Huge crowd converges on Victoria Park for 34th annual Massed Band event in Kincardine

A huge crowd gathered in Victoria Park, Kincardine, for the 34th annual Massed Band event, Saturday afternoon.

It was warm, with a cool breeze, and there was a threat of rain, but it held off so people could enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music in the park.

“It was the most successful event yet,” said John McManus, president of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band which hosts the event as a thank-you to the community for its ongoing, unwavering support.

“The band is very appreciative of the community support, and we were pleased to see such a huge turn-out this year.”

The entertainment began with the Kincardine Community Concert Band, followed by the impressive Toronto All-Star Big Band which has been in attendance for more than 30 years.



Members of the Toronto All-Star Big Band dance to the music, Saturday afternoon, in Victoria Park, Kincardine

Also performing, were the Teeswater Highlanders Pipe Band, Clinton Legion Pipe Band, Ingersoll Pipe Band, Sarnia Legion Pipe Band, and the Eliza Jane Ceilidh Band. Later, the City of Brantford Pipes and Drums joined in the massed band parade.

Norm Gauthier did a great job as MC for the show.

McManus said the hungry crowd went through 3,200 hot dogs, 2,600 cobs of corn, 17 pounds of butter and 55 pounds of onions.

He gave a shout-out to all the sponsors of the event, and the many, many volunteers, for their ongoing support of this appreciation event. Special mention goes to Rob Parker of Bruce Beach who cooks the corn.

Following the afternoon of entertainment, the visiting bands formed up along Durham Market North, beside Victoria Park, to join the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band in the traditional Saturday Night Parade through downtown Kincardine. There were about 170 pipers and drummers taking part in the massed band parade.



The Massed Band Parade marches through downtown Kincardine despite the pouring rain, Saturday night

Unfortunately, the rain that had been threatening all day, finally poured down just as the parade was lining up. And for the first time ever, the Saturday Night Parade headed out before 8 p.m. (about 10 minutes early), marching through the heavy rain to Quinn Plaza and then back to the park for a brief concert.

A reminder that the final Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band Saturday Night Parade is Saturday, Aug. 30, at 8 p.m.



The Ingersoll Pipe Band performs at the Massed Band event in Kincardine; video by David Dadson



The Sarnia Legion Pipe Band and OPP Commissioner’s Own Pipes and Drums perform at the Massed Band event in Kincardine; video by David Dadson



The Toronto All-Star Big Band performs in Victoria Park, Kincardine



A huge crowd turns out to hear the music of the All-Star Big Band in Kincardine