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ATTENTION VENDORS

Get festive with us at the Campbellford Legion’s Jingle & Mingle Christmas Market on December 5, 2026 — and we’re now looking for vendors!

We’re inviting crafters, makers, bakers, and small businesses to be part of this cheerful community event. The market will be held over two floors, giving shoppers lots to explore and helping create a fun, bustling holiday atmosphere.

Vendor tables are just $20 each, with all proceeds going to the Campbellford Toy Drive.

If you’d like to reserve a table or learn more, please call 705-653-2450.

Come help us make this a wonderful holiday event while supporting a great local cause!

27 September 2026

Parade forms up at 12:30pm (Campbellford Legion)

Parade steps up at 12:45pm (Campbellford Legion)

Drumhead Ceremony 1:00pm (Old Mill Park)

Presentations at Campbellford Legion

Followed by:

BBQ Pork (by Pitmaster Tim) with all the fixings

An afternoon of entertainment and good will

The History and Meaning of the Drumhead Ceremony

The Drumhead Ceremony is one of the oldest and most symbolic traditions associated with military service. Its origins are commonly traced to armies in the field, where troops often had no church, altar, or permanent place of worship available to them.

When a religious service was required, soldiers would gather their drums together, arranging them in a formation and covering them with regimental colours or flags. The drums then became a temporary altar from which a chaplain could conduct prayers, offer blessings, and lead the troops in worship.

This simple battlefield solution gradually developed into an important military tradition.

The drumhead itself came to symbolize far more than a makeshift altar. It represented the close connection between service, sacrifice, faith, comradeship, and remembrance. Soldiers gathered around the drums before battle, during times of mourning, and on important military occasions.

Over time, Drumhead Services became particularly associated with ceremonies of remembrance and dedication. They have been used to honour those who served, remember those who did not return, bless military colours and standards, and mark important anniversaries in the history of military units and veterans' organizations.

In Canada, the tradition has continued through the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans' organizations, and branches of The Royal Canadian Legion.

Why are drums used?

For centuries, drums were an essential part of military life. Long before radios and modern communications, drumbeats helped transmit orders, regulate marching, signal daily routines, and rally soldiers.

Because drums were almost always present with troops in the field, they were readily available when an altar was needed.

During a traditional Drumhead Service, several drums may be stacked or arranged together and covered with the appropriate colours or flags. The arrangement forms the symbolic altar around which the ceremony takes place.

The importance of the Colours

Military and Legion colours carry enormous symbolic importance.

Historically, a regiment's colours represented the identity, honour, and achievements of the unit. Soldiers rallied around them in battle, and protecting the colours was considered a sacred responsibility.

During ceremonial occasions, the colours remind those present of the generations who served beneath them and of the sacrifices made in defence of Canada and its values.

A ceremony of remembrance

Although Drumhead Ceremonies have religious origins, their modern meaning extends beyond worship.

They provide a solemn opportunity to reflect on:

Service — the men and women who answered the call to serve.

Sacrifice — those who gave their lives, health, or years of their lives in service to Canada.

Comradeship — the powerful bond shared by those who have served together.

Remembrance — our responsibility to ensure the stories and sacrifices of previous generations are never forgotten.

Continuity — the connection between today's community and those who came before us.

Campbellford Legion — 100 Years of Service

For the Campbellford Legion, a Centennial Drumhead Ceremony carries special significance.

From 1926 to 2026, generations of veterans, Legion members, volunteers, and community supporters have contributed to the life of the Branch and the Campbellford community.

A Drumhead Ceremony during the Branch's centennial year provides an opportunity to honour those first members who established the Legion a century ago, remember the veterans who have passed through its doors, recognize those who continue to serve today, and reaffirm the Legion's commitment to veterans and the community for generations to come.

It is both a remembrance of the past and a promise for the future.

For 100 years, the Campbellford Legion has helped keep remembrance alive.

The Drumhead Ceremony reminds us why.

We gather not only to remember those who came before us, but to ensure their service and sacrifice continue to have meaning for those who follow.

Lest We Forget.

 CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT – GAME ON! 

Think you’ve got what it takes to peg your way to victory?

Grab your partner and join us for an exciting day of cards, competition, and community at the Campbellford Legion!

 September 26

 $25 per team

Whether you’re a seasoned crib player or just love a good challenge, this tournament is the perfect way to test your skills and have some fun!

 Friendly competition

 Great atmosphere

 Bragging rights on the line

 Everyone welcome

 To Register:

David Nicholls – 705-768-2705

Sergio Porco – 705-868-3144

Don’t wait — spots will fill fast!

Come out, bring your A-game, and enjoy a fantastic day at your Legion!