Frontenac Heritage Festival 2011

Jan 06, 2011

Organizers of this year’s Frontenac Heritage Festival have been busy planning some new and exciting activities for the festival, which will take place Friday February 25 to Sunday February 27 in various locations around Central and North Frontenac. Now in its 5th year, the festival attracts over 1000 visitors to the area every year and is continuing to grow.

New this year will be a combined community walk/run organized by Joan and Rudy Hollywood, which will take place on Sunday Feb 27 at 2pm. Distances will vary from 2-10 kilometres and the run will loop around the village of Sharbot Lake. Participants will pay $2 per km with a maximum cost of $20 per family and all proceeds will benefit the local food bank. For more information contact Rudy Hollywood at 279-2761 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Also new this year will be the first ever Polar Bear Plunge organized by Mark Montagano, Richard Struthers and Bill Young, which will also take place on Sunday, Feb. 27 at the docks of the Sharbot Lake Marina. Registration begins at 8:45 AM and the plunge is scheduled to take place at 10:00AM. Plungers are needed! Anyone interested can get a pledge sheet and plungers are required to amass a minimum of $40 in pledges, with all funds going to the Central Frontenac Volunteer Fire Department to purchase a Thermal Imaging Device, which is used, among other things, to locate people in burning buildings. Prizes will be awarded for the oldest and youngest plungers and also for the one who receives the most pledges. “Chicken Plungers” - i.e. those who have no interest in braving the winter waves but who still want to support the cause - can still collect pledges.

For more information contact Mark Montagano at 279-2886, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This year’s festival will open with keynote speaker Dr. Peter Frise, a leading Canadian research scientist who has roots in Mountain Grove, and who will likely share some interesting anecdotes about his grandfather, who was employed by CP Rail there.

This year’s festival will include all of the usual favorites, including various heritage displays at Oso hall, and a Saturday night variety show followed by fireworks. Other favorite venues like the indoor and outdoor displays and demonstrations at the Crow Lake Schoolhouse will be expanding. Also returning is the amateur photo contest, which last year attracted over 70 entries.

Any individual or organization who would like in any way to contribute, participate or volunteer can contact Janet Gutowski at 374-1355, Mike Procter at 279-2572, Tom Dewey at 335-2834 and/or attend the next festival meeting, which will be held at Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake on Monday January 10 at 6:30pm.