The First Annual Goderich Salt and Harvest Festival Wins Best New Event in Province, New Partnership with West Coast Blues Festival and 2024 Dates Announced

[Goderich, Ontario] At this years Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) Annual Conference Awards Gala, on February 28, 2024, the 2023 Goderich Salt and Harvest Festival was awarded Best New Event. The FEO Awards Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) celebrates Ontario’s diverse festivals and events, promotes cultural exchange, community engagement and showcase various elements of festivals or events that stood out in the previous festival year.  The Goderich Children’s Festival was the recipient of the Top 100 Festival or Event for 2024 in the Province of Ontario. Mayor Bazinet attended this year’s Awards Gala along with Jenna Ujiye, Tourism and Community Development Manager and Lisa Hood, Tourism Events and Marketing Coordinator.

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Since Goderich is home to, Compass Minerals’ Goderich Salt Mine, the largest underground salt mine in the world, the Salt and Harvest Festival has been a priority for Goderich Town Council and staff. The inaugural event ran September 15-17, 2023, in partnership with Royal Lepage Heartland Realty. Festival events included a salted market, salt activities, above ground salt experience, Goderich Salt Mine virtual reality, Salty Basin Beer Garden, Salt Walk, Taste of Huron salted menus, Hop On – Hop Off bus tours, food trucks, Farmers’ Market, Flea Market, car show, petting zoo, wagon rides, family photo booth, inflatables, and two evening concerts. In November 2023, this event was also awarded the Community Impact Award at the Huron Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Success Awards.

 

The 2024 Event is adding a new partnership and events! “We are excited to announce that the Goderich Salt and Harvest Festival will be partnering with the West Coast Blues Festival, and running this years events from August 30 – September 1, 2024!  The West Coast Blues Festival has been a successful festival in Goderich for 18 years and has generously offered to share the weekend and build the opportunities to expand the whole festival in 2024”, says Jenna Ujiye, Tourism and Community Development Manager. 

 

“We (West Coast Blues) have seen many changes over the years and see the partnership with the Town of Goderich and Royal LePage as a great way to move our festival into the future.  Partnerships create an opportunity for pooling resources, expertise, time, and networks which is integral to the sustainability and continuation of all festivals and events, and we are bringing back the Downtown Shuffle!” says John Harrison of West Coast Blues.

 

The Goderich Salt and Harvest Festival is generously sponsored by Compass Minerals who owns and operates the Goderich Salt Mine and Evaporator Plant. Their participation in the event has been a great collaboration and will continue in 2024. Make sure to save the date for the 2024 event - August 30 – September 1, 2024.