Slow Down and Listen to the Rhubarb Grow

For over 20 years, visitors have been coming from far and wide each June to pay tribute to the plant that put Shedden, ON on the map - Rhubarb. This leafy vegetable with red celery-like stalks is one of the earliest local produce items to make an appearance in Elgin County gardens and farmers’ markets each spring. Rhubarb stalks are tart in taste and are usually cooked with sugar and used in in pies and other delicious desserts. 

The Shedden Rosy Rhubarb Festival that takes place each year on the second weekend in June is part street festival, part carnival and part country fair. The kick-off event each year is a fierce competition between locals to bake the best pies, cakes and tarts - all using Rhubarb of course. These delicious confections are judged and the winners are auctioned off to the public. The locals are crazy about Rhubarb, competing not only in baking contests but also to see who can pull the longest stalk from lush patches of Rhubarb that fill the gardens of Shedden, making the village the Rhubarb Capital of Ontario. 

The idea for a festival was originally conceived by a small group of Shedden locals who wanted to do something to promote their community while raising money for a new community complex. At the time the Shedden Country Club was nearly 50 years old and the community needed something larger and more modern. As a result of the success of the Rosy Rhubarb Festival and other community groups, the Shedden Keystone Complex is now a reality and the Rosy Rhubarb Committee have turned their fundraising efforts towards a new library for Shedden. 

Now in its 23rd year, The Shedden Rosy Rhubarb Festival has grown to a three-day extravaganza of family fun! Events include old favourites like baking contests, yard sales, petting zoos, pony rides and local musical entertainment as well as new and exciting additions like helicopter and monster truck rides, air bouncers and a breakfast sponsored by Denny’s. 

This year’s event starts on June 12 and runs until June 14 at various locations in and around Shedden. For a full schedule of events visit:

http://www.rosyrhubarbfestival.com/schedule.html