By KATHRYN FRASER

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On August 14, Caledon residents came together to celebrate the 50th Midnight Madness event, hosted by the Downtown Bolton BIA in downtown Bolton around both Queen Street and King Street.

The event ran from 6 – 11 p.m. with a wide variety of food trucks, vendors, firetrucks, games, live performances and more. 

From the moment that members of the community arrived, the street was packed with several vendors selling a variety of different items – jewelry, dog treats, homemade baked goods, crochet items galore! Each booth had something different to offer and something for just about anyone. 

Many vendors were returning favourites at Midnight Madness, but one small business was participating for the very first time. 

Alena's Canadian Candle Company is a small business that was started back in 2021 after Alena Khan, the owner and creator of the company, started to create toxin-free, 100% soy wax candles for those that want to enjoy candles without getting headaches and migraines from the chemicals used in other wax types.

Khan's journey started after she began to get headaches from candles and started to research what was being put into them. She wanted to find a new way to make candles without the chemicals. 

Since then, Khan has been to several markets and shows and spent her first time at Midnight Madness. 

“It's a lot of fun and it's great to see people in the community come out and support businesses”, says Khan. “I can definitely see myself coming back and participating in future years to come”. 

The family/kids' zone was another popular area where there was a giant bouncy castle boom box for children to jump and play, as well as fire trucks and police cars in which attendees were given the opportunity to take a seat.

Many children running around and laughing could be seen and the atmosphere of the children's area was a loud but exciting one. 

There were also many food trucks selling a variety of delicious food. Pizza, Grilled cheese, tacos, Mac and Cheese, Corn, hot dogs, jerk chicken were just a few items that were available for attendees to purchase. 

In addition to the vendors, food, and activities there was also lots of entertainment for those that wanted to take a break and enjoy a performance. 

Headlining the event was Montreal Rhapsody Orchestra, a musical group who covered a wide variety of songs, including Shania Twain's “Man I Feel Like A Woman”, Usher's “Yeah,” OutKast's “Hey Ya”, and ending the show with Bon Jovi's “Livin on a Prayer.”

The performance was filled with lots of singing, dancing, clapping and cheering from the audience as many of the attendees gathered to sit, stand, jump around and dance throughout the night. 

This year's Midnight Madness also featured a new section located in the Royal Courtyards' parking lot where there were even more vendors, as well as a car show in partnership with Caledon Cruisers, who provided several cars for attendees to get a close look at. 

In honour of the 50th anniversary, the night ended with a wonderful drone show that captivated the attendees as they watched from the street. 

All this hard work would have not been done without the Downtown Bolton BIA and Sarah Leslie's dedication to another successful midnight madness.

Vilma Lamanna Tarquini, a Caledn resident, recognized Leslie for all of her hard work not just for Midnight Madness but also many other events that run throughout the year.

“If you spent any time in our community, you've probably crossed paths with Sarah Leslie, and you will know exactly why people appreciate her so much,” said Lamanna Tarquini. “Sarah is one of those volunteers who just shows up in all the ways that matter. No fuss, no spotlight, just always offering support with a big heart. She's the person people call when it comes to planning events for our community and for local organizations.

“When someone needs help, Sarah doesn't hesitate, she just gets all excited and gets the work done.  But the truth is much of Sarah's work goes unnoticed even though she deserves to be acknowledged. Her work in our community does matter, even when it isn't mentioned. She doesn't volunteer for praise, but she absolutely deserves it.

“Her impact is real hands-on and felt across the community every single day! Sarah plays a key role in Midnight Madness, Bolton's signature street festival, where she has served as both an event coordinator and a long-time volunteer. Beyond Midnight Madness, Sarah is also active with the Bolton Community Crew who helps run many community events such as CrossCurrents Cafe at the Humber River Centre which showcases artists and strengthens community connections. She's also one of the driving forces behind Bolton's Town-wide Trick-or-Treat, where families look forward to every year. Overall, Sarah Leslie is known for her dedication, commitment and compassion to bringing people together, making her a key contributor to our community.”

To find out more about events offered by the Downtown Bolton BIA, visit their website at downtownbolton.ca/events.