MANITOULIN—The busy summer season has set upon us, thank goodness, as can be found in the pages of this newspaper, including the many celebrations planned for Canada Day, July 1.
In Providence Bay, residents are encouraged to start decorating now with prizes to be won in the categories of historic, flags, futuristic, action and night displays/lighting. Call Amanda at the Central Manitoulin municipal office at 705-377-5726 to register by Monday, June 30. After perusing the community for its festive homes, head to the beach at 1 pm for children’s games and activities until 4 pm. Entertainment from 7 to 9 pm follows, with a fireworks finale at 10 pm.
Over in Ice Lake, the annual community picnic (both lunch and supper) will be held starting at 11 am.
Burpee and Mills is also celebrating our great nation with a Canada Day potluck dinner and dance at the Burpee and Mills Complex. The cost is just $5 plus a dish. Dinner is at 6 pm with the dance winding up at 11 pm.
Also on the West End, why not head to Julia Beach at 2 pm for some Canada Day fun? Starting at 2 pm there will be turtle boat races, sand castle sculptures, a hula-hoop contest, music and a potluck at 4 pm.
In Little Current, the Little Current Business Improvement Area will again be hosting its Canada Day Summer Fair. The downtown core will be closed to traffic all day, so go for a stroll to check out some great local deals and to visit the over 30 vendors from 11 am to 5 pm.
There will be treasures to be had all over Little Current, in fact, as the Canada Day town-wide yard sale is again on the agenda. Pick up your yard sale locator map at the Manitoulin Welcome Centre or at any of the downtown businesses.
The in-water boat sale kicks off at 10 at the finger docks located near Kool-It Ice. This free way to display your boat is a great way to make a sale. To register your boat in the sale, contact 705-368-3841 and leave a message. To check out the boats for sale, stroll along the waterfront westward past the Edgewater Restaurant and see what’s on offer at one of the nearby finger docks.
Le Grand Héron, the North Channel’s new cruise ship, will be open for guided tours from 10 until 12:30 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm, so come check her out! She’s tied up at the dock behind Soldiers Park. The Canada Day Farmers’ market will also be open for visitors looking to eat local and eat fresh starting at 10 am.
Speaking of local and fresh, stop in to the Island Jar to mark the grand opening of Little Current’s newest downtown business. Tea leaf readings, door prizes, short reiki session, music and so much more will be on offer from 9 am to 5:30 pm on Canada Day.
From 10 am to 3 pm, children’s activities with a bicycling theme and sponsored by 4elements Living Arts will be available downtown, including a bike parade at 12 noon, so bring your Canada Day decorated bike downtown, kids.
After all this activity, fuel up with some Canada Day cake, which will be served in front of the post office at 12 noon. Get there early!
Live music, as well as music provided by local songsters looking to share their vocal prowess will be part of the celebrations all day, with the open mic beginning at 2 pm. Those looking to share their vocal talents are encouraged to call Cliff Jewell at 705-368-2061 and register. Musical entertainment will begin at noon.
New to the Summer Fair this year is the Paws for a Cause dog show from 1 to 2 pm at Expositor Square. Bring your pooch, dress him or her (if you wish) and yourself (if you wish) to match to win prizes. Donations of cans of cat food are greatly appreciated for PetSave Manitoulin.
While not on Canada Day, the Central Manitoulin Lions Club Homecoming Weekend will be held June 28 and 29 with the Saturday parade, as ever, with a Canada Day theme so why not enter a float?
To end the day with a bang, Canada Day fireworks will be offered from the Gore Bay marina, South Baymouth marina, as well as the Providence Bay beach. Fireworks will also conclude the Homecoming Weekend celebration on Sunday night, June 29, at the Mindemoya ball field.
Other last-weekend-of-June community events include the Manitoulin Rodeo on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 in Manitowaning, the Lovin’ Little Current Day at the Northeast Town recreation centre parking lot on Saturday, June 28, the Wikwemikong Mudders ATV Mud Challenge on Saturday, June 28 in Wikwemikong, the FREC ME Electronic Dance Music Festival at the Country Fest grounds in Little Current on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28 featuring hot new electronic artists, the 118th annual Silver Water community picnic, parade and dance on Saturday, June 28 and the Central Manitoulin Lions Club Homecoming Weekend in Mindemoya with great events all weekend long.
