“Country vibes guaranteed” was a slogan on the Pontiac Country Festival’s Facebook page, and the event, now in its third year, delivered on this promise over the weekend, flooding the Quyon fairgrounds with three days of country music, line dancing, equestrian competitions, a bingo evening, and a local artisanal market.
The festival was created by the Municipality of Pontiac to fill the hole left when Quyon’s Jamfest organising committee disassembled.
“We had the winning recipe,” said Nathalie Larose, director of recreation and community life at the Municipality of Pontiac, referring to the success of the Jamfest and the area’s desire for a similar festival. The Pontiac Country Festival now uses that same recipe, just with a different name.
Throughout the weekend, the stage was filled with local performers Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, days and evenings too.
Events kicked off with Thursday’s bingo tournament, while Saturday’s activities included a line dancing lesson led by Linda Laframboise and a horse pull, and Sunday saw for the second year, the Versatile Equestrian Challenge.
Fourteen teams competed in both light and heavyweight categories of the horse pull. Drivers ranged from seasoned veterans to newcomers like Kazabazua’s Gilbert Gabie, the youngest competitor.
Vincent Perrier and his team Trigger and Toney won the heavyweight class, pulling a load of 10,000 lbs, and Shawn Gabie and his team of Tom and Dan won the lightweight class, pulling a load of 8,000 lbs.
The event was organised by Perrier and Cheryl Bezoine of TNT Belgians in Bristol, with all competitors representing the Eastern Ontario Draft Horse Pulling Association (EODHPA). Bezoine noted that about 90 per cent of horses were of the Belgian breed, favoured for pulling.
“Some call it a hobby, but it’s more of a full-time job,” Bezoine said, noting how many teams will go to 20 to 30 competitions each season.
The weekend also featured the Versatility Equestrian Challenge on Sunday morning, organized by the Pontiac Equestrian Association. Riders faced 10 to 13 obstacles with just 30 seconds per task.
“There’s a bit of timing, a bit of skill, decision-making. It’s complex,” said Andrea Goffart, the association’s president.
Open to all riding styles, the competition included categories for youth, beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders. Prizes included custom lead ropes, osteopathic sessions, and equine-themed goodies. Ribbons were awarded to the top five riders, with a small trophy going to the best overall.
Sunday’s equestrian competition held a halftime “Granny Panty Challenge” that tasked brave volunteers with putting on oversized underwear, without using their hands.
The municipality had a goal of increasing attendance at this year’s festival. On Saturday afternoon, Larose said with confidence that that goal had been reached.
“If I can get 50 per cent more than last year, I’ll be happy; it will be a mission accomplished. And we did.”
