festival was first held at a place called Formosa Spring Breweries Park. In 1975, it moved to downtown Barrie, where it has been held ever since.
Fun Activities at the Festival
One exciting part of Kempenfest is a 2000-meter swim across Kempenfelt Bay. This swim starts from Centennial Beach. Since 2014, the city of Barrie has provided free shuttle buses. These buses help people get around the bay easily during the festival.
How Kempenfest is Organized
Kempenfest is put together by a group of eight different organizations. Each group helps make the event a success. For example, the Barrie Art Club and the Barrie Kiwanis Club work together. They choose the more than 350 artists and craftspeople who show their work. The Optimist Club organizes the special section for antiques.
Other groups also play important roles. The Chamber of Commerce helps with an entertainment stage in Centennial Park. The Barrie Rotary Club manages the main stage where big performances happen. The YMCA runs the Children's Village, which has lots of activities for kids all weekend. Other clubs like the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, and Optimist Club also provide food and drinks.
These groups work hard and usually raise over $250,000 each year. This money helps them do important community work.
Live Entertainment
Kempenfest has two stages for live music and shows. The Main Stage is located at the Rotary entertainment area. It features both daytime and evening shows. Many famous performers have played at Kempenfest. Some past entertainers include The Stampeders, Lighthouse, April Wine, Johnny Reid, Jason Blaine, George Canyon, Sloan, The Carpet Frogs, and the Martels.
