The 11th Maybe annual Coney Island Music Festival drew about 1,600 people of all ages to enjoy the day-long free entertainment program at Coney Island beach park, Sunday, July 28.
Reg Clayton/Miner and News

No and, ifs, or maybes about it, the Coney Island 11th Maybe Annual Music Festival came off without a hitch on Sunday, July 28.

The family friendly and free music festival featured bands and solo artists performing at two venues; the main stage and the dockside stage. In addition to the music, other attractions included food and merch vendors, games and a bouncy castle for kids, along with swimming at the nearby beach and family fun in the park.
The MS Kenora and Legacy Tours provided a shuttle service ferrying festival goers to and from Coney Island beach park.

Festival cofounder and organizer Ferg Devins estimates about 1,600 people attended this year’s event, moving back and forth between the beach and music venues throughout the day.

“We had an excellent balance between the main stage acts and the nine local youth bands and solo performers on the dockside stage,” Devins related in a backstage interview as closing act North Shore prepared to take to the stage.

Devins credits the efforts of the organizing committee, volunteers and sponsors for the success of this year’s music festival.

“We have grown to a 12 person committee up from four last year and we have 35 volunteers,” he said, adding the future of the festival is looking good. “The 12th annual (in 2020) festival is looking real good – maybe,” he quipped.

He also acknowledged the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Regional Foundation for its contribution of $4,000 through the Moffatt Family endowment fund, which provided “excellent” base funding towards the festival’s $10,000 operating budget.

“Absolutely fundamental to our success is Wawanesa and Standard Insurance coming on board as presenting sponsors,” Devins acknowledged.

The balance of funding to stage the free festival came through donations by local businesses as well as sponsors such as Canadian Tire with give away prizes and Brennan’s Jewellers, who donated a pair of diamond ear rings, which raised $300 at auction.

Even the weather cooperated, the thunderstorms that threatened to roll in from the west later in the afternoon held off until the end of the final set.

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