Toronto Star
News/Canada
Wellington’s Bubble Festival leaves crowds feeling lighter than air
A bubble gum contest, bubble wrap dresses and other bursts of fun draw visitors to Prince Edward County event.
Carola Vyhnak for the Toronto Star
Arezou Bell finds herself in a sticky situation as her hopes of winning the bubble gum-blowing contest at Wellington's Bubble Festival go bust.
By: Carola Vyhnak Staff Reporter., Published on Sun Jul 20 2014
WELLINGTON, ONT.—It was an unbelievubble sight.
Tiny bubbles, enormous orbs and tubs of suds bathed this little town in good clean fun that put a soap-slicked smile on everyone’s face.
“Everybody loves bubbles,” said Teena Lemieux — self-proclaimed as Canada’s only bubbleologist — who came from Cambridge to launch transparent, undulating amoebas over the heads of delighted children. “They’re beautiful and fun at the same time.”
Bubbles of all types drew crowds at Wellington’s weekendBubble Festival, where races, games and fashions captivated visitors to this village of 1,700 in Prince Edward County.
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A gum-blowing contest landed Berndt Zeitler in bubble trouble when he stuffed a wad of the pink stuff in his mouth for the first time in 20 years.
“My jaws are aching,” the 44-year-old Ottawa man complained after furious chewing produced a balloon almost as big as his face.
“I flattened it in my mouth and made a disc first, then I pushed it out with my tongue,” he explained.
Hundreds of hopefuls had their bubble burst when an attempt to beat the world record for most people popping bubble wrap fell short of the necessary 943 poppers. But the arena erupted in snap, crackle and popping when they attacked the little air pockets anyway.
“It’s the most fun ever,” laughed Amelia Casson, 10, of Belleville. “It’s a way to get your anger out and it makes you happy.”
That was Whitby dad John Bell’s aim as he wrapped his 6-year-old daughter Alara in the stuff.
“It’s my first bubble dress,” said Bell. “Computer programmer by day, fashion designer by night.”
But the lighter-than-air creation, held on with purple tape, revealed a design flaw: “I’m curious to see how she’ll get it off,” said Bell. “There’s no zipper.”
No problem, said Alara. “I’ll just pop it off.”
When organizer Tina Konecny first floated the idea of a bubble festival, it raised a few eyebrows. But dozens of volunteers, many with bubbly personalities of their own, rose to the occasion.
“I saw it as a way of bringing the community together,” Konecny said, noting the event was probably a first for the country.
Dustin Schneider, who drove in from Stratford, was in a buoyant mood after his 350 bubble guns sold out in record time.
“Everyone finds a different joy in bubbles,” he said, laughing about a woman who bought a bubble gun so her husband could tease the dog.
For Lemieux, there’s something magical about airborne art. With a couple of sticks and a soapy rope, she can send shimmering spheres aloft or wrap them around spectators.
“I put one around a lady in a wheelchair and she said my big bubble made her year.”