The seventh annual Brock’s Big Bite will span the streets of Cannington Saturday (Aug. 12) as residents and visitors enjoy the community festival.

Starting at 2 p.m. and running until 7 p.m., the event offers something for everyone, including activities, vendors, an art show and a children’s area. Musical guests include The Wanted, covering blues, rock, country and bluegrass, ‘rock meets folk’ band West Hammock, a three-piece band from Port Perry by the name of The Third Round, and Hannah Moore, a 15-year-old electric violinist.

Sherry Macdonald, one of the organizers, is excited to bring the Big Bite back for another year.
“We have had a wonderful team of people working on this event for months and we are ready to go, rain or shine! We have activities and entertainment planned for everyone and it will be a great day with the merchants, vendors, restaurants, and community working together to show off our best assets,” she says.

“The clown, balloon artist, bouncy castle, scavenger hunt, magic show, karaoke, photo booth, and petting farm are all lined up and ready to go amongst many many other things.”

At 3 p.m., Mayor John Grant will battle Member of Parliament Jamie Schmale and Member of Provincial Parliament Laurie Scott in a Grill-Off in the Nourish Community Hub’s parking lot.

Bakers in Brock also have a chance to let their competitive side shine as the Big Bite hosts an open invitation Butter Tart Bake-Off. The only requirement is that the butter tarts are made with maple syrup and they are prepared in advance and brought to the Holy Grounds Café.

Youngsters can face-off as well by means of the new Children’s Cookie Competition. Happening in front of Foodland, the event includes three categories: seven years and younger, 12 years and younger and 16 years and younger. There is no restriction on the type of cookie.

Cookies should be prepared ahead of time and dropped off at Foodland.

The ‘long lunch’, the event’s main attraction, runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with meals prepared by local chefs using the Nourish Community Hub’s Community Kitchen. The Ladies Auxiliary of Branch 186, who recently marked their 60th Anniversary, are also supporting this year’s event.

Attendees will be treated to seasoned boneless chicken breasts, mini roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, garden salad and pickles. According to the event’s website, there will also be options to accommodate those requiring gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan alternatives.

While the community celebration is open to all, tickets for the meal cost $15 for adults and $12 for children between the ages of six to 12.  Kids under the age of five are fed for free.

You can buy your meal tickets online, at Maxines in Beaverton,  The Thrift Hub in Cannington, and Home Hardware in Sunderland. 

After the dinner, those 19 and older are invited to participate in After Bites, an age-of-majority event at the Cannington Legion with musical entertainment by Therapy Seekers, a four-piece classic rock and country acoustic band.  Tickets for After Bites cost $10.

“The main Brock’s Big Bite event from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be amazing, but, personally I can’t wait until my duties end so I can kick off my shoes and enjoy the After Bites party and band at the Legion later that night, says Macdonald.

As Downtown Cannington (Cameron Street from St. John to Ann streets) will be shut down from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the festival,  everyone is asked to remove their vehicles from parking spots along the main street before noon. Once the closure is in place, only emergency vehicle movement will be permitted.

“Parking will be available in the three municipal parking lots and along the side streets themselves. Any private parking areas accessible from side streets will remain open like normal,” reads a notice on the Township website.

“All merchants will remain open as usual and downtown foot traffic is encouraged!”

For more information about the Aug. 12 event, visit brocksbigbite.ca.