Fly to Cookstown’s ‘big, magical’ Wing Ding this weekend

Birds of a feather go shopping together.

Join fellow bargain hunters at the 41st Cookstown Wing Ding on Saturday 1st June. This year’s event will bring together the traditional village-level yard sales and crafts that the event has become known for, with food trucks, children’s activities and live music set up at venues. throughout the main core.

More than 50 participating businesses and vendors will also be offering “irresistible” deals and the local fire department will be hosting a car start as the vehicles enter the village centre.

“It is a huge undertaking; it’s so much preparation,” said Jenn Halliday, who along with Diana Robinson is co-chairing the Cookstown and District Chamber of Commerce event for the first time. “There’s a lot of stuff on the high street, but we’ve tried to keep the big centers of activity in the lots (business parking lots).

Wing Ding has changed with the times since its debut in 1983. It once lasted over two days, with homes across the village hosting weekend yard sales and businesses and community groups setting up booths and fundraisers on the sidewalks outside storefronts. In recent years, however, the event has condensed, with the Cookstown branch of the Innisfil ideaLAB and Library acting as the main sales centre.

Robinson says the chamber is now trying to recalibrate Wing Ding, bringing a more seamless cohesion to the garage sale and vendor elements and moving the event back to its original purpose — drawing visitors from across Ontario to the village center and its merchants.

“We don’t know how many garage sales there will be,” she said. “Vendors will be scattered throughout downtown. Bring walking shoes. We focus more on garage sales and business. Cookstown is believed to be a ‘was’ town, that there is nothing left in Cookstown. But there’s a lot here. If we can demonstrate that and people know we’re alive and well, they’ll come back to those businesses.”

Halliday agrees.

“The intention was to bring more of a sense of community back to the event,” she said. “Our businesses work hard to be vibrant and grow themselves… and to create fabulous spaces. Cookstown was so vibrant 20 years ago. There were bus tours and it was the ancient city. That’s not the attraction anymore. It’s (had) a bit of a revitalization.”

Wing Ding runs from 9am to 5pm. Organizers recommend getting there early to find the best deals and ensure you have a street parking spot near the village center.

“It’s this big, magical collection of things,” Chamber President Heidi Visser said. “We have people who come from far away. You can find some special treasures. It’s just a good time. We want to highlight Cookstown – it’s a showcase event. There is such a good mix of old and new that it will satisfy almost everyone. It is important to continue. People are looking forward; everyone knows about Wing Ding.”

For more information, email (email protected). Maps and a complete list of participants can be found at cookstownchamber.ca/wingding.html.