Wheatley Fish Festival a celebration of freshwater fishing

By Aaron Hall – Daily Post Editor

The annual Wheatley Fishing Festival is set to take place over the Civic Holiday weekend, from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2.

Wheatley resident Sue Adamson, one of the event organizers, said the event is a celebration of one of the staples of the Wheatley community.

“The Fish Festival is a community event celebrating our history of freshwater fishing in our area, both commercial and sport,” she said.

Adamson said the weekend is packed with events for everyone in the family to enjoy.

“The Big Boyz fishing tournament brings sportsman from all over including Michigan and Ohio,” she said. “The commercial fisherman get involved at the arena with their filleting and smoked fish contest. We introduced the smoked fish last year and had 42 entries. After the judging is done we open it up to the public for people’s choice award and everyone can have some as appetizers before their dinner of yellow perch and broasted chicken. This year the Wheatley Baptist church is making dessert to go along with the meal.

Adamson added that the youth attending the events will have plenty to do as well.

“Also on the Saturday this year the downtown core will be hopping with a farm market stand, a kids play area (carnival type) arts and crafts… all new for 2009,” Adamson said. “Sunday is the ever popular Wheatley Idol… so you can see there is lots to do all day long.”

For a full slate of the events taking place in Wheatley, check out the list below:

Friday July 31, 2009

• Wheatley Co-ed 3 Pitch Baseball

• Music 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Arenac(Brian Cobby’s Band)

Saturday Aug. 1, 2009

• Big Boyz Fishing Derby, Wheatley Harbour

• Co-ed Pitch Baseball Continues

• Breakfast Wheatley Legion 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

• Friendship Club Yard Sale and BBQ 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.

• Heritage Society and Friendship club Rooms 9-2

• Bake Sale Wheatley Legion 9 a.m.

• Pet Parade Ivan Coulter Park 9:30 a.m.

• Cooling Station, Wheatley Baptist church 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Children’s Day Activities (all day) Corner of Chestnut and Erie

• Arts and Crafts – business area All Day

• Fish Festival Parade 11:00 a.m. (Erie St. From Arena to Middleton Line)

• Tug of War contest, Arena noon

• Filleting contest, Arena 1 p.m.

• Jack’s Coffee Shop Ketchup Cruisers – Rec Complex 1-3:30

• Smoked Fish Contest Judging Arena 3.p.m.

• Smoked Fish People’s Choice Tasting 4:30 p.m. (open to public)

• Yellow Perch and Broasted Chicken Dinner Arena 5-8 Tickets $20.00 each

• Dance. Arena 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Sunday Aug. 2, 2009

• Big Boyz Fishing Derby continues

• Presentations at arena 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Music by Scott Holland

• Breakfast at Legion 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Wheatley Idol Contest, Two Creeks Starts at Noon

• Concert Two Creeks 6:30 p.m. (Ron Leary with Mr. Chill and Scotty Hughes)