MANITOULIN—This Canada Day weekend there is nowhere better to be than Manitoulin Island where communities across the largest freshwater island in the world have ton of events planned for the whole family.
In Little Current, the Business Improvement Area (BIA) is hosting its annual Canada Day Summer Fair on Monday, July 1.
The day will kick off with a silent auction and yard sale at the Manitoulin Centennial Manor from 9 am to 1 pm, with a barbecue from 11 am until 1 pm.
A special edition Canada Day Farmers’ Market will be held downtown, beside Allen’s Automotive starting at 10 am. Strolling minstrels will also be found, with Water Street closed down to traffic from 10 am to 8 pm.
Also starting at 10 am will be the In-Water Boat Sale at the downtown finger docks between Kool-It Ice and the Edgewater. This free sale is a great way to display your boat and includes free dockage for the day and free launching. To register your boat call 705-368-3841 and leave a message with your name, address, phone number and email.
There will be plenty of great kids activities throughout the day, with mural painting starting at 10 am, there will also be shadow tracing, still life art, bike decorating and face painting from 10 am until 12 noon.
In the afternoon, there will be a bike parade with awards from 12 pm to 1 pm, in addition to a Canada Day mural paint on the side of the post office from 1 pm to 3 pm with their year’s theme as ‘our railroad heritage.’
From 1 pm to 3 pm there will more art classes for children, H. Lucas flower painting, stop, splash and roll haiku and face painting.
The children’s activities will be facilitated by 4elements Living Arts.
The downtown will become a pedestrian mall starting at 11 am, with over 30 vendors lining Water Street including Manitoulin crafters, local retailers, artisans, bakers and growers.
Live music will be provided by ‘Saved by the ‘90s’ starting at noon, with an open mic break at 2 pm.
The open mic will be hosted by mast of ceremonies Dave Draper and a musical accompanist will be on hand to help if needed. To register call Cliff Jewell at 705-368-2061 or email jewell@personainternet.com. The rain location for the event will be The Anchor Inn Hotel.
If you have a sweet tooth you won’t want to miss the BIA traditional Canada Day cake which will be served in front of the post office at noon.
Throughout the day there will also be a town-wide yard sale, with sale locator maps available at the Manitoulin Welcome Centre by the swing bridge or at downtown businesses.
In Providence Bay on Canada Day, there will be children’s games and activities from 1-4 pm at the Interpretive Centre, followed by entertainment, cake and refreshments from 7-9 pm, with fireworks at the beach concluding the day at 10 pm.
Providence Bay residents are also encouraged to take part in the annual house-decorating contest. Information and sign up is available at www.centralmanitoulin.ca or at the Interpretive Centre.
Ice Lake will be holding a community picnic on July 1 starting at 11 am at the Ice Lake picnic grounds. There will be both a potluck lunch and supper, bazaar, auction, fishpond, horseshoe toss and games for all ages. Those wishing to attend are asked not to bring pets.
In Manitowaning there will be a beach celebration from 1-4 pm with children’s games, ring toss and a sand sculpture contest with great prizes to be won. There will also be a barbecue and ice cream of everyone.
There will be a special Gore Bay Farmers’ Market on Friday, June 28 from 9 am to 1 pm with cake, balloons and special music.
Gore Bay will hold its annual July 1 fireworks at dusk over the harbour.
In South Baymouth events will get underway on Saturday, June 29 at 10 am at the Little Schoolhouse and Museum. There will be a bake sale, silent auction and other activities, as well as a barbecue lunch. The parade will start at 1:15 pm, followed by ice cream at the museum.
The fireworks will take place on Canada Day at 10:15 pm in South Baymouth.
There will also be a geocaching event this weekend at Gordon’s Park from Friday, June 28 to Monday, July 1. Geocaching Manitoulin will include 50 hidden Geocaches in the park, with an additional 25 scattered across Manitoulin Island. The event includes three nights of camping, a potluck supper, a put-put challenge, a geocaching murder mystery and fabulous prizes.
In Gordon/Barrie Island there will be lots of festivities at Julia Bay Beach on July 1.
Events will get underway at 2 pm with the annual turtle boat race. Come out with your best cardboard boat and race for some great prizes.
There will be live music at 3 pm, followed by a sandcastle contest at 4 pm.
The day will conclude with a barbecue picnic at 5 pm with free barbecue and cake.
This weekend also marks the Central Manitoulin Lions Club Homecoming Weekend, which will be celebrating Canada Day all weekend long. For a complete list of events, see page 20A of this newspaper.
