DISTRICT (Staff) — Across the district many activities are planned for this Canada Day.
While the three-day Bikers Reunion will get underway with its final annual event, and the annual two-day New Liskeard Summerfest will also start up, there will also be activities in Cobalt, Temagami, Latchford, the Municipality of Charlton and Dack and Matachewan Township.
There will be parades in both Cobalt and Matachewan starting at 11 a.m.
Following the parade in Cobalt there will be a Kiddies Day in the park, with games, music, a magician and cake.
TEMAGAMI FIREWORKS
The Temagami waterfront will hum with activities, including a flea market, inflatables, and an ambulance display.
The Temagami Fire Department will invite people to drop by from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the fire hall at 5 Stevens Road.
People can also learn about the Temagami Area Fish Involvement Program at the waterfront. There will also be a fundraising barbecue.
Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo: Endangered Species Show will be at the Bunny Miller Theatre from 11 a.m. until noon.
There will also be a book sale at the library.
Later in the afternoon the Temagami Lions Club will be serving up a rib dinner at 11 Parkwood Lane.
During the evening at the waterfront the JW Stevens Band will be performing.
The annual fireworks display will take place at 10 p.m.
MATACHEWAN
Matachewan’s parade at 11 a.m. will be followed by free hotdogs with pop or water handed out.
The Matachewan Legion will also be cooking throughout the day with hotdogs and hamburgers, as well as drinks, available for purchase. That will be followed by a spaghetti supper beginning at 5 p.m.
Throughout the afternoon there will be a horseshoe tournament, followed by a cribbage tournament.
There will also be an inflatable pirate ship for the children.
The day will conclude with a duck race and 50/50 draw.
CHARLTON FIREWORKS
Over in Charlton the annual fireworks display will get underway at the waterfront at 10 p.m. Canada Day cupcakes will be handed out. There will also be concession stands.
LATCHFORD FIREWORKS
Fireworks are scheduled for dusk July 1 in Latchford, and during the afternoon there will be events at the beach.
SUMMERFEST
In New Liskeard, many activities will take place on Canada Day as both the Bikers Reunion and Summerfest get underway.
The Summerfest will include a Science North “Cool Science” Caravan, Ellie the Stilted Balloon-Maker, inflatables, baseball toss at Active 1 Source For Sports, Road Legends Antique Car Show, Art in the Park, games at Chat Noir, face-painting, local merchants sidewalk sale, Zante’s beer garden and food, Salvation Army barbecue, Taylor fries, and much more.
Small Pond Entertainers will perform on an outdoor stage at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Woodland Heritage Services will hold an archaeological dig at the beach beside the Pool-Fitness Centre between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
This and more will be part of the Canada Day portion of the two-day Summerfest.
BIKERS REUNION
The Bikers Reunion will get a roaring start with parasailing offered at the waterfront from 8:30 a.m. to dusk. Those interested should call 705-457-8359 to reserve a ride.
There will also be motorcycle demo rides, helicopter rides, and monster truck rides.
The Ron Rivard Memorial Early Bird Ride to the Hilliardton Marsh and Elk Lake will leave at 1 p.m.
Entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening include Little Ray’s Reptile Show: Canada’s Endangered Species. There will be strolling dinosaurs, and thrill shows including a Flying Trapeze and Clown Act, a Russian Motorcycle Swing and Globe of Death, and a Human Torch High-Diving Team.
Musical entertainment will include the Ian and Steve Band, the Bluez Brothers, the Gator James Band, the Elton Rohn Band, the Jamie Gabbani Band, the Mainstream Band, the Larry Berrio Band, and the For the Money Band.
CELEBRATING CANADA
During this past quarter century, the nighttime fireworks display along Lake Temiskaming to honour the nation’s birthday has drawn crowds in the thousands. In the past three decades no single annual event in our area produces crowds such as those seen along the New Liskeard waterfront gathered to watch the fireworks – with the popularity of the Bikers Reunion these past 15 years the crowds have increased. This year the New Liskeard fireworks display will be held Saturday, July 2.
This year Canada Day itself (July 1) is on a Friday. Many downtown New Liskeard businesses will be open that day in conjunction with Summerfest and will be closed on the Monday, July 4.
On the other hand, The Speaker’s offices will be closed Friday July 1 but will be open on the Monday. That is the reason behind this week’s issue of The Speaker and the Weekender having a day-earlier publication date.
For more on the lineup of events, and exact times and locations of various downtown street closures, see this week’s Temiskaming Speaker and Weekender.