As this blistering summer moves towards its seasonal zenith, we regret to have to say that the zucchini and its festival have withered on the vine.
After over 20 years (more or less, on and off, dead and then revived again) the Millbrook Zucchini Festival is finally packing it in. It hasn’t been an easy decision, but we just couldn’t find the people to take over the task of organizing things. It happens.
The festival never had a budget, or at least not much of one (for a while we had $200, most of which went to the musicians) although the municipality has been very supportive, providing staff, chairs, tables, and electricity. This paper, The Millbrook Times, has also been a huge supporter, running all of the crazy bits of zucchini news we would send its way. And it would be remiss not to mention all the local market gardeners who have generously donated their over-size zucchinis to the slaughter. But over the run of the festival it has mostly been made possible through the help and creative inspiration of a whole lot of volunteers.
The location of the festival will be seeing a lot of changes over the next few years and perhaps, when that work is finished, some enterprising souls will feel inspired to revive the Festival. Or create something else, equally inspired, that will continue the creative tradition enacted on the sunny banks of Baxter Creek for the past twenty years (more or less).
But for now, thank you to all of the volunteers who have given their time over the years thank you to everyone who has supported it by their attendance! Most of all, thank you to all the kids who gave their elders so much pleasure watching their infectious enthusiasm as their carefully crafted zucchini boats were launched to a watery grave, year after year after year.
Sincerely, The Millbrook Zucchini Festival Test Bake Ovens Organizing Committee