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PETERBOROUGH ON—Children run around barefoot on the cushiony-soft grass. Adults settle into foldable lawn chairs with boxes of chubby French fries from the nearby chip truck. A smartly-dressed woman licks ice cream from a cone. It’s an event that beckons people from all of society’s classes, drawn together by live entertainment, the mingling with family and neighbours and the tranquil experience of a warm summer night. It is Peterborough’s Festival of Lights, a concert series, boat show and fireworks display, which occurs twice a week for a total of 20 summer nights in Del Crary Park on Little Lake. While it offers residents free family entertainment, something else is also responsible for attracting 120,000 people to the event each year, says Fred Anderson, chairperson of the board for the Festival of Lights. “Families come down here and meet their friends and neighbours,” says Fred. “It’s social. It’s a gathering place of all segments of the community. It’s a great pacifier, music is.” Fred was once approached by a pensioner who was widowed and told him she didn’t know what she would do without the free concerts. On the other hand, Fred has seen lawyers decked in suits meander over to the event. The Festival of Lights showcases entertainers who are on the cusp of making it big or have reached a quieter moment in their careers. Past entertainers have included Great Big Sea, Wide Mouth Mason, Liona Boyd and Fred’s proudest accomplishment, Gordon Lightfoot. That 2001 concert drew approximately 15,000 people to the park in the core of the city. About 10 per cent of the people who attend the annual summer series are tourists. “The intention is to provide a musical and cultural experience for all of our residents on an admission-free basis,” says Fred. “It is also to provide a cutting edge in the tourism sector.” The event is responsible for bringing about $4 million into the city each year, Fred notes. Fred has been involved with the Festival since 1987. He’s retiring at the end of this season from his voluntary post. Fred was responsible for the original Arts and Water Festival that began in 1971 and ran for 10 days in August. It folded about six years later after it didn’t sustain itself. Fred modestly talks about his almost 30-year commitment to community building. “It’s such a beautiful venue, there should be something here,” he says, about why he was inspired to start the Festival. He was also working at Sir Sandford Fleming College at the time, which was looking to support a community event. “Once I got going, I couldn’t let go. It’s show business. It’s a lot of fun.” Come the end of August Fred will step off the stage and take a seat amongst the crowd. He’ll be left with what he describes a “personal feeling of community appreciation.” |
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