Kingsville Migration Festival is just a few days away

The Jack Miner Migration Festival sign, located at the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary is shown. (photo by Joseph Bedard)

The annual Migration Festival is coming to Kingsville again this year from Oct. 17 to Oct. 20, with many activities to choose from. 

For the past 55 years, the municipality of Kingsville and the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary have hosted the Migration Festival to bring the community together, educate children and celebrate the legacy of the Canadian conservationist, Jack Miner. 

Shelby Gault, the special events coordinator at the town of Kingsville, said there is something else that the town will be hosting. 

“The Great Migration Paint Out is a big part of this festival now,” said Gault. “It’s an ‘en plein air’ competition, which means that they must paint a live scene outside, rain or shine.” 

Kingsville will also be hosting the Great Migration Parade on Oct. 18. The parade will feature many floats and people driving them. Gault said they have different plans this year to make the parade more inclusive. 

“Brand new this year is we are going to have a sensory-friendly time during our staging period,” said Gault. “The staging period is when you are lining up all the floats, so from 9:40 am to 9:55 am, we invite those who have sensory-friendly needs to come to Wigle Avenue to see the floats up close without their lights and sounds on.” 

The Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary will also be running several events and activities that are available to all ages on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20. 

Executive director of the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation, Matthew Olewski, said this year the events are supported by the St. Clair Alumni Association. “This year’s festival is sponsored by the St. Clair College Alumni Association and is part of a five-year funding agreement with the alumni association,” said Olewski. “We have had an influx of financial support for the event, and it’s allowed us to increase our event budget and allowed us to increase the activities and events that we have.”  

Olewski said that all the events are free, and he wants families to come and celebrate the fall season. “Here at the sanctuary, there’s lots going on,” Olewski said. “It’s all free. Come here and enjoy your family in a natural setting and celebrate the fall season and the history of Jack Miner with us.” 

To learn more about the Migration Festival, you can visit the Kingsville website here. Alternatively, you can go to kingsville.ca and type “Migration Festival” in the search bar. 

People with mobility challenges can get a free ride to any festival event courtesy of Patterson Medical Transportation.

Book a ride by email at [email protected] or by phone at 226-777-9105.