25th annual Kincardine Mass Band parade features almost 300 pipers and drummers

The 25th annual Mass Band Festival drew a huge crowd to Victoria Park, Kincardine, Saturday afternoon, and the Mass Band parade that evening saw almost 300 pipers and drummers march through downtown Kincardine for the Saturday Night Parade.

Norm Annetts, who hosts the event with the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, said there were more than 2,000 people in the park, and organizers served 4,000 hot dogs and 4,000 cobs of corn to the hungry patrons.

He told the crowd that for the 25th year in a row, the festival has enjoyed good weather. Later in the afternoon, there was a sprinkling of rain, but it didn't last long.

"Welcome to the Mass Band Festival and enjoy the day," said Annetts. He also welcomed the Toronto All-Star Big Band, with artistic director Zygmunt Jedrzejek, and conductor Martin Matuszczyk, who have already said they are coming back next year.

The afternoon entertainment included the Kincardine Community Concert Band, the Toronto All-Star Band, several pipe bands: the Teeswater Highlanders, Sarnia Legion, City of Orillia, Goderich Celtic Blue, Penetangore, Uxbridge Legion, Ontario Fire Services, and Cambridge and District; and The Pleats.

Saturday night, Queen Street was lined with thousands of people for the Mass Band parade, as 290 pipers and drummers, the largest number in about 10 years, marched through downtown Kincardine, led by drum majors Scott Telford and Lorne Smith of Kincardine, Nick Wood of Tiverton, and Chic Archibald of the Sarnia Legion Pipes and Drums.

They were followed by a host of thousands, marching to Quinn Plaza and then back to Victoria Park for a concert to end the event.

Meanwhile, you never know who will turn up at the Mass Band Festival. Mary Farrell was surprised to be greeted by Naydene Depelteau of Armprior, who ran the Stedman's store in downtown Kincardine, with her husband, Reg, from 1967-68. They used to live in the old coach house on Huron Terrace.



Almost 300 pipers and drummers march through downtown Kincardine in Saturday's Mass Band parade