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.

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Campbellford)

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 fifth article will be about Campbellford, located along the banks of the Trent River.
CAMPBELLFORD – Fortunately for Judi and me, Campbellford is only an hour’s drive away! This is one of the most picturesque towns along the Trent-Severn Waterway. As you enter Campbellford from the south on County Road 30, you encounter a long park strip that is nestled between the county road and the waterway. Follow the park (Old Mill Park) far enough and you come to the downtown area plus you will be greeted a giant replica of the Canadian “Toonie” (two dollar coin). Campbellford is the hometown of the Toonie’s creator, internationally collected artist, Brent Townsend. In the summer, the park is a beautiful place to stop and have a picnic lunch! Judi and I try to do this a least twice a year. As you can probably tell from my enthusiasm, Campbellford is a wonderful place to visit (and live)! There are lots of interesting shops in the downtown area including Bennett’s Furnishings and a “to die for” bakery! I can still feel the “sugar rush” from their decadent donuts! So far Judi and I have visited two of their annual events, the Polar Bear Plunge (January) and their Canada Day Celebrations (July 1). Other annual events include the Campbellford Bridal Fair (February), the Trillium Walk in Ferris Park (May), Chrome on the Canal (July), Campbellford BIA Waterfront Festival (July), Campbellford-Seymour Agricultural Fair (August), the Santa Claus Parade (November) and finally, the Showcase of Lights (December). Nearby, “must see” attractions include Westben Arts Festival Theatre and Ferris Provincial Park. Westben Arts Festival Theatre is renown for its “World Class Music and its Wide Open Countyside”. The following is an excerpt from their website. “Bringing culture and nature together in perfect harmony, the magnificent 400-seat timber-frame barn opens onto a lush meadow, surrounded by the gently rolling hills of Northumberland County.” and “The stage hosts an incredible array of renowned Canadian and international artists, from full symphony orchestras & choruses to chamber music and soloists.” Ferris Provincial Park is located just outside of Campbellford. It’s trails are open summer and winter. The 300 foot long suspension bridge, 30 feet over the Ranney Gorge, gives all its visitors an adventure to remember! So, whether it’s picnicking along the waterfront, shopping in the downtown or visiting on of the town’s terrific festivals or attractions, Campbellford is a “must” visit! To find out more about Campbellford, visit the BIA website at http://www.campbellfordbia.ca/.

Festival Correspondents WANTED

There are some 5,000 festival and events in Ontario. Judi and I have visited about 45 events per year over the last three years. While this is large number of events for us to cover, it’s not enough to satisfy our desire to cover and write about as many Ontario’s festivals and events as possible. That is why we have developed our “Festival Correspondents Program”. So now we are seeking individuals and couples to join our “Festival Correspondents Team”. “What’s involved”, you ask? It’s simple, all you have to do is to choose a festival or event you are interested in visiting and the let the “old” Festival Nomad (me) know which one you want to visit! Once you’ve made your choice, we will contact the event’s organizers and let them know that you are coming. Where possible we will arrange for media credentials. After you have finished your visit you will provide us with your report on the event plus any digital photos you have taken. Yes, we want digital photos to enhance the festival’s article and the more, the better. Judi and I usually take a hundred or so photos per event we visit. This allows us to choose the best photos possible. From there, Judi and I will do the rest. We will your publish your article (with photos) and you will get full credit! Your name “in lights” so to speak! You’ll be a “Festival Insider” with the opportunity to tell others about your festival experiences! It’s all fun and simple. Heck, we’ll even give you your own “Ontario Festivals Visited” baseball caps! If you’d like to find out more about joining our “Festival Correspondents Team”, call the Festival Nomad (Gary McWilliams) at 1-888-818-0255 or e-mail him at gary@ontariofestivalsvisited.ca.