Frontenac Heritage Festival

Jeff Green | Feb 13, 2025

Snow, ice, music and food will be the focus of attention this weekend. when the annual celebration of the past and present in Central Frontenac gets underway. The festival was at the point of cancellation just a month ago, but the township's economic development committee stepped in to see if their was enough community interest to keep going.

They found that there is plenty of interest, and there is now a full schedule of events set for this weekend.

“We thought this was important to see what we could do, because the festival has been a well loved local event. It has a heritage of its own.” said Sara Carpenter, a long time member of the economic development committee. “And it is a good thing that we did, because there are lots of groups still interested in hosting events, and businesses that wanted to jump in. It just needed coordination, which we have been able to provide this year.”

One of the key pieces of the festival is the Polar Plunge, and the District 3 Recreation subcommittee took that on, with members of the Sharbot Lake Pickleball Club providing the legwork and volunteer support. The plunge goes off on Sunday, February 16rh at 11am at the Sharbot Lake Marina, followed by a Chili lunch at the Legion Hall, which is just up the Cannon Road from the marina.

The weekend will get underway on Friday, however. The Oso Historical Society will be showing highlights from its collection at the Sharbot Lake branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library from 1pm to 5pm, and there is an open mic at the Arden Legion from 1-5 as well. And from 5-8, the weekly open mic at the Kick and Push Brewery will be hopping as usual.

Starting on Friday and running all weekend, free skating at the Arden, Mountain Grove and Sharbot Lake rinks will be more fun than normal, because there will be food as well, at different times. See the festival web page for times and other details – Centralfrontenac.com/RHF.

Valentines Day Dinner at Belong and Cardinal at Night round out Friday for food lovers,.

Leave room for the Lions Breakfast on Saturday morning, however, which starts at 8am at the Oso Hall. On Saturday, the Winter Fun Day at Springwood Cottages near Arden will be a highlight, and there are events running all day in Sharbot Lake Village. In the evening, Oyster Shucker Paddy is at Belong Restaurant, and over in Arden, Whiskey Smoke is bringing a live show to the Legion.

And on Sunday, In addition to the Polar Plunge and chili lunch, the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market is on at the Oso, featuring a farm to table lunch.

And in addition to the Central Frontenac Heritage Festival, Back Forty Cheese is hosting their winter event in North Frontenac on Saturday. On Family Day Monday, South Frontenac hosts the annual Family Day event at the Frontenac Arena in Piccadilly.

All in all, it is a busy weekend.

Organisers of the Heritage Festival are hoping that as people enjoy the weekend and will consider stepping in to help out in future years. The economic development department stepped in this year, but in order to sustain the future of the Heritage Festival, new volunteers will be needed.