MANITOULIN–There are so many Canada Day activities across the Island this year, the toughest decision you’ll make all weekend is where to celebrate.
South Baymouth
Starting at 8 am on Saturday, June 30 there is a giant yard sale in South Baymouth, located across from Carl’s Trading Post. The Little School House and Museum in this Chi-Cheemaun port town hosts a bake sale and silent auction. The parade is always a fun event so don’t forget to enter your float! Parade participants line up at 1 pm at John Budd Park. Saturday winds up with a fish fry at John Budd Park. Fireworks start after 10 pm on Sunday, July 1 and are especially spectacular as the Chi-Cheemaun departs at 10:10, becoming part of the show. There is no cost for fireworks but donations are collected in support of the event.
Tehkummah
The Manitoulin Community Church, located at 506 Smeltzer’s Road in Tehkummah (in behind the detour signs at Highways 6 and 542), hosts its second annual (free) lumberjack games and barbecue. Help celebrate Canada on Sunday from 1 to 4 pm. Test your skills at log sawing, axe throwing, nail driving and much more. Everyone is welcome to this all ages event. There will be a free hot dog barbecue with pop, water and chips available for purchase. For more information call 705-859-3384.
Just a few minutes up Highway 6, Gordon’s Park Eco Resort offers fun, guided experiences in a beautiful outdoor setting. Begin your long weekend by attending an astronomy night on June 29 or June 30, where you’ll get to know the vast and mysterious night sky. This orientation in astronomy will teach you about stars, planets, solar systems and the Northern Lights. Use a sky map to journey through the stars – without ever leaving the earth. Bring the constellations into clear focus by viewing through the park’s eight inch Dobsonian telescope.
Spend Canada Day creating groovy designs and getting creative with Canada Day colours and learn to tie dye. Bring a white cotton shirt or other cotton item and they’ll provide everything else you need.
Join Gordon’s Park guides for a Moonlight Hike and Wolf Howl on Sunday evening. Learn about the habitat and behaviours of these elusive four-legged creatures as you hike through the park’s trail system and then test out your own howling abilities to try for a response from the local pack. Settle around the warmth of a glowing campfire for a social howling contest and win a prize for the best howl.
There is a small fee for Gordon’s Park events. Contact them at 705-859-2470 for more information to register, or visit their website at www.gordonspark.com.
Manitowaning
Join the fun and head to the beach in Manitowaning for a Canada Day celebration, starting at 11 am. From 11 am to 1 pm, enjoy a complimentary barbecuewith the fire department. Kids activities run from 12 pm until 1:30 pm. Little ones can enjoy face painting and a waterslide. Compete in the cardboard boat races for two $100 cash prizes (or just watch the fun). Age categories for the cardboard boat races are subject to change, depending on registrations. Don’t miss the Titanic Award, which will be given to the team of the boat that sinks in the most spectacular fashion. Enjoy live music at the information booth on Highway 6 by local band Rural Roots. Be sure to go to the fairgrounds at dusk for a great display of fireworks. Visit www.assiginack.ca or call 705-859-3196 for more information.
Mindemoya
Mindemoya’s 41st annual Homecoming weekend kicks off Friday, June 29 with a men’s fastball tournament and beer garden behind the community centre. Fastball continues throughout the weekend as does the beer garden. Mindemoya Minor Hockey will have food available all weekend at the ball diamond concession booth. Visit the Mindemoya Market for local produce, baking and crafts at the J.H. Burt Memorial arena from 9 am until 1 pm. The Central Manitoulin Lions Club ‘A Day at the Movies’ themed parade starts at 11 am on Saturday, June 30, and runs through downtown Mindemoya, ending at the community centre. Decorate your float to win! For more information or to register your float, email lionsparade@outlook.com. Take the kids to the Lions Pavilion behind the arena for face painting, inflatable tents, games, candy cart, Science North games and exhibits. Kids events run from 11:30 am until 3:30 pm. Doors open for the elimination dinner, draw and dance at 5 pm. Enjoy cocktails at 5:30 followed by dinner from 6 until 8 pm and the elimination draw from 8 to 9 pm. Dance to live music by Double Barrel followed by DJ Blake Debassige starting at 9 pm. (Note: you must be age of majority to attend the dance.) Purchase tickets at Kellers garage and Wilson’s store or call Janice Abbott 705-348-1218, Matt Hallett 705-348-0560, Dale Scott 705-377-4818 or Tom McQuay at 705-377-5783.
Sunday features ‘The Mindemoya Classic’ run, canoe and bike triathlon at the government dock, Lake Mindemoya. Registration begins at 8 am. Contact Andre 705-377-6018 for more information.
What’s Canada Day without some good ol’ horseshoes? Watch or play. The horseshoe tournament takes place behind the pavilion, starting at 1 pm. Contact Larry Watson at 705-859-3396.
Close out the weekend with fireworks at the Mindemoya Community Centre ball field at 10 pm Sunday night. There will be a silver collection at this event.
For the yard sale enthusiasts, Our Lady of Canada church at 6289 Highway 542 in Mindemoya is hosting a huge yard and bake sale with a breakfast and lunch barbecue from 9 until 1 on Saturday, June 30, rain or shine. There will be all sorts of household, garden and sporting items for sale along with plenty of homemade baking.
Providence Bay
The Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club hosts its annual yard sale fundraiser all weekend long, across from The Mutchmor in Providence Bay.
Have a fun filled Canada Day with the whole family at the Harbour View Centre in Providence Bay, with children’s games and activities from 2 to 4 pm. Relax with some cake and refreshments from 6:30 until 8 pm. Enjoy some special tales with a storyteller from the Great Spirit Circle Trail from 7 to 8 pm followed by some live entertainment until fireworks at 10 pm.
Silver Water
Join in the annual picnic and Canada Day celebrations at the Silver Water Community Hall on Saturday starting at 11 am with food, ice cream and beverages. The parade starts at 12 pm. All entries are welcome. Afternoon activities include a fish pond, races for the children and a bake sale. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy some old-fashioned fun with friends, family and visitors. This event is sponsored by St. Andrews UCW.
Burpee Mills
There will be a potluck dinner and dance at the Burpee and Mills Complex on Saturday, June 30 beginning at 5 pm. The complex is located at 455 Bailey Line Road in Evansville.
Gore Bay
Decorate your bike and join the parade to kick off the Canada Day party in Gore Bay. The parade starts at C.C. McLean Public School at 12 pm on Sunday, July 1. Kids can have fun on the slip and slide behind the Bank of Montreal from 1 until 3 pm.
Visit the beer garden for games and live music featuring Deadline, Double Barrel and Damien T Blues and the Uppers from 2 pm until 1 am at 26 Phipps Street, brought to you by the Western Manitoulin Legion.
When you get hungry, head around to the family barbecue at the Inn on the Bay and The Live Edge after 5 pm.
Fireworks will start at dusk, thanks to the Gore Bay and Gordon-Barrie Island fire department.
Kagawong
Celebrate the official Billings Connections Trail launch on Sunday from 1 until 2 pm at the Kagwong pavilion (Park Centre if it’s raining). There will be cake, refreshments and live music by the Kagawong Folk Roots Collective. The Connections trail tells the history of Kagawong through a series of 35 historical plaques and nine sculptures located throughout the township. Visit www.billingstwp.ca/connections for more information or visit the kiosk at the Old Mill Heritage Centre museum in Kagawong.
Little Current
Satisfy your sweet tooth at the Little Current United Church pie sale on Saturday. A variety of homemade pies will be available for $12 each. Doors open at 10 am and close when all pies are sold.
A fundraising 8-ball tournament starts at 1 pm on Saturday at the Little Current Legion. Registration is from 12 until 12:45 pm. The entry fee is $15 and rules are based on Legion and VNEA regulations. Contact coordinator Norris Valiquette for more information at 705-368-1717.
Dance the night away Saturday night at the Little Current Legion to music by Bill the DJ. $10 to get in, must be age of majority. The dance runs from 9 until 1 pm. A light lunch will be available.
Downtown Little Current becomes a pedestrian mall on Sunday and features a vendors market with over 30 crafters, artisans, bakers and growers setting up shop for the day. The market starts at 11 am. There will also be a special edition Canada Day farmers’ market beside the Bank of Montreal starting at 10 am. Downtown shops will be open for the day as well.
Don’t miss the debut of Little Currents’ Town Crier. Listen for the cry! Hear the bell as he makes his downtown debut.
Kids events begin at 10 am with a bike decorating contest (supplies included, just bring your bike!). Show off your creativity in the bike parade and contest that starts at 1 pm. There is a family downtown scavenger hunt from 10 am until 12 pm. Visit the face painting and tattoo booth from 11 am until 2 pm or try your hand at sidewalk chalk painting from 1 pm until 3 pm. Make a mini sailboat at ‘Our Boats Float’ from 1 to 2:30 pm or test your throwing skills at the feed the beaver beanbag toss from 1 to 3 pm.
Look for the Manitou Magic Corner to witness feats of magic! It starts at 11:30 am right downtown.
Show your Canada pride and dress to impress in red and white. Prizes for best dressed man, woman, boy and girl will be handed out at noon. The Little Current BIA’s traditional Canada Day cake will be served in front of the post office starting at 12 pm after everyone sings O Canada.
The Little Current Legion will host a fundraiser Canada Day barbecue downtown where they’ll be serving up hamburgs, cheeseburgs, hot dogs, pop and bottled water.
Dress up your pooch for the Paws for a Cause dog show, taking place in the Expositor Square from 1 until 2 pm. Donations of cans of cat food or monetary donations will be greatly appreciated and will be shared among Manitoulin’s pet rescue organizations.
Book lovers won’t want to miss the launch of Manitoulin author Jennifer Farquhar’s debut novel, ‘Watermark.’ The launch takes place at 1:30 pm outside of The Expositor’s office downtown and features a public interview by Manitoulin personality Bonnie Kogos. A celebratory reception follows at the adjacent Expositor Courtyard. ‘Watermark’ will be available for sale at Print Shop Books at The Expositor office.
Listen to live music at the Cenotaph Park with a concert by Island artists The Kamikaze Crows from 12 until 3 pm, then enjoy more live music with the laid back sounds of Barry Hamilton, Esquire from 3 until 6 pm.
Head on over to Manitoulin Centennial Manor on Robinson Street for their annual yard and bake sale from 8 am until 1 pm with a barbecue from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm. Music during lunch will be provided by The Islanders, from 12 until 1 pm.
Island Wide
For those Islanders and visitors who love yard sales, Canada Day is the day to check out Little Current with its town-wide yard sale. A yard sale locator map is available at the Manitoulin District Welcome Centre by the swing bridge or at downtown businesses.
North Channel Cruise Line is offering free cruises from 11 am until 12 pm and from 1 pm to 1 pm. Boarding of Le Grand Heron is behind the Cenotaph. There is also a free sunset pub night cruise with DJ for those 19 years plus. The sunset cruise runs from 7:30 until 10 pm.
The 41st annual La Cloche Art Show and Sale features some works by Manitoulin artists and runs June 30 through July 8. The show is located at Whitefish Falls Community Centre and is open daily from 11 am until 5 pm. Everyone is welcome. .laclocheartshow.wordpress.com for more information.
