One of the most enjoyable parts of this year’s 50th Anniversary Dunnville Mudcat Festival happened before the first parade float rolled down the street or the first band took the stage.
Throughout downtown Dunnville, local businesses embraced the festival’s “Back to the ’70s” theme by transforming their storefronts into colourful displays filled with nostalgia, creativity, and community spirit. From flower power and disco-inspired décor to hand-painted artwork and retro memorabilia, businesses helped extend the festival experience beyond the event grounds and into the heart of the community.
Presented by the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce and the Dunnville BIA, the Window Display Contest encouraged businesses to celebrate the festival while creating an inviting atmosphere for residents and visitors exploring downtown.
After careful consideration, judges selected the following winners:
1st Place – The Fitness Den
Taking top honours in this year’s Window Display Contest was The Fitness Den, whose vibrant and detailed display fully embraced the “Back to the ’70s” theme. Featuring colourful flower-power décor, peace signs, retro records, dancing silhouettes, and a disco-inspired atmosphere, the display transformed the storefront into a celebration of one of the most iconic decades in pop culture. The judges were impressed by the creativity, attention to detail, and effective use of the entire storefront, making The Fitness Den a standout destination for festival-goers exploring downtown Dunnville.
2nd Place – Dunnville Chiropractic
Dunnville Chiropractic earned second place with a display that blended creativity, nostalgia, and community spirit. Their storefront featured handcrafted peace symbols, a locally designed and printed “Happy Mudcat” sign, and thoughtful details that embraced the festival’s “Back to the ’70s” theme.
The team’s enthusiasm extended beyond the windows themselves. Staff proudly wore custom-made festival shirts throughout the month, fully embracing the spirit of the 50th Anniversary celebration. One of the display pieces even took on a life of its own, becoming a popular photo opportunity for customers and visitors throughout the festival.
The judges appreciated not only the creativity of the display, but the way the entire team immersed themselves in the celebration, helping create a welcoming and festive atmosphere in downtown Dunnville.
3rd Place – Passmore’s Diner
One of the most unique entries in this year’s contest came from Passmore’s Diner, where a colourful hand-painted window display brought the spirit of the 1970s to life. The retro artwork featured bright colours, flower-power themes, and classic ’70s-inspired imagery that perfectly complemented the diner’s nostalgic charm. The judges were impressed by the creativity and personal touch that made the display both eye-catching and memorable.
Honourable Mentions
While not officially entered in the contest, two businesses deserve special recognition for joining in the fun and helping bring the “Back to the ’70s” theme to life.
Harmony Jewellery
Harmony Jewellery embraced the festival spirit with a themed display that added colour and character to the downtown experience, helping create a festive atmosphere for visitors and residents alike.
Rexall
Rexall also joined the celebration with a creative display that reflected the spirit of the festival and contributed to the vibrant feeling throughout the community.
More Than a Contest
The Window Display Contest reminded us that the Mudcat Festival is not confined to parks, stages, and event venues—it belongs to the entire community.
One of the most rewarding parts of this year’s contest was seeing local businesses embrace the festival theme and contribute to the excitement throughout downtown Dunnville. The creativity, enthusiasm, and community pride displayed by participants helped create a welcoming experience for residents and visitors while encouraging people to explore and support local businesses.
The Dunnville Chamber of Commerce and Dunnville BIA hope to continue building on the success of this year’s contest and make the Window Display Contest a regular part of future Mudcat Festivals. With the response received this year, organizers look forward to seeing even more businesses participate and showcase their creativity in the years ahead.
Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thank you to every business that helped bring the spirit of the 50th Anniversary Dunnville Mudcat Festival to life. (Check out photos of more Windows in the Gallery of the Queens St Concert Memory Gallery!) Together, you helped transform downtown Dunnville into a colourful extension of the festival and reminded us that community pride is one of the things that makes this celebration so special.
The Dunnville Mudcat Festival is made possible through the support of volunteers, sponsors, community organizations, local businesses, participants, and visitors who continue to keep this tradition alive. Thank you for helping us celebrate 50 years of community, memories, and Mudcat spirit.
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