The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1998 DESPITE THE CHANCE OF RAIN, thousands of Festival. "Fantastic, we had the best attendance ever," said organizer Janis Fread of Sun- day's seventh annual Leathertown Festival. Crowds were compressed into the Mill Street mall from the opening at 11 a.m. until vendors pulled up stakes as the first rain the festival has ever encountered hit just af- ter 3:30 p.m. "Tf it was going to rain, it was a good time," Fread said. The heavy shower lasted about 15 minutes and sent vendors scurrying for home but it also gave some relief from Sunday's intense heat and humidity. The rain did cut into the program at the main stage, the swing band was cut short and Acton Citi- zens' Band was not able to YES SIR THIS PIE IS GOOD: Keith Black enj United Church at the Leathertown Festival on S Photos by Angela and Ted Tyler Throngs enjoy Leathertown Festival play. "We had as many vendors as last year and we were pleased so many were inter- active," Fread said. "Thanks to Acton's banks and the Credit Union who donated dollars, we were able to have the fish tank and dunk tank." Festival sponsors donated to the entertainment and groups going up and down the street added to the day. "We geta little better each year," Fread said, paying tribute to the committee which organized the festival. "They're all workers, every single one of the nine, in- cluding Elly Tuitman, Beverly Duval, Jason Ash, Tom Cooper, Jamie Qua, Jake Kuiken, Brenda Watson and Helen Lomax. Families were involved too, helping with all the mundane tasks such as set- ting up and cleaning up. Terry Foster brought his trunk and four strapping men to assist in all the tasks. The reputation of the fes- tival is spreading well be- yond Acton's borders. "We've broadened our advertising and it helped bring out the huge turnout," Fread said. We try to make the festi- val "break-even" each year, any money made goes back into it, she said. The BIA funds it with a $4,500 budget, and it has been "a bit" profitable the last two years. This year's figures are not available yet. Fread noted that ', oys a pie break at the Trinity unday. THE NEW TANNER Kellogg's Karavan and T.G.LFriday's both asked to come this year, and the band from Ecuador in South America was another pleas- ant surprise. The band sold CDs of their music and at- tracted a lot of interest. At the main stage the Cheri Lindsay dancers were a real attraction with their upbeat style and lively mu- sic. The crowds caught the enthusiasm of the dancers including the Flamingo dancers from Georgetown. The festival committed wraps up the 1998 festival with a barbecue where they discuss this year's event and share comments and talk about plans for next year. "We continually try for perfection," Fread says. i. awe : FUTURE CHEFS OF ACTON: Scott Williams, Jesse Sparks and Braedon Attem try to create new Rice Krispie ' Sa ENTERTAINERS CAME FROM ECUADOR toat- tend this year's festivities. Members of Surco- Kabogana delighted the crowds with a different type of music. KINSMEN GRANDPRIX PARTICIPANT Richard Campbell, 3, of Acton. JAMIE MITCHELL, 7, tries her hand at the Kellogg's Karavan Karaoke. squares at the Kellogg's Karavan. songs. THE OAKVILLE ALL-STARS entertained th Pout, | es c e crowds with lots of favourite