Big turnout at McGregor Music Festival
- Ron Giofu
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The fight against cancer got a large shot in the arm thanks to the McGregor Music Festival again this year.
Eight bands, a pig auction, car show, raffles and more were among the highlights of the festival, not to mention nice weather, and all proceeds benefit the patient assistance fund with the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.
Sue LeClair, head of the volunteer organizing committee, said Sunday afternoon that everything was unfolding well.
“It’s going OK,” she said. “I’m sure we’re going to hit 1,000 people. The pig auction is the big highlight. It does look like another fantastic year. It’s going strong.”
LeClair said the the raffles were going well as well.
It was the 34th annual McGregor Music Festival, with the 33rd annual in 2024 raising $95,000. As is tradition, the final fundraising total from this year’s festival won’t be announced until July.
Sponsors and volunteers were thanked as were the bands and the public.
“Without (the bands), we wouldn’t have anything. The bands make this happen,” she said.
Bands included C2C Entertainment, Crowbar Hotel, Jammin’ for Wellness, Looking Back, Bad Moustache, Krazy Kenny and the Cruisers, Exit 31 and The All Nighters.
Organizers also credited the festival’s consistency from year-to-year, the community, and the volunteers ability to work together for the festival’s success.
“The weather has a lot to do with it,” said LeClair.
There were approximately 150 tickets sold for the rib dinner, she added.
LeClair said cancer touches everyone’s lives and families in some way. She added the McGregor Music Festival is the biggest fundraiser in Essex County for the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.
“It’s for the county people,” she said. “You have a lot of county people that come here.”
People come to the festival on an annual basis and LeClair said she sees a lot of the same faces year after year.
“I’m giving more hugs than you know,” said LeClair. “It’s like a reunion.”
The car show had over 35 vehicles with classic vehicles coming and going as the festival went on.
“That’s an added bonus,” LeClair said of the car show.
Bands remain similar on an annual basis, with LeClair saying they stick with the bands that support them annually.
“We have bands that want to be here. We ask the same bands that supported us in the past. If they can’t make it, that’s when we bring in a new band,” she stated.
Houida Kassem, executive director with the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, said she was happy to see the large crowd that turned out last Sunday.
“I think it’s amazing to see the people each and every year,” said Kassem.
Kassem said the cancer community has always had a lot of support. She noted LeClair’s mother passed away in early May, and they remarked that she would ensure there would be no rain.
“I think it’s one of our biggest days I’ve seen, to be honest with you,” she said. “It’s also a testament to the community and how they rally together.”
The festival brings people together all in support of cancer patients, Kassem added. The patient assistance fund assists cancer patients in various ways, as it covers some of their living and medical-related costs such as dental. She said if those with a cancer diagnosis need assistance, the funding is there for them.
Kassem thanked the community for supporting the festival, and thus the cancer community.
“You are helping people you may never, ever meet and you are making a big impact on them,” said Kassem.
Big turnout at McGregor Music Festival
By Ron Giofu