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20250809_171518_web — The Klobucar family show of their winning fish

Lucky 13 for the Painted Perch Festival

August 12, 2025

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By Ewa Chwojko-Srawley

Turns out 13 really is a lucky number—this year’s 13th annual Painted Perch Festival was one of the best yet!

“We sold a record number of fish,” says Steve Jacobson, chair of the Jackson’s Point BIA. “89 adults and 68 kids. Numbers are growing, and the art just keeps getting better every year.”

Some of the youngest artists have grown up with the festival—literally. Jacobson adds, “We’ve got people who started in the ‘Under 6’ category now entering as adults. Some families have been submitting entries since day one.”

A huge shout-out went to Sutton District High School students, who cut all the wooden fish, making them perch-perfect.

This year there was a generous splash of Canadiana—flags and maple leaves in abundance—and a focus on all things local.

Mayor Margaret Quirk, with 3rd place in the “Best Council” category, was proud to show off her homegrown touch: “The straw flowers on my perch came from my garden—seedlings from Cloverhill Flowers. Keeping it local!”

For the second year in a row, Mary Bye snagged first place in the 3D category with a piece that captured her “happy place”—sitting on a dock watching the sunset over Lake Simcoe. “It took a while to create this fish,” she says. “The little anchor came from a lady at hospice—it was her lucky charm. Now it’s mine. Clearly, it works!”

Councillor Lee Dale donated his winning fish to Sutton Legion

The festival includes music, activities for kids, and lots of vendors. There was also Elise, an 11-year-old entrepreneur whose business is called Splatter & Paint. Armed with her brushes and paints she transforms kids faces into works of art.

Then there were the newcomers, like Chisa of Chisa Craft, originally from Japan, who moved to Georgina this April. She sold handmade orange-spice crafts and baskets woven from grapevines in her backyard.

“It’s my first vendor event ever, and I love it!” she beamed. “The atmosphere here is amazing. I’m so glad I found out about it on Facebook.”

Some families are practically festival royalty. The Klobucars, dad and three kids, took home a haul of awards. “Guess we’ll have to outdo ourselves next year!” they laughed.

With art, music, vendors, and plenty of fishy fun, the Painted Perch Festival once again proved why it’s one of Georgina’s favourite summer traditions.

Winners:

Kids 6 and Under:

1st HAVEN NADON, 2nd PENNY KIYKO 3rd SUNNA

Kids 7 to11

1st KONSTANTIN KLOBUCAR .2nd OLIVIA CARPENTIER, 3rd MILANA HABA

Kids 12 to 16

1st MEGHAN HUDEMA, 2nd ROK KLOBUCAR, 3rd ALEKSANDRA KLOBUCAR

Adult Painted

1st ANNELISE BORK, 2nd TVRTKO KLOBCAR, 3rd ERIKA TIMLECK

Adult 3D

1st MARY BYE, 2nd KATIE DAVISON, 3rd LUCIA PERINI

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