18/07/2026
As another Canadian National Pit Spit Championship comes to a close, marking our 15th year of running the pit spit, our hearts are full.
This championship has always been more than just seeing who can spit a cherry pit the farthest. It’s about community. It’s about neighbours coming together, making memories, and celebrating what makes small town life so amazing.
I want to give a special thank you to my amazing wife, Catriona, who spends countless hours keeping everything organized, handling participant registration, getting everyone wrangled, and “scorekeeping”(?). My mom was out there faithfully sweeping up cherry pits all day, and as always, the amazing Pete Laurie and South Kent Councillor Anthony Ceccacci were incredible supporters who jumped in wherever they were needed. We truly couldn’t do it without all of you.
I’m also incredibly grateful to every volunteer who helps make Blenheim Cherry Fest happen. These festivals don’t just magically come together. They take hundreds of volunteer hours, countless behind-the-scenes tasks, and people who are willing to give up their time simply because they love their community.
Sadly, we’re seeing more and more small-town traditions disappear because it’s becoming harder to find the time, volunteers, and resources to keep them going. That’s why weekends like this mean so much. They remind us that when a community comes together, awesome things can still happen.
Thank you for supporting local traditions, for making memories with your families, and for reminding us why events like this are worth every ounce of effort.
So, on behalf of Catriona, myself, and our entire family, thank you to everyone who came out, cheered, laughed, competed, volunteered, and helped make this year’s event so special.
We’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year. ❤️🍒
