GORE BAY—It’s hard to believe that six years has gone by since the inception of Gore Bay’s Harbour Days and this premier West End festival, taking place this weekend, July 21-23, has certainly earned itself a reputation for all things summer fun.
Harbour Days gets underway this Friday, July 21 with a farmers’ market on the waterfront from 9 am to 1 pm. While there, swing by the Hydro One Electricity Discovery Centre to learn all about the province’s hydroelectric system, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Also starting at 9 am is the parasailing, jetovator and flyboard station on the waterfront from 9 am to dusk. To register for a lesson on one or more of these incredible water events, please visit Fishpoint Studios or register online at skiwakefootschool.com/register.
Cheer on those hearty souls as they peddle for a cause aboard the Big Bike for Stroke in Gore Bay’s downtown at 4 pm.
At 6 pm, there will be a basketball skills and drills clinic followed by Gore Bay Theatre’s production of ‘Shirley Valentine’ at 7:30 pm.
From 8 pm to midnight the beer gardens will be the scene of some great musical entertainment featuring The Uppers. The proceeds from this free admission event will go toward Legion Branch #514.
On Saturday, July 22 the day will begin with the Gore Bay Rotary Club’s pancake breakfast from 9 am to 11 pm.
The water experts at skiwakefootschool.com will be back in action Saturday morning so be sure to register for parasailing, jetovator and flyboard lessons.
The Hydro One Electricity Discovery Centre is again open from 9 am to 5 pm.
The Firefighters 5K Around the Bay race gets underway at 10 am followed by facepainting by Chantal from 10 am to 2 pm and ‘Step Into Stories,’ professional storytellers weaving their tales from 10 to 11 am and again from 1:30 to 2:30 pm.
At 11 am the dinghy races get underway, as does the family hip hop workshop by The Travelling Stage.
Everyone loves bouncies, and Gore Bay’s the place to be this weekend for all things bouncy thanks to Air Bounce Adventures, which will be on-site from 11 am to 4 pm.
By now you should have worked up an appetite, so head to the Ron McQuarrie Memorial gazebo at the west end of the waterfront, near Buoy’s Restaurant, from 12 noon to 2:30 pm for hamburgers, hot dogs and cold beverages. All proceeds from the event will go to the Gore Bay Recreation Committee.
Go fly a kite at 12 noon on the waterfront.
The beer gardens get back underway beginning at noon until 8 pm. Live music will be had all afternoon from the waterfront tent.
The Gore Bay and Gordon/Barrie Island Fire Departments will be on hand from 1 to 3 pm, as will swimming pool fishing!
Check out some of Manitoulin’s finest rides from 1 to 5 pm at the classic car show.
The event everybody’s been waiting for, the 6th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, gets underway at 1 pm with some great prizes to be had.
At 1:45 pm, river tube races and games get underway, so come join the fun.
The instructors at The Travelling Stage will be back in action from 2:30 to 3:30 pm to teach everyone the art of line dancing, just in time for Country Fest!
The redneck horseshoe tournament gets underway at 2 pm as do the ‘Readings of Confederation’ for Canada’s 150th and the prayer flag exhibit.
The Gore Bay Rotary Club is once again hosting its world famous fish fry from 8 pm to midnight with the day’s events wrapping up with the Harbour Days Dance at the waterfront tent. The free admission dance will be DJ’d by Glow 100. Designated drivers are available, so please take advantage of this great service. The dance is sponsored by Legion branch #514.
The weekend will end on Sunday, July 23 with an ecumenical church service at the waterfront tent, rain or shine, with a potluck lunch to follow. Everyone is welcome.
For more information about Gore Bay Harbour Days, please contact the Gore Bay Municipal Office at 705-282-2420, by visiting www.gorebay.ca or the Gore Bay Facebook page.
