Get ready for Hi Neighbour fest

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This article was published 25/05/2015 (4013 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of Winnipeg’s largest annual outdoor events is back for its 51st year.

The Hi Neighbour Festival takes place in the “heart of Transcona” from Fri., June 5 through Sun., June 7, despite some perceived uncertainty in the community about the future of the fest. While a number of longtime sponsors are not on board this year, festival organizers are moving forward and excited about this year’s event.

“You hear rumours, but that’s all it is,” Stan Lopata, who has organized the parade and vendors with his brother Vince for the past six years, told The Herald.

While longtime sponsors including Transcona BIZ and the City of Winnipeg are not involved this year, major sponsors of the 2015 Hi Neighbour Festival include Assiniboine Credit Union, TD Bank Group, Dufresne Furniture, and more.

“As far as the festival goes, we’re full steam ahead,” Kim Delorme, vice-chair and principal fundraiser of the festival, said.

Founded in 1964 and originally held in August, the Hi Neighbour Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary last June. The annual event attracts about 50,000 people to downtown Transcona over the weekend.

Delorme, a lifelong resident of the Park City, has been a Hi Neighbour volunteer since she was nine years old. Her enthusiasm when describing the vendors, rides, games and food trucks who are committed to this year’s Hi Neighbour Festival is infectious.

“We have some awesome local bands, too,” added Leslie Wishlow, another lifelong Transconan who joined the Hi Neighbour board of directors this year as secretary.

The midway and vendors open on Fri., June 5 at 5 p.m., with opening ceremonies slated for 6 p.m. at Centennial Square.

“Friday night is our Howdy Neighbour night,” Wishlow said. Free musical entertainment at Centennial Square will be provided by local country acts like Cold Hard Cash and Scarlet Union.

“We’d like to see some people come out and do some line dancing,” Delorme said.

Saturday morning starts with a pancake breakfast on the corner of Regent Avenue and Day Street between 8 and 10 a.m. The annual parade starts at 11 a.m. sharp, with dozens of floats making their way down Regent. Following the parade, the midway and other attractions open at 1:30 p.m.

Saturday’s musical entertainment will lean more towards rock n’ roll than country, featuring local bands running all afternoon through to midnight.

“Back in the good old days, they used to have block parties where they used to shut down the streets,” Lopata recalled fondly. “This is not so different in a lot of ways.”

This year’s event features Old Time Wrestling from River City Wrestling throughout Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

But it wouldn’t be the Hi Neighbour Festival without fireworks. As always, there will be fireworks on Saturday night at dusk. Sponsored by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, this year’s fireworks display will be held at Harbourview Park and Recreational Complex (1867 Springfield Rd.).

“We’ll be providing free shuttle service for anyone wishing to attend,” Delorme added. Shuttle picks up begin at 8:30 and run to 9:50 p.m. The shuttle will run one return trip to pick up locations, leaving Harbourview at 11:15 p.m.

Sunday’s festivities begin again at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. Midway and vendors open at noon, running until 7 p.m. Musical entertainment also runs throughout the afternoon.

“Our aim is one and one only,” Lopata said. “That the people and the families who are coming to the event should be coming to an environment they can enjoy.”

As to what those people and families can expect this year, Lopata added, “I’d have to suggest that things are as normal, if not better than, last year.”

The Hi Neighbour Festival runs June 5 to 7. Visit www.transconahineighbourfestival.com for more information, and a full schedule of events.

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