NORTH PERTH – With a glimmer of spring on the horizon in addition to some pandemic-related restrictions set to loosen, many locals are starting to ask the million-dollar question with March right around the corner.
Will there be a Paddyfest celebration this year?
As it stands right now – yes, there will be. The status of the annual festival celebrating all things Irish remained questionable even up until late January, but events are starting to take shape for March 5-19 in Listowel.
“The Kinsmen started planning this three weeks ago, trying to figure out essentially ‘the COVID lay of the land,’” explained Paddyfest co-chair Ben Zavitz, who is once again spearheading the organizing process along with fellow co-chair, Jeremy Reid. “The last thing we wanted to do was to book bands and book people just to have them cancel, or have a situation where people didn’t feel comfortable attending these things.”
With the Ontario government’s announcement this week that indoor capacity restrictions will be eased further starting Feb. 17 and that vaccine passports will no longer be required in the province as of March 1, it made Paddyfest planning a little more cut and dry for organizers. The majority of events over March will be localized around the Kin Station, which has a public space capacity of approximately 300 people.
“We’ve been directly contacting Public Health,” said Zavitz. “We told them what we are doing and we’ve got the green light for everything.
“That said, we’re going to avoid having everyone standing shoulder to shoulder.”
Paddyfest 2022 Events
As of Monday, the Kinsmen Club announced the following events, with times and applicable costs yet to be finalized:
March 5 – Pub Night Sampler – A two-part night; includes a sampling from a mystery distillery and brewery, then transitions to a pub night with ZAMM playing acoustic covers of classic rock songs. Location is Kin Station and age of majority required.
March 11 – Pub Night & Lottery Early Bird – Music from local act Jim ‘N Tonic with full pub. The second Pot O’ Gold Lottery early bird will also be drawn. Location is Kin Station and age of majority required.
March 12 – Paddyfest Comedy Show – Just for Laughs performer Casey Corbin will be headlining this event while bringing with him the funny stylings of Manolis Zantanos and Jason Allen. Location is Kin Station and age of majority required.
March 13 – Sunday Simulator Golf – Grab a foursome and hit the links, rain or shine. This best-ball, nine-hole competition is fun for all ages; the Kinsmen offer thanks to The Back 9 for the donation of their space and simulator machines. The location is The Back 9 in Listowel, and this event is open to all ages.
March 17 – Trivia & Taps St. Patrick’s Day – Grab your team up to six and test your trivia knowledge and the taps. Questions will be general knowledge. Location is Kin Station and age of majority required.
March 18 – Visit paddyfest.ca for updates on an exciting Friday night event in the works…
March 19 – Paddyfest Homecoming – This full-day, drop-in event located at the Kin Station is set up as a pub day with live music by The Weekend Never Ends. The grand prize draw for the Paddyfest Pot O’ Gold Lottery will be happening later in the day.
Zavitz added that other events would be released once details become finalized. The community is also welcome to include outside events during the same March time frame to be posted on the Kinsmen’s Paddyfest website, www.paddyfest.ca.
“Paddyfest brings the club together, it’s a common goal. It’s one thing to host a one-off, smaller event, but not being able to host Paddyfest, it didn’t feel like the normal Kinsmen group. We didn’t have that same camaraderie. I’d say our club lacked a bigger purpose,” said Zavitz of the event being cancelled halfway through in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, and then outright in 2021. “We’re seeing engagement pick up. There’s a lot of excitement. There are some Kinsmen that joined in the last two years that have never got to be a part of a Paddyfest. This is like ‘Paddyfest light, the diet version.’”
Pot O’ Gold Lottery update
As of Feb. 14, approximately 980 of the 1,000 Pot O’ Gold Lottery tickets were sold, nearly matching the sell-out speed of the 2021 sale that was the club’s fastest in Paddyfest history, despite the traditional festival not going ahead. The first early bird draw took place recently, with North Perth’s Jordan Linstead and Katie Snell picking up $500 prizes for Bakelaar Jewellers in Listowel.
“It’s at the point where it’s difficult to find tickets amongst our 25 or so sellers,” said Zavitz.
This year, Pot O’ Gold Lottery proceeds will be directed towards North Perth Community Hospice, United Way Perth-Huron, North Perth Trails, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Listowel and District, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and general community betterment.
Zavitz added the Kinsmen Club is also planning to return to a full traditional Paddyfest format in 2023. Tickets sold for the postponed Jade Eagleson main event in March 2020 are still redeemable once a headlining concert is able to proceed once again. Around 200 tickets are still active in the community, despite holders being able to obtain a refund at any time over the last two years.
“North Perth has exploded in growth in the last three to five years, and we’re excited to see some of the new-to-town people come out and be a part of the town and the community, for one of the community’s biggest get-togethers,” said Zavitz.
