Jul 05, 2017


Canada Day was busy, but it was only the first in a series of summer weekends full of events. Here is a run down of some of the highlights.

Sydenham Triathlon
Sunday July 9th, the 8th annual Sydenham Triathlon/Duathlon runs at the Point. The broad based event includes an Olympic distance triathlon, and a host of other events including only cydling and only running events. For further information go to somersault.ca/eventsydenhamtridu.htm.

Lakes and Trails
Back in Sydenham, on Saturday July 15th the first ever Lakes and Trails Festival is set to run from 10am to 1:45pm. The festival is described by organizers as a “community celebration of our many natural and historical assets” and it features a bike around the lake; a cycle skills course; paddling on the lake; a historic walking tour of Sydenham Village; and a community BBQ. All activities and BBQ are free. Everyone of all ages and abilities is welcome. From 10am until noon hirotic tours of Sydenham are being offered, starting at 10:30 bike around the lake starts (20,32, 1nd 46 km loops are available) Dragon boat instruction and rides are set for 10:30, 11:20 and 12:30. At 11am the canoe club is offering paddle the lake. Frontenac Outfitters have come on board. They will be bringing a trailer full of boats to use free of charge to paddle on the lakes for those who don’t have their own boar. In conjunction with the Canoe Club, introductory instruction will also be available.

The Kingston Frontenac Public Library will be bringing their giant lawn games to the festival. Over sized jenga, chess, checkers, snakes and ladders, dominoes and tic tac toe will be set up between the ball diamond and the Point.  
The BBQ runs from 11:30 to 1:45.

For those interested in learning about bikes a cycling, a skills course will be set up, and  Yellow Bikes of Kingston will be on hand for repairs and advice. For more information go to lakesandtrailsfestival.org, or call 613-374-5211

Frontenac Outfitters is also coming to the Festival.

Music music music
It’s impossible to list all the musical events that are taking place this summer. They range from the informal jam on Wednesday nights at the Sharbot Lake beach that can draw as many a 20 musicians, to major festivals such as Blue Skies in Clarendon that draws thousands. In a nod to the 21st Century, Blus Skies day passes are now available for purchase online at bluskiesmusicfestival.org. Weekend camping passes are still divvied out by a spring lottery, but anyone who ventures to the festival site on the Friday of the August long weekend with a tent, $100 and some hope, will likely end up being able to find a weekend pass. The event runs from August 4-6. Earlier this year, The Canadian Guitar Festival rins from July 28-30 at Loughborough Lake Park on Sydenham Road. It features the top finger style guitarists from around the world over three days. All the details, including ticket information, can be found at canadianguitarfestival.com.

Over in Flinton, also on the August Long Weekend, (August 3-6) the Flinton Jamboree is back for its 13th edition. The Jamboree now incorporates the induction ceremony for the Land O’Lakes Country Music Hall of Fame, which takes place on Saturday afternoon, August 5. Ticket information for day and weekend passes, can be found at flintonjamboree.ca.

Over on Wolfe Island, the Wolfe Island Music Festival is back, on August 11 and 12 (see wolfeislandmusicfestival.com)
Aside from the big events, the biweekly Bedford Jam is going strong and will celebrate its tenth anniversary on July 9th. The Harlowe Ole Tyme Fiddlers runs the 3rd Saturday of the month (July 21 and August 17) the Hilltop Jamboree in McDonalds Corners is set for July 9th, the Cardinal Cafe in Sharbot Lake brings in bands on Thursday nights in the summer, and The Crossing Pub in Sharbot Lake brings in national an international acts on a regular basis for dinner concerts. In addition, one off events in churches and other locations are coming up on almost a weekly basis.

Outdoors events
Both Bon Echo (see bonechofriends.ca) and Frontenac (see frontenacpark.ca) Provincial Parks have full schedules of events throughout the summer. The camping and canoe/kayaking is pretty good as well, as it is at Frontenac Parklands (see northfrontenacparklands.com)

Canada 150
Central Frontenac has a full schedule of events on its plate, all gathered under the banner of CFCanada150.ca. Highlights include the Arden weekend on August 11-13 and the 150 women, 150 stories, 150 words event on July 29th in Sharbot Lake. In South Frontenac, the focus is on the 150th Road Rally Celebration on Saturday, August 26, 2017. Look for details about that event in the coming weeks.

Farms and fairs
Farmers markets in Verona, Sharbot Lake, and McDonalds Corners run every Saturday all summer, and even with the cool rainy weather, produce is picking up more and more as we move into June. Each market has its own style and its own flavours. Later in the summer the Parham Fair will be celebrating its 125 birthday. This year the fair runs Saturday and Sunday, August 19 and 20. Saturday is Agricultural day, with horse shoes and pulls, Palace exhibits and contests, music, vendors, a petting zoo and a midway. On Sunday, the demolition derby is back. Admission is $7 on Saturday and $10 on Sunday. Check facebook or parhamfair.ca for details as they become available. This year fair will also include the work premier of a video by former Fair Board President Wendy Parliament that is all about the past, present, and future of the fair and the local farming community.

On August 26, the perfect little one day Maberly Fair returns with all of its traditional events intact, including the parade, zuchinni races, cake decorating contest, music, horse shoe, food, and more.

And on the Saturday of Labour Day weekend, September 2, the 11th annual Verona Garlic festival will fill the grounds of the Lions Hall in Verona once again this year,

This was just a taste of the events in Frontenac County and vicinity this summer. For details week to week look to Northern Happenings each week or go to our web events headquarters at www.frontenac-live.ca/events.

This week, Frontenac-Live.ca launched a new feature,  the Frontenac Five at Frontenac-live – highlighting five feature events each month for the benefit of tourists and residents alike.

This month the Frontenac Five are Canada Day Infrontenac, Dark Skies on July 22nd at the Dark Sky Preserve on Road 506, the Lakes and Trails Festival in Sydenham, Wolfe Island Culture Days, and Live Music Thursdays at Cardinal Cafe. Check it at www.frontenac-live.ca/events/frontenac-five.

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