HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-02-08, Page 3Festival will more than double population of Goderich
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He said they hired another
temporary staff member to
help with all the extra Nvork,
and they also have "one cou-
rageous volunteer': Many
more volunteers will help
out with the festival itself
when that time comes.
Swartz also said his wife,
Amanda, has helped all
along the way. She was the
one who came up with the
idea. The pair was visiting
the Huron County Museum
looking at the museum's
steam engine which resem-
bles the "Hogwarts Express':
While they stood and looked
at it, the idea came to
Amanda, and she suggested
Dads And Dragons start a
Harry Potter festival in
Goderich where they (and
Henry) live.
As for what to expect for
the festival itself, there are
lots of goodies in store.
First, there will be a quid -
ditch tournament put on by
Quidditch Canada compet-
ing for the "Goderich cup':
This will be university teams
We [...] want to give back to town of
Goderich that Amanda, Darryl and I are
all residents of and help bolster the
community in the shoulder season.
— Nathan Swartz, festival organizer
playing against each other,
and attendees can watch;
however there will also be a
time of "pick up quidditch"
for attendees to try their
hand at the game.
There will also be a vendor
component at GDCI with
Harry Potter themed goods
for sale.
Harry Potter themed
bands will be there including
the Lovegoods, Tonks and
the Aurors.
All kinds of stores in the
Square will be involved; last
year they had around 26 par-
ticipating in festival activi-
ties. Swartz said a few that
stood out last year were
CIBC, Cravings, Cait's Cafe
and the Culinary Poet.
CIBC had an interactive
"dungeon" in their base-
ment, Cravings and Cait's
Cafe sold butter beer and
other confectionaries, and
the Culinary Poet transfig-
ured their entire store front
babe a "magical store':
The festival will be partic-
ularly beneficial for local
businesses. Last year, many
businesses in the Square
sold out of certain items.
"Everyone underestimated
the number of attendees and
the effect that would have on
businesses," said Swartz.
This time around, Swartz
said that local businesses
will be much more
prepared.
He said last year, Goderich
Mayor Kevin Morrison said
that his restaurant was as full
at the festival in October as it
would be at an event on a
raid -August day. And this
year, over seven times as
many people will be visiting
town.
Swartz said that "Goderich
Tourism and BIA Manager
Susan Armstrong have been
super helpful. They've given
us great advice and have
helped us with planning and
the whole process."
For those who missed get-
ting tickets, there will be
more opportunities to attend
a I carry Potter themed event
in the future.
First, tickets for the 2018
festival will go on sale right
after the 2017 festival
finishes.
"We will definitely have
another festival in 2018, and
it will definitely be in Goder-
ich," said Swartz. "I don't
know if can get any bigger;
we'll see how this festival
goes. But it will certainly be
better. We just keep learning
Photos by Darryl Coote/Goderich Signal Star
A group of youth wonder downtown Goderich square with adults in tow.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 • Signal Star 3
From left, Keara Flood, Alice Wilson, Maya Wilson, Anik Watson
and Megan Furlong at the festival in Goderich last October. They
came to Goderich from Stratford dressed as their favorite Harry
Potter characters to experience what it'd be like to live in the
world of the famous books for a day.
from what we do right and
what we do wrong and will
keep smoothing it out:'
Also, Dads And Dragons
has partnered with the Harry
Potter Society of London,
Ontario to run a convention
with lots of Harry Potter
leanings on March 10-11,
2018 called "Dia -Con Alley':
As for the upcoming
Goderich festival, Swartz
said, "We just want to have
fun. We want people to enjoy
harry potter like we to enjoy
it and to have a great time.
We also want to give back to
town of Goderich that
Amanda, Darryl and I are all
residents of and help bolster
the community in the shoul-
der season."
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