Brantford residents of all ages indulged in some family fun during the City’s inaugural Fun Fest, held in Harmony Square, on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
The event, which was previously named “Winter Fun Fest,” was originally supposed to be held on Sunday, February 16, however, Lori-Dawn Cavin, Brantford’s Manager of Community Recreation and Events, explained that it was rescheduled due to inclement weather.
“We had that major snowstorm that week so we rescheduled it to today, but it’s kind of funny because while the weather was nice we dropped ‘winter’ from the name, but of course, now it feels like winter again,” she said with a chuckle.
She added that despite Saturday’s brisk weather, she was pleasantly surprised with the turnout.
“You know, outdoor events can be really tricky sometimes, but we have a lot of great people here in Brantford that are adaptable and willing to make the very best of it,” said Cavin. “Considering we started the day out with rain and just that really cool, damp weather, I am very pleased with the turnout. I’m really glad that Brantford came out to participate and enjoy the festivities. It was really a great opportunity for some community engagement.”
During the event, attendees treated themselves to a host of free activities throughout the afternoon.
Whether it was taking a ride on the Campbell Amusement’s carousel, stopping by Conestoga College’s hot chocolate station or huddling around the fire pits at the s’mores station, there were several ways to pass the time and enjoy some well-deserved time with loved ones.
Also on the schedule were two-dollar horse-drawn trolley rides. Many youngsters were left in awe at the sight of Clifford and Cassie, the two large Belgian horses who pulled the trolley throughout the streets of the downtown.
For those who were looking for a bit of a warmer atmosphere for their young ones, many of them also headed over to the One Market building for Wilfrid Laurier University’s 25th anniversary Purple and Gold Party.
Liz Brown, Laurier’s Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives, said she was happy the university could partner with the City for the festival.
“It’s just great to be able to throw an event like this because it really brings out people from the community, but it also brings out our faculty, staff, and our students all together in one place,” she said. “Especially because we’re celebrating 25 years of being here in Brantford this year, I think it really shows how strong the partnership is between the university and the City, so we’re thrilled that people were able to come out and celebrate this milestone with us.”
Within just a couple of hours of opening the doors to the space, well over 400 people came through to enjoy two bouncy castles, several lawn games, face painting, balloon animals and multiple colouring stations.
Later in the evening, after a majority of the events were beginning to wrap up, several hundred residents ended out the night with a ten-minute firework display back in Harmony Square.
Overall, Cavin said that herself and the events team were proud to offer local families an opportunity to indulge in something fun.
“We’re pretty proud to be able to offer experiences like this,” said Cavin. “An engaged community is a healthy community and it’s events like this one that brings people together and builds pride. Especially because it was free, and low-cost in the case with the trolley rides, it really gives families an opportunity to have a good experience and not break the bank.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
