There is a big heatwave happening in the Hammer this week... and no, not summer weather related... but the debate over a seemingly political move of our Festival of Friends from Gage Park to the Ancaster Fairgrounds.
Let me just start by saying... I am pro Gage Park in a big big way... and I have my very own reasons why.
I am not about to get into a classist argument... over the downtown Hamilton crowd losing to the elite Ancaster citizens.... however reading posts about "inner city scum" sure makes my skin boil. (*I chose to move to this part of the city after 16 years on the mountain, and I do not consider myself or any of my neighbours scum!) I am not going to rant at the organizers attempt to locate to a venue that can help them capitalize on the almighty buck. I am uncertain that any of the excuses presented to necessitate the move really stick... having outgrown the Park or a lack of parking... nope, not gonna bother pulling these apart. I am not going to swear or put down people who live in Ancaster (was not their decision after all).
I will however speak my mind where I see it fits to do so. I will petition or support or add my name to a group to show the worth of my feelings towards this issue. I have a voice and an opinion and the respect to know how to use it.
I have literally grown up with the Festival of Friends. Having spent childhood years in proximity to Gage Park, it was a definite on the August agenda. I recall trying to convince the Pepsi Challenge booth that they wanted to hire me when I was 10 or 11... after all I had run my own Koolaid stand on Maplewood many a time. I remember scouring the park grounds for loose change left behind on the morning after the Festival ended and having Supie trick us into gaining points by sending us to pick up trash. I remember feeling as though Gage Park was MY park and that all of the festivities and visitors were like my own guests who came to enjoy what really belonged to me. I remember learning the words to "Nobody" by Sylvia when a country singer headlining performed a cover at the Band shell... and these are all the memories that happened before I even reached puberty.
As a teenager I did not live as close to the Park... however in the heart of the city, it was not difficult to get to... have bus pass, will travel! And I never missed a year. Glass Tiger... Gowan... Kim Mitchell!!! Like, it was the bomb! The Midway and people watching... cruising the booths (why on earth I bought that pink roach clip to wear as a hair accessory I will never understand, lol) and meeting up with friends from all over the city (yep, Festival of Friends indeed!). It was almost a given that we would run into one of those recent flames that fizzled... lol, and do that... pretend we do not see them but make sure they are checking us out kind of thing that teen girls do. Big big memories for sure!!
As an adult, I continued to enjoy the yearly Festival. I found it to be the top choice in comparison to its little sister Its Your Festival... and year after year I looked for my favourite vendors... played some Bingo, brought home Fudge and still saw friends of present and past. I soon began to enjoy the festival from a different perspective... by sharing it with my children. I want Josh to know that the very first concert he attended... was with Mommy and Grandma... he was in a stroller and we rocked out with Burton Cummings (just him and his piano). Josh kept his big bulldog won at the Midway for many years... and aptly named him "Gage" after our Park! Mike was not a big festival goer but me and the kids... LOVED it!! We would meet Carrie and Emily or just go on our own... and could spend hours there. The kids favourites were always the Temporary Tattoo booths, the Reptile Show, Mini putts and balloons made into lite sabers. Some of the years there were great Craft booths... the freebies filled our backpacks and buskers kept them in awe. We could drive the vendors crazy just playing with their wares, I am sure... especially the bongos, dijiridoos and croaking frogs. :)
I would be remiss if I did not mention the "Thunderstorm incident" where Josh hid himself in the bathroom for about a half hour afraid of being struck by lightning. For years after that if we were travelling down to the Festival, Josh was sure to check the Weather channel... but in the heart of the city, we could catch a whole number of bus routes to get ourselves home. You could say my children grew up with the Festival of Friends too.
Last year I moved my family down to the Gage Park neighbourhood with one big highlight on our summer agenda... being a block away from our fave summer Festival!!! And we all enjoyed it last year... went over many times... I went booth shopping without kids, we went to catch some of the shows at the Childrens stage... and then went back later for rides and shows. What a treat it was to be so close! We finally convinced Daddy to join us (because he had a quick out if the crowds were wearing on him) and we can chalk up the Festival of 2010 as a great one where memories are concerned. Once again, I felt... like all these people were coming to enjoy the flavour of MY Park. Riding the Ferris wheel with my hubby... and some of the uber scary rides with Aidan... seeing Josh tripping over to the Park with friends... and then... seeing the excitement of the kids watching Gord Downie!!!! Nothing beats this in my mind. Simply priceless.
As soon as I heard months ago that the Festival of Friends would be relocated to Ancaster Fairgrounds I knew I would not be attending. Not even the draw of great bands tempted me. I just knew in my heart it would not be the same. My memories of the Festival of Friends are all rooted at Gage Park.
I do not know if the Festival will ever come back to our city treasure... but the decades of memories I have are going nowhere!
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