LITTLE CURRENT—Some might think that December is too early to be thinking about Haweater Weekend 2016, but for members of the Little Current Lions Club, they can think of nothing else and they’re happy to spread the word of the exciting things already in the works for Manitoulin’s signature homecoming weekend.
Following Haweater Weekend this past summer, and after a general decline in attendance over the past two years, the Lions Club decided to act and act quickly, and formed a committee that began meeting in August and monthly since then to discuss the 2016 event, Lions Club President Bruce Burnett explained. The group also put out online surveys through this newspaper’s website, manitoulin.ca, as well as through the mail.
“We were so happy with the results,” Lion Bruce said. “Not only did it show people were interested, it showed they genuinely cared about Haweater Weekend.”
What the group took from this was that a change was needed. People were tired of the same old events.
This fall, the club has already booked four new acts. The Ultimutts Stunt Dog Show is sure to be a hit with young and old alike. The Ultimutts Stunt Dog Show is a very popular, interactive stunt dog show which has been featured on The Rick Mercer Report, Breakfast Television, Animal Planet, CP24, CHCH, CBC and more. “This unique circus style show is jam packed with non-stop incredible tricks to wow the audience and keep them on the edge of their seats!” the website boasts. “Comprised of rescued animals, these dogs love to work and perform–and it shows!”
The popular kids entertainers duo of Splash’N Boots will also be coming to Haweater Weekend, taking time from their busy schedule of tours and television (the pair now appears on Treehouse TV’s Big Yellow Boot) to head to Little Current. Splash’N Boots have nine albums to their credit, three DVDs, travelled across the globe and are now found on TV!
Another young people’s event is Chris McKhool. This will be Chris McKhool’s second trip to Haweater Weekend. The Juno award winning artist will be entertaining both adult and kid audiences with the Sultans of String on Friday night and Fiddlefire! on Saturday. Chris and his accompaniment are sure to make you get up and dance.
Musical entertainment is proving to be an important part of the Haweater lineup with local acts being booked to play downtown all weekend long, and also at the Low Island ball field.
The people have spoken, and they said they wanted a new dance. The Lions Club will also delivering in this regard, too. This year, the arena will play host to a double video dance for those of age of majority, with country music on the curling club side and a hit music ‘tiki dance party’ on the arena floor. One low price gets you entry into both sides. Requests are very welcome and prize giveaways are a part of this DJ’s mandate.
New this year, the teen dance will have the added bonus of becoming a neon glow party and the Sunday night street dance will be back in full swing.
There will be plenty of contests and new and fun games added to the lineup too, all of which will be revealed over the coming months.
The Lions Club wants Manitoulin to start thinking of who should be named an ‘Honourary Haweater’ over the winter too. Entries will all be considered by a panel of Lions who will then present their choice for this coveted title to the Grand Haw himself. At the opening ceremonies of Haweater Weekend on Friday night, the Grand Haw will conduct a citizenship ceremony, proclaiming this lucky individual as an Honourary Haweater and gifting them with a certificate to prove it. See future editions of this paper with more details on how to nominate that special person.
