Thornhill Village Festival

Thornhill Historical Society and the Thornhill Village Festival: A 42-Year Legacy

For 42 years from 1977 to 2018 SPOHT hosted the Thornhill Village Festival each year on the 3rd Saturday in September. Over the years, the Festival helped helped to foster community spirit, promote the heritage of old Thornhill, and provide a venue for the celebration of our community's diverse cultural traditions. 

For over four decades, the Thornhill Historical Society played a central role in the Thornhill Village Festival, a cherished annual tradition celebrating the vibrant heritage and community spirit of Thornhill. From its inception, the festival became a cornerstone event, bringing together residents, local businesses, and visitors to experience the unique charm of our historic village.

The Society worked tirelessly to preserve and promote Thornhill’s history through the festival, curating engaging exhibits, organizing historical walking tours, and showcasing artifacts that highlight the area’s rich cultural past. Each year, our volunteers collaborated with local artisans, performers, and community groups to create a lively marketplace, featuring crafts, food, and entertainment that reflected the diverse character of Thornhill.

The festival also served as an important fundraiser for the Society, enabling us to support preservation projects, host educational programs, and advocate for the conservation of historic landmarks. Over the years, it became a symbol of unity and pride, fostering a sense of belonging and connection across generations.

On March 15, 2019 the Thornhill Historical Society sent out a notice of cancellation.  

Cancellation of the Thornhill Village Festival

After 42 years of serving as the host organization to the Thornhill Village Festival (Thornhill Village Cultural Festival, 2018) the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill (SPOHT) has made the difficult decision to cancel future Thornhill Village Festival events.

The mission of the Thornhill Village Festival has been to foster community spirit, promote the heritage of old Thornhill, and provide a venue for the celebration of our community's diverse cultural traditions.

Unfortunately, carrying out this mission in the format of the Thornhill Village Festival has seen increasing operational pressures and reduced resources, all on the shoulders of an increasingly small volunteer organizing committee.

We realize that this news will be met with disappointment by many people in Thornhill and beyond who have come to enjoy this community event as part of their own traditions - as has been the case for the Festival’s long-time organizers.

While the Festival has come to an end, our mission to celebrate and promote the heritage and traditions of our community remains unchanged.

SPOHT is looking at options for a new, more manageable, event that allows for this mission to be the focus rather than become overshadowed by the other pressures of operations.

Ultimately it is people who make these events happen, and in the coming weeks and months we will be seeking new volunteers and new ideas. Please consider getting involved.

Pam Birrell,

President, Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill (SPOHT)