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It's Boomer Time!

Yes, that's right! The Boomer Consumer Health & Lifestyle Show is almost here. It's taking place in Lindsay at the Farmers Mutual Exhibition Building on Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th. There will be lots to see and do for us more "mature" festival nomads. Don't tell Judi that I said the "M" word. She still thinks of me as her "baby"! This is the place where you can come "discover, explore, and learn about how to enhance your life, be healthy and most of all - enjoy yourself to the fullest throughout this exciting and rewarding time of your life!" There will be over 100 exhibitors there to offer you everything from demonstrations and interactive displays and money saving tips to help staying healthy! Judi's new "BFF" (see the Bobcaygeon Food & Wine Festival), Dave Devall will be on hand to tell us all about his life after CTV. Knowing Dave it will be all about fun and golf! The Boomer Consumer Show will give visitors lots more to do, photos taken in a Classic Car (they were new when I was a kid) or on a Harley (my dream!), a chance to "Name That Tune" (remember the old CHUM radio station?), watch a fashion show or just walk around to "Discover Good Living". Judi and I will be there, learning how to grow "old" gracefully or better still how to get the most out of being a "Boomer"!

Love Train Revue

There’s a lot more music in the air in York Region, thanks to George and Sher St. Kitts and their company, St. Kitts Music Inc. February is Black History Month and to help celebrate it, the St. Kitts have produced the “Love Train Revue”! This is a new show that stars George St. Kitts. The Revue will be held at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts on Thursday, February 11th, 2010. According to their News Release, “Love Train Revue is pleased to have Spider Jones as our illustrious Master of Ceremonies! This event is to raise awareness and preserve our national heritage and all the contributions made by Black Canadians over the years.” The release goes on to say, “Reminiscent of the Apollo Theatre and Soul Train the Love Train Revue show will feature great local Canadian artists; many are Juno winners/ nominees, all coming together to bring you a fantastic night of entertainment. It will be a challenge to sit still while enjoying the Sounds of Motown, Jazz, Authentic African Folk Songs, Soul and Blues. Listen as your favourite artists’ tunes come alive: Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind & Fire, Sam & Dave, Wilson Picket, Jimmi Hendrix and Michael Jackson. A real valentine treat filled with love – looks like it’s - time to get your groove on!” One of the great things about the Love Train Revue is their support of local charities. In speaking with promoter Sher St. Kitts, she tells me that raising money for local charities is a “must” for any event they plan. There are three charities being supported, Safehaven (www.safehaven.to), Believe to Achieve (www.believetoachieve.com) and N.O.A.H. Canada – Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity (Canadian Branch) (http://www.noahorphans.ca/). Anyone who would like to attend this great event can purchase tickets at www.richmondhill/ticketwindow.ca 905 787 8811. Group rates are available – contact 905 841 6489, St. Kitts Music, for further information. Finally, another St. Kitts Music Inc. event that will be coming to York Region will be the second annual Aurora Jazz+ Festival coming at the end of July, 2010. I’ll have more on the upcoming event in future Blogs. To find out more about St. Kitts Music Inc. visit their website at http://www.stkittsmusic.ca/.

Ontario Discovered

I recently discovered a website that I think festival and event visitors will really enjoy! The website is called Ontario-Travel-Secrets.com and is the creation of Guylaine Spencer. Guylaine is a freelance writer specializing in travel, history and the arts. The website exists because of Guylaine’s love of Ontario and all its wonderful treasures! Her articles tell visitors to her website how best to “discover” or “re-discover” Ontario and its many attractions. Ontario-Travel-Secrets.com is loaded with a wide array of eclectic information, ranging from perfect accommodations, exciting attractions, towns and cities to visit to where to find museums, arts and crafts studios and live performances! Guylaine even talks about how to choose camping facilities, financial considerations and how to get where you want to go! All in all, it’s a great encyclopedia of Ontario facts and people. As you click through each page you will learn more about Ontario then you ever knew, this goes for visitors and residents alike! The next time you and your family want to “Discover Ontario”, head to Guylaine Spencer’s Ontario-Travel-Secrets.com website. You’ll be glad you did!

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Cobourg)

During the past few years Judi and I have visited almost 150 Ontario community festivals and events. The majority have been planned and managed by dedicated community volunteers. As a salute to these wonderful communities and their hard working residents, I will be writing a series of blogs entitled “Great Ontario Communities”. These blogs describe the communities we have visited and will tell you about some of the interesting things we have experienced and the people we have met. The sixth article is about Cobourg, located on the north shores of Lake Ontario.
COBOURG – Fortunately Cobourg is Judi’s and my hometown. It is located on Lake Ontario between Toronto and Kingston. We have lived worked here for 20 years and love the area. Cobourg’s closest neighbour is Port Hope. While there is much rivalry between the two towns, they really compliment one another. Both are tourist oriented, but in different ways. Port Hope is a town of antique shops, historic buildings and Bed and Breakfasts. They cater to an “older crowd”. Cobourg on the other hand seems to be more upbeat and caters to a “younger crowd”. Its beautiful sandy beach is one of the best on Lake Ontario. Its harbour attracts boaters from both Canada and the USA and its unique downtown waterfront RV Park offers both long term and short term campers first class camping facilities! Cobourg attracts all those who love the water and want to enjoy its many pleasures! Judi and I enjoy walking along Cobourg’s waterfront trail most mornings. There is always something different to see and hear! At one time Cobourg hoped to become the capital of Canada. They even built a magnificent edifice, Victoria Hall, for that purpose, but it was not to be. Cobourg prospered, however and today it is the hub of Northumberland County. The county has its newly built offices here. There is a new first class regional hospital close by. A regional shopping mall just celebrated its 20th anniversary and the local Wal-Mart just expanded. Cobourg also offers its residents and visitors plenty of activities. It is the home of several well attended festivals, such as the Cobourg Waterfront Festival (ten’s of thousands visit this event each year), the Cobourg Highland Games, the Cobourg Winter Festival, the Northumberland Ribfest and the fun and sun filled Cobourg Sandcastle Festival. It is also the home of many sporting events. On most summer weekends you will find some sort of tournament, softball, soccer and beach volleyball to name a few! There is even a new community centre planned for completion in 2011. Cobourg is an exciting place to live and to visit! Visit the Town of Cobourg's website at http://www.town.cobourg.on.ca/

Nomad's Top Ten 2009 Festival Highlights

All of the festivals and events that Judi and I have visited this year have been excellent, but there are a few that have really stood out. The following is our 2009 Top Ten Festiavl Highlight list.
1. FESTIVAL OF TEXTILES AT LANG PIONEER VILLAGE – This past year Judi and I were invited to visit the new Festival of Textiles and to participate in the textile fashion show. Judi and both enjoyed “dressing up” and meeting so many wonderful people!
2. CANAL, RAILWAY AND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL – This event takes place annually in the charming town of Smiths Falls. Judi and I were invited to “re-visit” the festival by festival chair, Jim McPherson. At the festival we were treated to a Voyageur Canoe trip up the Rideau Canal into the Smith Falls’ “Swale”. This was a wonderful opportunity to visit and enjoy Smiths Falls’ conservation area. This amazing area is home to many unique animals, fish and flowers. We also attended the Festival’s opening ceremonies and were presented with a commemorative print. The event was further highlighted when Judi and I, along with Deputy Minister, Jim Brownell, M.P.P., judged the “Chocolate” contest! A fitting end to a terrific day!
3. ST. LAWRENCE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL – In July we had the pleasure to travel to Prescott for the opening of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. The opening play they were presenting was Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew”. This was our first visit to Prescott and their Shakespeare Festival. Not only was the play wonderful, so was our reception by the people of Prescott! Fate seated us directly in front of Prescott’s Mayor, Suzanne Dodge. After Judi and I found out that the Mayor was seated behind us, we introduced ourselves. From then on we were treated like “long lost friends”! After the play the Mayor insisted that we come to the Opening Night Gala! We did, and had a great time. It's Prescott’s bi-centennial in 2010 and the town has plans for many bi-centennial celebrations. I know that Judi and I will go back to help our “friends” celebrate!
4. ILLUMINAQUA – Every second Friday the City of Welland hosts a concert at their new amphitheatre in Merritt Park. This new facility is absolutely amazing as was the opening night of IlluminAqua! The theme of the concert series is FIRE-MUSIC-WATER and the festival followed the theme in “spades”! Flames from the floating “fire pits” glistened and danced on the rippling waters of the old Welland Canal while the “Destino Tenors” entertained an enthusiastic audience! This was definitely a “night to remember”!
5. WASAGA UNDER SIEGE – If you enjoy historic battle re-enactment (which Judi and I do), Wasaga Beach was the place to be during the Wasaga Under Siege re-enactment. The re-enactment included both a naval battle and a land battle, each depicting the challenges of war. After the battles were over, we all marched to the Nancy Island Historic Site where battle participants had set up their re-enactment encampment.
6. NORWOOD FALL FAIR – I’m not sure why I was so surprised, but I was, pleasantly! The Norwood Fall Fair gets top marks! I guess I should have known the event would be great when I visited their website. It was very informative and well designed. The fair grounds and events were even better! Judi and I really enjoyed our visit to Norwood. For anyone who likes to visit fall fairs, Norwood is a “must see”!
7. FORT FRIGHT – In late fall Fort Henry in Kingston transforms itself into “Fort Fright” and frightening it is! So much so that Judi refused to go with me. That was okay because I invited my son-in-law, Eddy, who loves to be “frightened”! The “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is his favourite movie! Our first “adventure” was the famous “ghost walk” tour. Here we learned of the many “ghostly” sightings that have been experienced over the years! After the ghost walk we ventured down to the lower fort where all of the “frightening” activities were taking place. The whole lower fort had been “transformed”! Eddy and I explored each of the rooms and walkways and enjoyed the “frightening” displays and performances! Eddy was in his element and, judging by the amount and volume of screams around us, I would say so were many other visitors!
8. BOBCAYGEON WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL – The Kawartha Settlers Village hosts the Bobcaygeon Wine & Food Festival each year. This year’s event was of particular interest to Judi and I because of their featured chef, Chef Corbin Tomaszeski. We had seen the Chef several times on the TV show, Restaurant Makeover and had even seen him live at the Norfolk County Fair, so we knew what to expect and we certainly were not disappointed with his performance in Bobcaygeon! As an added bonus for Judi, she met her new “BFF”, retired CTV weatherman, Dave Devall. Dave was at the festival acting as MC for the festival’s events. Judi, who has admired Dave for some time, quickly introduced herself and then proceeded to have several photos taken with him! Yes, I was the unwitting photographer!
9. FANSHAWE PIONEER VILLAGE – We had traveled to the village for their Harvest Festival and as a result experienced one of the best pioneer villages we had ever visited! Not only were the village and its buildings very interesting, but the village interpreters were exceptional! They were both knowledgeable and enthusiastic! When I expressed an interest in the farm animals to one of the interpreters, she immediately asked if I would like a personal tour of the barn where the animals were housed. This was a special treat because she was not specifically assigned to the barnyard area. Dressed in her period costume she led me back to the barn area to show me the “restricted” inside. The pride that she showed in her knowledge of the animals was catching. As we walk back to her village “station” she explained to me that the village management had entrusted her with the feeding of the livestock! Fanshawe’s attention to detail was very interesting. Even their “modern day” conveniences, “wheelchair ramps” and “recycling containers” blended in with period construction of the buildings!
10. WARKWORTH CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS – The Warkworth Canada Day Celebrations were held in Warkworth’s local park. When we arrived it seemed like the whole town was there preparing for the day’s events! They had gathered together and were offering park visitors everything from games to cake and popcorn to concerts! There was so much to do and to eat and, it was all FREE! Our thanks go out to the residents of Warkworth who truly know how to celebrate the spirit of Canada and its birthday!

Nomad’s Top Ten Festival Tips

Over the years Judi and I have discovered a number of festival tips. Many of these have been learned through the “School of Hard Knocks”! Although I have mentioned a number of these in various articles, I thought I would present them again in this “Top Ten” list.
1. CHECK THE FESTIVAL’S WEBSITE – Most festivals and events now maintain a website. If you are planning on visiting a festival or event, this is the best place to start. On the festival’s website you should be able to find out important information such as festival dates and times, exact location, costs and activities.
2. PRE-PLAN YOUR ROUTE – Nothing can be more frustrating then getting held up on the highway because of a traffic jam! Having an alternative route plan can help eliminate or minimize “traffic frustration”. The “Google Map” is the festival visitors’ best friend. Judi and I use it all the time. By using their “Get Directions” (Link to Get Directions) feature, you can find and print plenty of alternative routes. And, who knows, the alternative route will likely be a lot more adventuresome and fun then the direct route!
3. DEVELOP A CHECKLIST – Having a festival/event checklist can make visiting an event more enjoyable, especially if the visit includes children! Forgetting something important can be quite bothersome, if not downright annoying! No-one likes to have to turn back the retrieve an important item! Planning what you need, in advance, cuts down the chance of this happening. Once you have created your initial list, you can use it for all the festivals and events you plan to visit!
4. BRING A FRIEND - If you enjoy visiting festivals and events as much as Judi and I do, you’ll likely want to share the experience with your family and friends! When you are deciding what festival or event you plan to visit, ask around to see who else would like to go with you. If not your family or friends, consider asking a “senior” to go with you. “Spread the festival joy and fun!”
5. PACK A PICNIC LUNCH – Not all festivals and events have a wide selection of nutritious food. If you are concerned about this, pack a picnic lunch. This way you can choose food that is appealing to the whole family and you’ll likely save a little money in the process! As Judi keeps reminding me, “Don’t forget the sanitary wipes to clean your hands!”
6. WATER – It is very important to bring water with you. Not all events have water available. This is particularly important in the hot summer months! Without enough water in your system, you can easily become dehydrated quickly! Using a refillable water bottle is best, especially for the environment!
7. TAKE A PICTURE OR FIVE – Capturing the memories of a great event is so easy and inexpensive these days because of digital cameras! You no longer have to worry about wasting “film”! A word of caution, though, make sure you have enough memory space on your “Memory Card” and that you have an extra set of batteries.
8. CLOTHING – Always plan your clothing for the event you are visiting! This goes for both clothing and footwear. If it’s a summer event, remember to bring a hat and sun block. If it’s the winter, "layer" your clothing so that you can “strip” down or up depending on how hot or cold you feel! As for footwear, make sure you wear your most comfortable walking shoes or boots.
9. BRING CASH – Many festivals and events only accept cash for their admittance fee. The same goes for food booths amusement rides and parking. Make sure you bring enough cash to cover all contingencies! Some festivals and events do offer ATM machines, but most don’t.
10. WASHROOMS – If you are like some of us (me), knowing the location of event washrooms is a must! Some events mark the location of their washrooms on their program and that’s great! However, you can’t always count on that convenience, so make sure you ask festival staff where they are located. If that’s not possible you might want to reconnoiter the grounds while you still can!

P.S. Let us know if you have any "Festival Tips" you'd like to share.