LITTLE CURRENT—The summer has reached its half-way point with the Little Current Lions Club’s Haweater Weekend marking this occasion with five days of great events that are sure to please everyone.
Haweater officially kicks off tonight, Wednesday, August 1, when the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Golden Helmets Precision Motorcycle Team roars into town. The show takes place at 6 pm along Little Current’s downtown core. A note to drivers visiting the town that day that the street will be closed from noon to accommodate the show and vehicles must be of the front street as of noon.
On Thursday, August 2, the Carver Kings, made famous by the HGTV television show of the same name, will be set up at the Northeast Town Fire Department fire hall at the corner of Meredith and Worthington Streets. They will be carving up unique pieces using chainsaws from then until the following Tuesday. Be sure to check out their amazing work.
Things really heat up on Friday, August 3. The downtown will be closed to vehicular traffic all day and unique vendors will set up, showcasing their wares to create a pedestrian mall.
Starting at 10 am on Friday, Ski-Mazing Water Sports will be stationed at the Low Island docks and offering parasailing or jetovating for spectacular views of the North Channel. For a single parasailing flight, it’s $100, a double flight is $160 (or $80 each), a triple flight is $210 (or $70 each) and a quad flight is $240 (or $60 each). For those just wanting to go along for the boat ride it’s $30. The vessel can accommodate a total of eight passengers, fliers and observers combined. But since the trips tend to be very popular, it is strongly recommended you reserve your spot. For reservations or more information call 705-457-8359. Ski-Mazing can be found at Low Island all weekend long.
Science North will also be at Haweater Weekend from Friday through Sunday beginning Friday at 11 am until 5 pm. Their ‘Feel the Rush’ exhibit is all about extreme sports: Understand the physics behind a 360° flip, how adrenaline rushes work, learn about sports injuries all while playing with a big marble run/chain reaction game, a giant Connect 4 or try on the concussion goggles and compete at challenges. Science North can be found downtown through the weekend.
Starting Friday afternoon, Low Island Park will be transformed into a bouncy castle wonderland for the weekend.
The Craz-E-Crew Stunt team is back for another Haweater Weekend at the rec centre. Prepare to be amazed by this high-intensity stunt crew featuring BMX bikes and skateboards. Their shows are Friday at 1 pm, 3 pm and 8 pm and Saturday at 11 am, 1 pm and again at 3 pm. Admission is $10.
There’s plenty of good music on offer downtown beginning Friday at 3 pm when Second Avenue II come to town.
The Rainbow Cruisers Classic Car Cruise-In gets underway Friday evening at 5 pm. If you missed them Friday evening, come back Saturday and view the cars on display from 10 am to 4 pm on Water Street east of the Farmers’ Market area on down.
The 25th annual Haweater Weekend Slo-Pitch tournament gets underway Friday night at 6 pm. Head to the ball fields for good ball, cold refreshments and barbecued treats at the Lions pavilion, all weekend long.
The Lions encourage everyone to help them mark the 51st annual Haweater Weekend by attending the opening ceremonies in downtown Little Current at 7 pm, then stick around for the music of PoP Mach!ne, a teenage group with an old soul, cranking out the classic rock hits.
On Saturday, August 3, the Haw Run gets underway at 8 am from the NEMI Public Library. Call Nelson Wood for more information at 705-368-0375.
New this year, but not necessarily to the Haweater lineup, is a soap box derby which gets started at 9 am on Saturday. The soap boxes will be provided; kids just need to show up and drive for a chance at great prizes! Meet at the Gateway to Life church parking lot on Vankoughnet Street, beside Elliott’s Restaurant.
If running’s not your thing, but you still want to get active, try out ‘pound fitness’ with Haweater Mary Mitchell. Meet at Low Island Park. Admission is a donation of a non-perishable food item to the food bank. Also at 9 am, yoga on the dock gets going on the east end of the dock near the birdcage lighthouse. For even more fitness fun, head to Zumba with Casey Boisvert at the rec centre at 11 am. There will also be kids’ Zumba at 11 am downtown with Colleen Rohn.
The Farmers’ Market will be open for business on Saturday morning from 9 am to noon. Stock up on homemade goodies and fresh veggies for your Haweater feasts.
What’s a Brew-Haw-Haw without a craft brew festival? From 11 am until 9 pm, come down to Expositor Square for a sampling (or a full serving!) of Manitoulin’s two craft breweries, Manitoulin Brewing Co. and Split Rail Brewing Co., with all their offerings.
The Craz-E-Crew Stunt Team gets underway once again on Saturday at 11 am, then again at 1 pm and their final show is at 3 pm.
At 11:30 pm, the annual NBS Auto Hot Wheels Racing track will be ready to go. Bring your favourite Hot Wheels car to race near the former NAPA parking lot downtown. There are great prizes to be won!
Downtown live music begins at 11 am by PoP Mach!ne. For more great music come back at 3 pm for the classic rock sounds of Second Avenue II.
At noon, kids can have their face painted by the talented Chantal Glady downtown near the cenotaph. Also at noon, the annual beach volleyball tournament gets underway at Low Island park. For more information, contact Tracy Esposto at 705-368-3415.
One of everyone’s favourite Haweater events, the cardboard boat race, sees its 15th edition get underway at 12:30 pm at Low Island. There are four great categories—8-11, 12-15, 16 plus and business—to provide plenty of splashtacular entertainment. For more information contact Lion Alicia at 705-929-3101.
At 3 pm, the always-entertaining bobbing for donuts and watermelon eating contest, open to all ages, will take place at the cenotaph followed by the hilarious event of plasma car racing at 3:30 pm.
Ashley Manitowabi, Manitou Magic, Manitoulin’s favourite magician, rounds out the busy day of events at 4:30 pm at the cenotaph. Prepare to be amazed!
Go home, have a nap and a bite to eat and gather your energy for the Hawfest dance at the recreation centre. Back by popular demand are the double dance floors featuring Top 40 on the arena side and classic rock and alternative on the curling club floor. Advanced tickets are $15 in advance and available at The Expositor Office and Borderline or $20 at the door.
On Sunday, August 5, you might be in need of a hearty breakfast so head to the Legion from 10 am to 1 pm to do just that.
At 10:30 am, the ecumenical service will once again be held at Cenotaph Park. Please bring your lawn chair.
Yoga on the docks will once again be held at the downtown east end docks at 11:30 am.
Find a spot along the new parade route for the Haweater Parade which starts at 12 noon from the arena. From there the parade travels down Highway 6 to Vankoughnet Street where it turns left at Elliott’s Restaurant and then takes a right onto Worthington Street (Highway 540) and proceeds down to Water Street and takes a left at the Anchor Inn corner and moves up Robinson Street. Please note that the parade will not be travelling downtown this year.
Following the parade the Little Current United Church is hosting a barbecue in the church parking lot. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Manitoulin Food Bank.
Sunday brings more great music, this time by everyone’s favourite country and western group The Islanders starting at 1 pm. Also at 1 pm, the hilarious game of Human Hungry Hungry Hippos gets started. It really is a must-see event.
At 3 pm head to Low Island for kids’ fun and games hosted by the Children’s Aid Society. There are plenty of great prizes to be won.
The music of Rise Above will entertain the crowds downtown at 4 pm and Manitou Magic will once again take to the downtown stage at 4:30 pm.
Bring your dancing shoes as the street dance rocks the downtown core from 7 to 11 pm getting everyone ready for the final event of the big weekend—Thunder Over the Channel—the Lions’ mammoth fireworks display. Please save your spare change; the Lions will be asking for donations for next year’s monumental display so please be generous.
A reminder that the Carver Kings, Ski-Mazing Water Sports and Craze-E-Crew Stunt Team will be at Haweater all Weekend long!
Happy Haweater, everyone!
