MANITOULIN—Manitoulin does Canada Day in a big way each year and 2024 is no exception.
Central Manitoulin Lions Club Homecoming Weekend promises a full weekend of fun leading up to Canada’s birthday on Monday, July 1. The weekend starts with an evening of music on Friday, June 28 from 3 to 11 pm at the Mindemoya ball fields. A DJ will be supplemented by performances by August Knight (folk, country and blues) from 6 to 7 pm and Double Barrel (country-rock) from 8 to 10 pm with the DJ closing things out to 11 pm.
Saturday, things get hopping with the annual Canada Day parade starting at 11 am and the Mindemoya arena will be filled with vendors plying their wares. A special open house will take place at the museum featuring an extensive collection of family trees. Starting at 12 pm, there will be bouncy castles, games and prizes beside the Lions Pavilion. Throughout the day there will be musical entertainment (see ad on Page 15 for details).
On Sunday, the Mindemoya Classic run, swim, paddle triathlon returns, starting at the government docks. The market continues in the Mindemoya arena and from 12 noon to 6 pm the amateur rib cookoff takes place while at 7 pm it’s time for the professionals to take a hand. The evening will close out with music and fireworks at dusk.
On Monday, Canada Day, the day will start at 11 am with a DJ, followed by Tristen Hall at 12 pm. The Mindy Indy Soap Box Derby starts at 1:30 pm, followed by more music and the draw for the $6,000 Lions Backyard Barbecue Ultimate Dream Package, sponsored by Jake’s Home Hardware.
The Providence Bay Canada Day celebrations take place at the Discovery Centre with face painting, kids’ games on the beach, cake and lemonade from 5 to 7 pm in the hall (live music by Saving Grace at 6:30 pm). Fireworks take place at dusk.
Little Current BIA Canada Day Summer Fair downtown events include a kids’ run that starts at 9:15 am at Low Island, a Canada Day farmers’ market, Junk in the Trunk at the NEMI Recreation Centre, a street market featuring crafters, artisans and more on the downtown streets (closed to traffic on this day), live music at the Cenotaph Park featuring Robbie Shawana and friends, and the singing of O Canada will take place in both English and Anishinaabemowin (led by Katie Harper). There will also be bouncy castles for the kids and cupcakes for the masses.
The Manitoulin Centennial Manor annual barbecue, yard and bake sale will also be a happening spot. The yard sale starts at 8 am and the barbecue at 11 am.
The South Baymouth celebrations start off with the annual fireman’s yard sale at 8 am, including a bake sale, silent auction, parade, fish fry and fireworks. There will be all-day events to entertain and amaze.
Ice Lake will be holding their annual picnic at the Ice Lake Community Centre starting at 12 pm. There will be kids’ games, races, a bazaar and auction, pickup ball game in this old school country picnic.
Gore Bay will start off Canada Day with a pancake breakfast from 9 am to 12 pm, with a parade at 11 am and a barbecue starting at noon. Yard games will also start at noon until 3 pm with fireworks taking place at dusk (weather depending).
