MANITOULIN—There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the many offering of the Taste of Manitoulin event, with events Island-wide from now (Wednesday) until Sunday.
Community Days, highlight activities occurring in towns and First Nations around the Island for the duration of the festival.
Don’t feel like driving from event to event? Take the bus! Another feature of this unique festival is the availability of bus services, which will enable people to get to each of the community day locations if they do not have their own means of transportation or if they wish to leave the car at home.
“The bus transportation we are providing is specific to the community day locations and will be running throughout the days,” Laura Wall-Varey, director with the Manitoulin Tourism Association (MTA) explained. The bus schedule will be published in the passbook, posted at bus pick-up points, and can be seen on the website www.atasteofmanitoulin.ca.
A bus ride from one community to another is $5 if a passbook, has been purchased and $7 if not. The passbook can be purchased from the bus driver and outlines the events that will take place during the festival’s “community days” along with a detailed map. The books will be available at the Manitoulin Tourism Association Welcome Centre on Highway 6, ferry terminals and other Island tourist information booths for a $2 fee.
Festivalgoers who visit businesses that have sponsored the festival can have their passports stamped to be eligible for up to $2,000 in prizes. The greater number of stamps, the greater number of entries for prizes.
For those who want to travel and explore on their own, they can plan their days around the festival highlights, or stop at smaller venues that display the blue and white TOM logo.
Don’t forget to stop by The Expositor office in Little Current from Wednesday through Friday, June 10 to pick up the popular Focus on Fish recipe book.
This cookbook contains recipes for all of the Manitoulin Island fish species submitted by “Manitoulin cooks who love to prepare fish.”
Throughout the festival, the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah displays “Butter making on Manitoulin, From Cow to Table,” and the Little Schoolhouse and Museum in South Baymouth is open with an exhibit about the history of the township.
The Garden’s Gate Restaurant will be open for the duration of the festival featuring Rose’s fine cuisine made from many local ingredients.
Also open from June 3-12 is Gordon’s Park Eco Resort where Rita and Terry Gordon invite the public to visit their art exhibition and sale.
Visit the Debajehmujig Creation Centre’s K.B. Reynolds Mastin Gallery for an exhibition of new oil paintings by Marc-Andrè Brzustowski from 9 am – 4 pm during these festival days.
Wednesday, June 8 is the Providence Bay, Spring Bay and Mindemoya community day, starting with a pancake breakfast at the Curling Club in Providence Bay, and possibly ending with a meal at the School House Restaurant in Providence Bay between 6 and 10 pm.
A Providence Bay movie night will be held at Providence House, 5252 Highway 551 (Mutchmor Street) from 6:45 pm – 9 pm and will feature the movie FRESH!
Pioneer Day in Mindemoya will be held in two locations where artists, artisans and writers will be “Evoking the times of yore.” Visit the Central Manitoulin Pioneer Museum and Jack’s Agricultural Museum for the experience.
Learn about the use of herbs in a workshop at Maja’s in Mindemoya from 2:30 pm -4:30 pm, or square dance in the evening with the Northern Lights Squares.
Thursday, June 9, is the Kagawong, M’Chigeeng community day featuring a farmers’ market in Kagawong, and a “Buzz about the Bees” event from 10 am – 4 pm at the Heritage Centre in the Old Mill.
While in Kagawong, sample chocolate at the Manitoulin Chocolate Works or visit Edwards Studios from 10 am – 4 pm for the Launch of the “Grand Manitoulin board game: Back in the Day.”
Local and seasonal food will be for sale at the Edwards Studios from 12 pm -4 pm prepared by Chef Carol Corneau.
In M’Chigeeng, visit the Weengushk Film Institute for an open house from 10 am – 4 pm and stop in at Lillian’s Crafts and the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation to view First Nations art. Maggie’s Café in M’Chigeeng is serving up Indian tacos all day and an open house at the Anishnaabemowin Elders Centre is being held from 9 am – 2 pm.
In Little Current, enjoy a Stone Soup Dinner served on the main street to help raise money for the Manitoulin Health Centre equipment fund.
Friday, June 10, is Gore Bay day and from 11 am – 4 pm the Gore Bay Museum hosts Manitoulin’s Bounty in Prose and Poetry, a collaboration by the Manitoulin Writer’s Circle and museum to celebrate Island food customs and cuisine.
In Little Current, come watch the Hawberry Hoedowners dance from 7 pm – 9:30 pm or visit Gordon’s Park in Tehkummah for Star Gazing beginning at 8 pm.
Saturday, June 11 is the Mindemoya, Big Lake, Sandfield Day. The Mindemoya Missionary Church offers a Good n’ Plenty breakfast and the Mindemoya market will be open from 9 am – 1 pm at the arena.
Also on the same day in Mindemoya there will be a meet the artist’s reception at Route 50. Proprietor Annette Pearson invites the public to celebrate the artwork of several local artists including Marcus Mohr.
In Little Current from 10 am – 12 pm, visit the Water Street Bakery for a treat and a five-minute sketch by Little Current artist Marc-Andrè Brzustowski.
Gore Bay offers the Manitoulin’s Bounty in Prose and Poetry once again and the Hawberry Hoedowners square dance in the afternoon and evening at the Northeast Town Recreation Centre for their bi-annual Hawberry Jamboree.
In Providence Bay from 1 pm – 4 pm, drop in for an ‘Open House at Taste of Wellness, Reiki Pure and Simple,’ at 98 Cedar Crescent or why not pop by the Bluegrass in the Country at the Providence Bay Fairgrounds for all kinds of music and tasty treats.
Maja’s in Mindemoya will be holding a second herb workshop from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm.
On Sunday, June 12, the final day of the festival, visit the west end of the Island as Sheshegwaning, Zhiibaahaasing, Silverwater and Meldrum Bay hold their community day.
Have breakfast at the Stop 540 Restaurant, worship from 10 am – 11 am at the Meldrum Bay United Church and visit the Spring Fair with its many vendors held by the harbour from 10 am – 5 pm.
Lunch is served at the Meldrum Bay Community Hall from 11 am – 1 pm and a tour of the Meldrum Bay Marina takes place at 1 pm.
Remain at the marina to be taken on a guided tour of the Mississagi Lighthouse at 1:30 pm.
Have dinner in Meldrum Bay at the Meldrum Bay Inn and Restaurant from 5 pm – 8 pm and enjoy live musical entertainment.
The Gore Bay Museum will again be offering Manitoulin’s Bounty in Prose and Poetry from 2 pm – 4 pm.
