The McDonald’s Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular starts this weekend and thousands of anglers are pouring into the area.
The 36th annual event goes from August 23rd to September 1st.
Derby Co-Chair Chris Geberdt says, “It’s not just a fishing derby, it’s a festival, it’s for people to have fun and come out and enjoy.”
The home base for the event, organized by the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association is the big tent at Georgian Shores Marina. The week of fishing, food and activities is made possible with the support of local communities, hundreds of volunteers and local businesses.
Highlights of the ten days of activities and programming in the big tent include live music, two giant fish frys (Aug 24 and 31), a meet and greet with NHL great Darryl Sittler, a fashion show, a ‘Fishing Friendzy’ fish pond on kids day, breakfast with Elvis (World Champion Roy Leblanc), performances by the Becketts, Jeff Catto, Lulu’s Band, Shania Twin and many other musicians as well as the awards night.
There are thousands of dollars in prizes including a number of boats and a riding lawnmower.
The angler who catches the top salmon will win an Angler V16 G3 boat and custom trailer, 70 Hp Yamaha motor, Lowrance graph, electric Scotty downrigger, replica fish mount, tackle box, fishing pole & and reel.
There are daily salmon and trout prizes as well as recreational draw prizes, and daily fish entry prizes.
There will also be a new wagon transport service this year provided by Fairmount Security which will transport people from the parking lot. “If you have a cane or a walker and you need some help, we’ll have somebody going over from 1 until 4 every day to the parking lot and bringing them back to the tent,” says Geberdt.
The derby starts Friday, August 23rd at 12:01 a.m.
