Ancaster Heritage Days cancelled for second year in a row because of COVID-19

For the second time in as many years the popular Ancaster Heritage Days festivities have been cancelled.

We had hoped and planned that by now we would be on our way to a comeback," said Chair Rev. Aaron Gerrard. Unfortunately, with the local effects of the pandemic at the worst as they have ever been, we are sadly making the decision to cancel Ancaster Heritage Days 2021."

Gerrard's announcement about the cancelling of this year's Heritage Days comes almost a year after the group was forced to cancel Heritage Days for the first time in 2020.

Heritage Days began in 1979 and until 2020 was annually held in Ancaster's downtown, starting in June. Ancaster business owner Bette Fraser and former Town of Ancaster mayor Ann Sloat developed the idea of holding an event to recognize the town's heritage.

The event over the years has attracted a loyal community following and the various activities have expanded from the Ancaster Old Mill Race to include a parade and soapbox derby along Wilson Street, live music, games, and a soccer tournament.

Gerard said the group had been organizing a Plan B" to hold the popular June event to accommodate any COVID-19 restrictions. The idea would be to hold a drive-thru Heritage Days, similar in concept to the group's successful Drive-thru with Santa event held last December at the Ancaster Fairgrounds.

This event means so much to our community," said Gerrard, saddened after being forced to cancel the event two years in a row.

He said the proposal would have been to allow about 500 vehicles for afternoon and evening stage shows. The afternoon portion would provide entertainment for kids, while the evening would showcase the songs of the 1960s and 1970s with a cover band, followed by fireworks.

The idea of having 500 vehicles idling with air conditioning blasting wasn't ideal," said Gerrard. And trying to enforce the restrictions seemed untenable. Little by little too many things were stacking up against us."

Gerrard said city officials informed the group the required permits would not have been provided for the event to proceed.

The province issued a stay-at-home order that is scheduled to be lifted on May 20. But medical personnel are urging the province to extend the lockdown restrictions until the middle of June.

We regrettably see no other option but to cancel," he said. "I know we gave it a great try and we put the planning in to make something work. But we didn't foresee the pandemic getting this out of control."

Gerrard said the Heritage Days committee is now preparing for its "A Village Christmas" event that is scheduled for Dec. 2.

I really hope we can put on a great event for A Village Christmas in December," he said.