Celtic Music Extravaganza

 

 What’s the difference between a brougham and a barouche?  What’s faster:  a surrey or a spider phaeton?  What’s more romantic:  a vis-à-vis or a democrat?  

You can find out more about the fascinating history of horse-drawn vehicles and get a chance to ride in one yourself at Upper Canada Village’s ‘Riding in Style’ weekend July 19-20.  

This event gives the Village the chance to showcase 19th century transportation at its best with a special selection of carriages from its collection. 

Visitors will be able to catch a ride in the Surrey, Brougham, Low Spring Democrat and the Pommier Carriages.  

Other vehicles that will be in the 11 a.m. parade will include the P. T. Barnum Band Wagon, Barouche, Trap and the High Spring Democrat.  

Various historical vehicles with different uses on display for Riding in Style weekend will include the Hearse, Doctor’s Gig, McLaughlin’s Carriage and Racing Sulky.  

Rides will be offered from in front of Cooks Tavern from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m..

“We have a wonderful collection of carriages, a mix of reproductions and originals that are very representative of transportation during the 1860s,” says Geoff Waycik, manager of Upper Canada Village. “When our guests are able to sit in the carriages and take a ride in one, it really brings them closer to the time period – and enjoy our modern day amenities a bit more.  We welcome the opportunity to share our collection with our visitors.” 

Also participating in the Riding in Style weekend will be the Eastern Ontario Pleasure Driving Society and the Eastern Ontario Miniature Horse Club.  

The Pleasure Drivers will be at the Village on Saturday, July 19 and the Miniature Horse Club will be at the Village on Sunday, July 20 – both from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Members of both groups will perform driving demonstrations, greet visitors and discuss their vehicles, equipment, clothing and horses and will speak with all interested.  

The driving will take place in the large mall area directly in front of the Battle of Crysler’s Farm Monument and National Historic Site (just west of the main parking lot) . Displays will be situated beside the front entrance to Upper Canada Village.

With the Reciprocal Program all visitors who purchase an admission will receive a complimentary pass to return on another day or to use to visit Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada.  It’s Ontario’s Best Vacation Deal!

[…]

 You’d have to have a heart 10 sizes too small not to fall in love with the spirit of Upper Canada Playhouse’s holiday production of Robert More’s Everything I Love About Christmas. It really does manage to bring together all those things, both magical and ordinary, that mean Christmas.

“There are many ways to tell a story about Christmas,” Grandad Barnes (Doug Tangney) informs the audience at the start of the play. “But there are a few things you must have: a tree, a house and a family.”

The family is the Barnes family, father Ted (Jeff Mulrooney), mother Maggie (Meredith Zwicker), daughter Gracie (Jody Osmond) and son Robbie (Clayton Labbe). 

There is one other daughter, Susan (Katie Edwards). And therein lies the difficulty for the Barnes family this Christmas eve. A terrible snow storm has swept over the countryside, and Susan is all alone, stranded at a deserted bus station. It will take some kind of miracle to bring her home in time for Christmas.

Miracles can sometimes come with rather pointy ears.

Four elves (Parris Greaves, Ryan Jacobs, Jess Vandenberg and Bruce Tubbe) come to the rescue because “every year somebody gets stuck and we arrive to help them out…” Helping the Barnes family be reunited with their eldest daughter will call for considerable elf ingenuity, and an “alpha cable” sent directly to Santa, who is “somewhere between Hawaii and Vancouver” this Christmas eve. (Alpha cables can only be sent by elves. Don’t try it at home.)

A further complication this busy night will be the Brannigan family, just down the road from the Barnes. There is very little to be joyful about this Christmas for them. Father Brad has lost his job. Their savings are gone. There are no presents, no dinner, very little hope in their household.

Another miracle is needed.

Will these dilemmas somehow be resolved by Christmas Day? Will Susan get home? Will the Brannigans find new hope? Will Santa appear in the very nick of time?

Well, this is a children’s show, so…

The entire cast of Everything I Love About Christmas is strong, and their ability to sing and dance is wonderful. Meredith Zwicker, who is also the production musical director, has showcased the actors’ considerable talents. “The level of energy and enthusiasm in this cast is stupendous,” director Donnie Bowes said. “I know the audience can feel it too.”

This is a show both adults and children can enjoy together. There is much whimsical humour in it that delights. 

Santa (wedged into a chimney): “Memo to Mrs. Claus. Stop making all those Christmas goodies.” 

Santa (still stuck, moments later): “Memo to self. Stop eating all those Christmas goodies.”

The stage, designed and lit by Sean Free, is versatile and striking, and makes exciting use of a revolving section and some unique special effects. 

Toss in the mighty “Rammer”, (you’ll see!) a shadow puppet version of the Christmas story and some serious magic, and you have a winning production at Upper Canada Playhouse.

Tickets for the show (which runs until December 16) are still available, but they are going very fast.

Incidentally, I’m not sure I recall a hippopotamus called Amber at the manger in the original Christmas story. Then again, I might be mistaken. After all, Everything I Love About Christmas proves that anything is possible.

[…]

It seems to be a tradition that every year on the weekend of the annual Williamsburg Fall Harvest Festival it always threatens to rain. This year, September 23-24, the weather again looked stormy, but, just in time, the rain held off and the fun of the Harvest Festival carried on. Just as always.

The 2011 Williamsburg Festival held throughout the weekend definitely offered up plenty for visitors of all ages to do and to enjoy starting with a hearty breakfast and ending with a barbecue dinner just before the dance at Matilda Hall.

New to this year’s fair was the ATV group ride organized by Tim Garlough. “This proved to pretty popular,” Garlough said. “We had 54 vehicles registered and about 75 people out to ride them. The route was all back country for 75 kilometres.”

Also very popular were the petting zoo, the flea markets, area vendors, rides and games and the arts and crafts show and sale at the J.W. MacIntosh Seniors’ Support Centre. There were plenty of prizes, courtesy of local businesses and individuals, for largest vegetables, best pies, carved pumpkins, decorated homes and amateur photography.

At noon, the annual Harvest parade began, led by the Firefighters and their mascot, Sparky. Riders on horseback, antique cars (and the Jensen 2011 harvester), floats and kids in costumes were enjoyed by the crowd. Music and some fancy baton work came courtesy of Studio C Dance. The 235 Air Cadets from Cornwall made their musical debut during the parade.

David Lapier, member of the Williamsburg Community Association,  the volunteers who plan the festival, stressed that the Harvest tradition continues due to the great generosity of area businesses and the tireless work of local helpers.  

Fair Winners

Kids’ colouring contest:

youngest entry Charlotte Barrie and Liam Kelly
ages1-5: Sierra O’Neill, 1st, Abby Jean Wallace, 2nd.
ages 6-10 Raven Keeler, 1st, Kaylee Earle, 2nd.
age 11 and up: tied, Brittany and Stephanie Hutt
Honourable mention to Hillary Van Moorsel for her eye-catching turquoise squirrel.

Heaviest Potatos: Kayne McCadden, 1st, Bruce Whitteker, 2nd, Reed McCadden, 3rd

Heaviest Carrots: Julie Barkley, 1st, Madilyn Beckstead, 2nd, Carl Barkley, 3rd.

Largest Zucchini: Alfred St. Denis, 1st, Jenna Richmire, 2nd, Caleb Guering, 3rd.

Best Decorated House: Jaime Baldwin, 1st, Mary Lalonde, 2nd, Margaret Lewis, 3rd.

Best Decorated Pumpkin: Madison Chretien, 1st, Trudy Barkley, 2nd, Kassidy Chretien, 3rd.

Tallest Corn Stalk: Bruce Whitteker, 1st, Emma Pemberton, 2nd, Trudy Barkley, 3rd.

Largest Sunflower: Hailey Guerin, 1st, Grant McMillan, 2nd.

Trivia Winners: Hailey Guerin, 1st, Caleb Guerin, 2nd, Randy Seguin, 3rd.

Harvest Poster:

six and under, Dryden Buter, 1st, Kloe Lewis, 2nd, Kyra Lewis, 3rd.
seven and up, Trudy Barkley, 1st, Katie Buter, 2nd, Lillly Lewis, 3rd.

Childrens’ Costumes:

five and under, Abby Steward, 1st, Kuris Steward, 2nd
six and up, Hailey Steward, 1st.

Best Centrepiece: Children, Trudy Barkley, 1st, Alexandra Richmire, 2nd, Mary Richmire, 3rd.

Apple Pie Judging: Lori Link, 1st, Debbie Disheau, 2nd, Thea Marion, 3rd.

Photo Contest: Landscape, George Kroll, 1st, Judy Barkley, 2nd, Bonnie Haner, 3rd

People, Carrie McCadden, 1st, Karin MacPherson, 2nd, Sandi Knight, 3rd.

Animals, Karin MacPherson, 1st, Kaitlin Casselman, 2nd, Sandi Knight, 3rd.

Allan Doherty Horsehoe Tournament: Lillian Markell and Morris Dusomos, 1st, Brian Witteveen and Stephen Harper, 2nd.

Best Commercial Float: Triple B Structures

Best Non-Commercial Float: Lyle Van Allen

Best Paraded Horse Entry: Sandy Marcellus

Best Individual Youth: Brandon Lovely

Best Youth Entry Individual: Williamsburg Otters and Timberwolves

Best Youth Group: Cardinal Studio C Dance

Best Paraded Vehicle: Lyal Kehoe

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