Feb 13, 2019


The great de-centralised Frontenac Heritage Festival is made up of many stand alone events that are loosely connected.

One new event this year is a crokicurl rink, located in the Oliver Scott Memorial Park in Sharbot Lake (across from Granite Ridge Education Centre) which will be available all weekend.

Never hear of crokicurl? It is exactly what it sounds like. A crokinole board set up on an ice rink. Instead of flicking wooden disks with fingers, sand filled windshield wiper fluid jugs are slid along the ice from a makeshift curling ‘hack’ at the edge of the ice. Depending on the circumstances, a draw to the button, a bump and run or a takeout may be called for.

Any combination up to eight players can participate at one time, even numbers are best. The rink was set up, with posts ringing the house like a crokinole board, by Rudy and Joan Hollywood. They will be around to explain the rules at times during the weekend, and the rink is available all-day Saturday and Sunday.

The Festival kick off is at the Sharbot Lake Legion on Friday night, (February 15) in conjunction with the Legion’s Friday night chicken dinner.

Things get underway in earnest on Saturday with a mitt full of events at the Kennebec Community Centre between 9am and 3pm. There will be a display by the Kennebec Historical Society, a demonstration of chainsaw wood carving by Robin Deruche, smoke alarm demonstrations by the fire department, games and food.

At the same time, part of the hall will be taken over by the Arden Potters, who will be selling soup and chilli in handcrafted bowls that purchasers can take home. All proceeds from the sale of the bowls goes to the North Frontenac Food Bank. Need to see more pottery? The Arden Pottery Studio, which is just down the road from the hall, will be open all day.

Meanwhile, starting at 11am, The Kennebec Lake Association is holding its 7th Annual Winter Fun Day on the lake, just east of the bridge and boat launch. Chilli, hot chocolate and cider, snow shoeing, skating sliding and more until 3pm.

Things are quieter in Sharbot Lake during the day on Saturday, but there is a Lion’s breakfast at the Oso Hall from 8am-11am as well as Croki-curling.

At night the hamlet will be livened up by Shawn McCullough and Wade Foster at the Crossing Pub, starting at 8pm.

On Sunday, the Matson Farm at 6278 Arden Road will be the centre of attention. It features heritage farming, a cross cut competition, and more (see ad on page 16).

In Sharbot Lake, Sunday events are anchored by the Polar Plunge at the Sharbot Lake Marina at 12 noon, followed by lunch at the Legion. Meanwhile, from 11am-3pm, winter fun day is on at the Child Centre, featuring soup and scones, bucket drummers, snowshoe lending, etc.

Finally, over at the Railway Heritage Park on Elizabeth Street, Bob Miller and Mike Procter will be throwing knives (not at each other) from 12 - 4pm, and Bill MacDonald will be demonstrating old time logging techniques.

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