Something For Everyone At Verona Cattail Festival

Aug 14, 2013

Organizers of the annual Verona Cattail Festival, which took place in and around Verona on August 10 and 11, do their utmost to make sure that festival goers of all ages are kept busy and entertained at the popular local festival, which continues to draw visitors from near and far. Music lovers come especially for the two-day long eclectic lineup of local musical entertainment on the main stage, and when I visited on Saturday, a sizable crowd under the shady Lions pavilion were taking in the mellow folk/rock sounds of Michael George, one of many performers who took to the main stage over the weekend.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of parade goers lined the village curbs for the colorful festival kickoff parade. After lunch, the younger more competitive types tested their skills and boat building ingenuity at the always popular duct tape boat races at McMullen beach. The educational component of the festival in recent years has become a highlight and inside the Verona Lions Hall, aptly named the Cameron Centre, local organizations and groups offered up a wide array of hands-on educational displays for all ages. Student biologists from Queens University, Eric Taylor and Jillian Lemon, had a wide array of taxidermied animals and birds, skulls and turtle shells for visitors to examine. The two, who volunteer with Queens University Biology Education, aim to promote education, research and conservation in the area. “Our hope is that by educating people about the species that live in these parts, people will become aware and do their part in protecting the lands where these creatures live. Some of the more exotic species on display included the barred owl, northern flicker, harrier hawk, a ruby throated hummingbird, an indigo bunting and numerous turtle shells and other animal skulls. Meanwhile outside the building youngsters were learning about antique model trains thanks to Philip Ibbotson and Dave D'Albertanson, both members of the Frontenac Society of Model Engineers Inc., whose goal is to “foster an appreciation of machinery, transport and equipment from the industrial revolution to the present day.” They had on display a coal-fired 3.5 inch gauge Hudson (4-6-4) steam locomotive for members' use as well as bright red model Royal Scott, a British engine from the 1930s and 40s.

Photo: On Saturday at the festival, Adam Clow, Union Gas drafter estimator (at right of festival mascot
Cameron), presented a $1,000 cheque in support of the "Just add Water" theme of this year's
festival to Deborah Spaar-Mueller, chair of the Cameron’s Cattail Centre.

John McDougall, who helped organize the educational component of the festival this year, said that more hands on displays were attracting many visitors to the centre. An educational program called "Just Add Water" put on by Union Gas was offered up to visitors and it included many displays about the role of water in the area.

The festival attracts generations of families, like the relatives of long-time festival volunteers and Verona Community Association members, Garry and Dianne Delves, who were joined by many generations of their family. They make the special trip annually from Cornwall, Ontario to attend the festival.

New this year at the festival were the village-wide garage sales, which attracted hundreds of watchers to the early morning parade, a bicycling course for young riders courtesy of Kingston Cycle, which aimed to teach young riders safe riding habits. All of the usual favorite activities attracted enthusiastic crowds and these included rides on the popular Verona Express Train, the celebrity dunk tank, the many inflatable bouncy toys and tunnels and much more. The Verona Lions offered their popular canteen fare for hungry visitors and Cameron the Bog Lemming as usual made an appearance at the parade and visited with youngsters all weekend long. Hats off to the Verona Community Association and the many volunteers who continue to make the Verona Cattail Festival a special and memorable place to be for the whole family.