Heritage_fest_12-06
Back to HomeFeature Article - February 16, 2012 Get ready for the 2012 Frontenac Heritage Festivalby Julie Druker
The fun starts next weekend at the 2012 Frontenac Heritage Festival with a plethora of events planed at numerous location through out Central Frontenac.
New this year will be an open house at Dr. Peter Bell's newly reassembled mid-19th Century Fall River pioneer log home located at 1371 Fall River Road. The building will be furnished with Dr. Bell's unique antique collection.
The Open House will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 & 26 from 10am-3pm each day. Weather permitting, visitors will have the option of taking a horse drawn wagon ride to the log house. Check next issue's schedule for departure times.
Arden is inviting all to come out and enjoy their Arden Family Fun Day on Saturday Feb. 25 from 1-4pm with events taking place at the Kennebec Community Centre and grounds. All events are free and will include log sawing, nail driving, skating, and sledding. Refreshments available will be hot dogs, burgers, hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows on the campfire. Participants will be able to test their prowess in a number of contents beginning at 1:30pm.
Inside at the Kennebec hall the Kennebec Historical Society will be having an open house while the Arden Artisans are inviting kids and their families to come out and try their hand at creating historical themed collages. Children and adults will have an opportunity to work with clay, paint and other media.
At the Crow Lake Schoolhouse hardy souls will be enjoying 100% mosquito-free winter camping overnight on Friday Feb. 24.
On Saturday Feb. 25 inside the school house from 9-4pm will be a number of demonstrations including upholstery by Joshua Amlin, rug-hooking with Sandra Moase, heritage seeds with Diane Falvey of Seeds of Diversity, goat cheese making with Natalie Witherspoon, wood carving with Marty Hansen and making preserves with Janina Fisher.
Outside will be a display of heritage tools and materials and a re-enactment of trading post activities as well as heritage camping activities including cooking, axe throwing and more. Those with an appetite can purchase and enjoy a heritage lunch in the schoolhouse of beef and roasted root vegetable soup, old-style bread and old-fashioned apple pie.
Events in Sharbot Lake will begin on Fri. Feb. 24 with a kick off Opening Breakfast at 8 am at St. James Major Catholic church with the Town Crier and Heritage Festival committee. The event will showcase local history, heritage and talent and is sure to be an entertaining start to the weekend.
The festival's Photo Contest Slide Show will get Underway at the Maples Restaurant at 7pm Friday night. The contest is open to amateur photographers and the deadline for submissions is Friday Feb. 17 (tomorrow) at 5pm. Contestants can email their entries to [email protected]. Categories include people, nature, recreation and youth 18 years old and younger. For more information see the ad in last week's issue of the Frontenac News on page 5. Winners of both the photo and snow sculpture contests will be announced following the slide show and slides of the snow sculpture entries will also be displayed at the same time.
At Oso Hall on Friday from 10-4pm there will be demonstrations in quilting, needle craft and displays by the Portand and District Heritage Society and the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society. There will be live entertainment to enjoy all day long by Sisters of the Drum, the Young Choristers Limestone North, country singer Debbie Barkley, story telling and more. On Saturday Feb. 25 the demonstrations and displays will continue at Oso Hall, and the Sharbot Lake Legion will be holding their Chili Fest Cook Off and Jam. Judging for the Chilifest will begin at 1pm and the jam will begin at 3pm. The Sharbot Lake United Church will be holding a chili dinner from 4-6pm.
Always a must see, the Heritage Festival's Variety Show featuring numerous local acts will take place at the high school at 7pm with fireworks following at the ball field.
On Sunday Feb. 26 the ever popular Polar Bear Plunge will begin at 10am at the Sharbot Lake Marina docks. Come see who is up for this chilly challenge. This year's first ever sure to be dramatic Diaper Dash Race will take place at Oso hall at 1:00PM and the ever popular Heritage Walk/Run with 2, 4, 6 and 10K races beginning at 2pm. Registration will start at 12:30pm.
Also new this year, instead of buttons, the festival will be selling polar fleece Heritage Festival Mittens made by Joshua Amlin of Upholstery Bay, for $10 per pair. The mittens will be available prior to the festival at the township office and at the various events throughout the weekend as supply lasts. The money raised will go to help fund the festival.
Be prepared for three jam-packed days of Heritage Festival Fun. A full schedule of events will be included in next week's issue so that everyone can plan their weekend and be sure not to miss any of the new and favourite events taking place at this 6th Annual Frontenac Heritage Festival.
