MANITOULIN – There are, as usual, community Canada Day and Canada Day Weekend events aplenty the length and breadth of Manitoulin Island and everyone is welcome to all of them.
Head to Central Manitoulin for the Lions Club’s Homecoming Weekend, which coincides with the Canada Day weekend each year. Events begin this Friday, June 28 with a men’s fastball tournament that runs all weekend long.
On Saturday, June 28, the annual Homecoming parade gets underway at 11 am with the theme ‘through the decades’ and followed by kids’ events from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm and an elimination dinner, draw and dance from 5 pm to 1 am.
The Homecoming fun continues the following day, Sunday, June 30, with the Mindemoya Classic, run, canoe and bike triathlon, at 9:30 am, a horseshoe tournament at 1 pm and a fireworks display at 10 pm at the ball field.
The annual Silver Water United Church Women community picnic on Saturday, June 29 begins at 10 am and includes a barbecue, fish pond, parade at 11:30 am with the theme ‘vacation destinations,’ a bake sale at 1 pm and children’s races at 1:30 pm. Bring a lawn chair an enjoy the day, all at the community centre and hall.
In South Baymouth, Canada Day festivities get underway on Saturday, June 29 at 8 am and include a giant yard sale, bake sale, barbecue lunch, silent auction, parade at 1 pm and a fish dinner at John Budd Park. Tickets for adults are $20; children under 12, $10; and kids under five are free. The following evening, Sunday, June 30, join South Baymouth for their Canada Day fireworks display after 10 pm at the town’s marina.
Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club Canada Day yard sale takes place all weekend long, as well as Canada Day. The Providence Bay Discovery Centre will also be hosting Canada Day events, including a sandcastle building contest. The night will end with a fireworks display on the beach.
On Sunday, June 30, try your hand at lumberjack games (and barbecue) hosted by the Manitoulin Community Church in Tehkummah beginning at 1:30 pm. All is free and all are welcome!
The Canada Day Summer Fair hosted by the Little Current Business Improvement Area on Monday, July 1 includes free cruises aboard Le Grand Heron from 1 to 2 pm and, at 7:30 pm, another free cruise (age of majority for this licenced event), a North Channel Fun Run, an In-Water Boat Sale, prizes for best-dressed Canada Day man, woman, boy and girl, a pedestrian mall from 10 am to 6 pm with over 30 vendors, a special edition farmers’ market beginning at 10 am, a pie sale at 9 am at Little Current United Church, live music from noon to 3 pm, kids’ social painting, kids’ bike parade at 1 pm, face painting, musical chairs at noon, a town-wide yard sale (including the Manor’s famous yard and bake sale), a dog show and, keeping with tradition, cake at 12 noon, but not served until everyone present sings ‘O Canada.’
While you’re in downtown Little Current, be sure to check out the many Canada Day sales on offer by downtown businesses.
In Manitowaning, the Assiginack Fire Department will be hosting a free barbecue at the beach from 11 am to 1 pm on Canada Day. Also at the beach, from noon to 1 pm, there will be a water slide at the beach, kids’ games, or try your hand at stand up paddleboarding.
At 1 pm, the cardboard boat races are back with two $100 cash prizes!
Canada Day in Manitowaning will cap off with a fireworks display at dusk at the arena fairgrounds. The band Rural Roots will play at the information booth on Highway 6 before the fireworks.
The long-running Ice Lake community picnic takes place Canada Day at the Ice Lake picnic grounds on Pleasant Valley Road. Bring a potluck dish to share with lunch beginning at 12 noon. Be sure to take part in the live and silent auction, foot races, egg toss and pickup baseball game (sometimes matching teams from Ice lake and Kagawong).
The Burpee Mills Recreation Committee is holding a Canada Day Potluck Dinner and Dance on Monday, July 1 at the Burpee Mills Complex, 8 Bailey Line Road, Evansville. Potluck dish is your admission. Doors open at 5, dinner at 6, music by Family Tradition to follow. This is a licensed event, designated driver available. There will also be a special salute to the veterans of our communities.
In Gore Bay, events get underway on Sunday, June 30 with an outdoor beer garden and live music/dance at the Gore Bay Legion from 2 pm until 1 am. A washer toss tournament will be held, also at the Legion, at 4 pm.
Canada Day will begin in Gore Bay with a flag raising at 9 am at the community hall. A Canada Day parade begins at 11:30 am. Decorated bikes, classic cars, walkers and decorated trailers are all welcome. Gore Bay will also host a community yard sale from 10 am to 4 pm. A barbecue will be held from noon to 3 pm with helium balloons and freezies supplied by the BMO from noon until 2 pm.
From 1 to 4 pm, face painting and children’s activities and bouncy castles will be on offer with a basketball shooting stars’ competition from 1 to 2 pm at the basketball court. There will be a community baseball game beginning at 4 pm with a great Canada Day ending of fireworks at dusk.
