Acton's Leathertown Festival Draws a Crowd

The Leathertown Festival has now come and gone. This was the 19th year for this Festival in Acton. At one time, it use to be called "Back to Acton Days" as in many ways it is like a homecoming. After a few years it was changed to the "Leathertown Festival" in keeping with the theme of Acton and it's leather industries and businesses.

The Festival usually attracts anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000. This year had to be one of the best ever. The theme this year was "Mardi Gras" and downtown Acton looked like the Big Easy. Street names were changed from Mill St. to Bourbon St. The historic YMCA building had a new sign "Preservation Hall". The Farmers market on Willow St. was renamed "the French Market". The Georgetown Little Theatre youth were dressed in appropriate costumes handing out masks and beads. We even had Louisiana weather, hot, humid and the odd rain shower to make it feel like we were in New Orleans.


The Kids Zone had little cars for kids to drive and obey the stop signs and were awarded with a certificate by our village constable. Councillor Clark Somerville was at the kids corner volunteering for the MasonChip program. A wonderful program in assisting missing children. Lots of service clubs were on hand and of course Jenny the Hot Dog Lady was also on hand as she is really part of Acton's fabric coming to all of the events. There were pizza eating contests thanks to Dominos pizza. The entertainment was terrific. The numbers may have been down but that was because the weather forecast was for thunder showers all day which never materialized but may have had some change their plans. I met an Asian couple of Toronto who experienced corn of the cob for the first time. They went on the Leathertown web-site and decided it was "worth the drive to Acton". Many say the Leathertown Festival is the prelude to the Acton Fall Fair.

I know I am being biased but I can tell you this Festival would never happen if it wasn't for a small group of volunteers headed by my wife Josey. Also Terry Foster, Councillor Jon Hurst and Nicholl Spence. On the day of the festival many other volunteers showed up to clean up and have the streets look as if a festival never happened. I must give kudos to the Town of Halton Hills staff for being prompt on putting up the picnic tables and closing the streets and again being prompt on taking down the tables and opening the streets shortly after the Festival closed.

Mark your calendars for next year's festival. It is always on the second Sunday in August. It is going to be celebrating the 20th year. Plans are already under way.

See you then!