Oh so carefully, summer events are back

Jeff Green | Jun 30, 2021

The South Frontenac Lakes and Trails festival started up in 2017. Over its first three years it developed a following, and became a great way to celebrate the Cat Trail, Sydenham Lake, and the storied history of Sydenham.

Then came 2020, and even though the summer was the least restrictive time period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lakes and Trails had already been cancelled.

This spring, even as restrictions lingered, the Lakes and Traills committee began planning for a distancing friendly festival in 2021.

Since two of the major activities in Lakes and Trail’s, cycling and canoeing, are distanced activities anyway, the committee was able to organise Lakes and Trails for 2021.

The festival is set for July 17. For safety reasons, pre-registration is required for group events at the festival. The group events include a 21km cycle, starting at 9am, and 8km Family Cycle starting at 10:30am, a long paddle around Sydenham Lake starting at 9am, and a short, one hour paddle, starting at 10am.

Slots are also available through pre-registration at a bike tune-up station. There are half hour time slots from 9am to 12:30, (The bike tune-up is a pay- what-you-can event, with a suggested $30 donation for individuals and $20 per bike for families.

Other, self guided events at Lake and Trails do not require pre-registration. These include a 35-kilometre cycle route up to Desert Lake, and self-guided scavenger hunt around Sydenham to identify points of interest.

Other activities that are available at Lake and Trails, and throughout the summer, are swimming at the Point, walking the Cat, Rideau and K&P trails, visiting Frontenac Park or the Gould Lake Conservation Area or cycling the back roads.

For information about Lakes and Trails, and links to register for specific events, go to lakesandtrailsfestival.org

Other events

Check out the South Frontenac township website for information about Park Days, which is a rotating program every day of the week at different parks in the township. Crafts, sports, games puzzles etc will be featured.

The Parham Fair is not completely back this year, but there will be a vendors day in its place on August 21st.

The Fair is looking for artisans, flea market vendors, and antique dealers who are interested in participating. The fee is only $25 and anyone who is interested is invited to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.

Also check out the Land O’Lakes Rescue Farm Petting Zoo on Road 506 near Cloyne every day from 11am -3pm.

Other events and activities are cropping up across the region. Pickleball and Stocksport are ramping up, The Verona Free Methodist Church has free drive-in movies on Friday nights and the list goes on.

Check out Northern Happenings each week as the list of activities grows longer each week.

The days of social isolation are coming to an end, ever so slowly.