Plantagenet is preparing for a full year of celebrations in 2027 to mark the community’s 150th anniversary, with organizers planning events that will celebrate the village’s history, people, businesses and community spirit.
The celebrations are expected to begin around New Year’s Eve, welcoming residents into the anniversary year with a community event, before continuing with activities throughout 2027. Organizers say the goal is to create opportunities for residents of all ages to take part and celebrate what makes Plantagenet unique.
The centrepiece will be a three-day festival from September 27 to 29, centred around the grounds of Saint-Paul Church and the surrounding area. The preliminary program includes live performances by local favourites Andrew Charlebois and the Rats d’Swompe, along with a comedy night, community dinners, a Scouts-organized run and walk, a historical trail project, a baseball tournament, a pancake breakfast hosted by volunteer firefighters and a special anniversary mass.
Organizers are expecting between 2,000 and 3,000 people to attend the September festival. The anniversary committee estimates the full year of celebrations will cost between $85,000 and $90,000, with fundraising efforts already being developed, including a community dinner, candlelight concert and local entrepreneurs’ market.
The committee is also looking for corporate and community sponsors, project partnerships and government and foundation grants to help cover the costs. It has asked the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet for a $15,000 contribution, along with in-kind support such as tables, barriers, municipal facilities and equipment, as well as staff assistance with traffic control and road closures.
Council has expressed strong support for the Plantagenet 150 celebrations and has agreed to include the $15,000 request in its 2027 budget discussions in December.
The anniversary will also be a chance to look back at Plantagenet’s history, which stretches back roughly 200 years to the early settlement of communities along the Ottawa River — well before the official establishment of the parish and village 150 years ago. Organizers say understanding where the community came from is an important part of looking toward its future.
The celebrations are already getting underway. Plantagenet en Action is holding a country dinner and concert featuring Andrew Charlebois and his band on October 24, 2026, with proceeds going toward the 150th anniversary celebrations.
With a full year of events, a major September festival and an emphasis on bringing generations of residents together, Plantagenet 150 is shaping up to be one of the community’s biggest celebrations in years.