Plenty of family fun in store at this weekend's festival
Posted Jul 15, 2010 By Ryland Coyne
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Tweet ThisEMC Events - A weekend of family fun returns to town this weekend with the staging of the Canal, Railway & Chocolate Festival Friday through Sunday, July 16-18.
While the main focus will be on Centennial Park in the heart of town overlooking the Rideau Canal, several activities are also planned at different venues including the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario and the Rideau Canal Museum.
"I think it's going to be great," says Dave Pringle, one of a trio of organizing committee co-chairs (with Dawn Quinn and Jim MacPherson) overseeing the staging of the community's largest festival.
All the fun opens on Friday with a number of local entertainers taking to the Town of Smiths Falls main stage under the water tower, starting with Fernando Scatozza and his blues/jazz band at 5 p.m. Following the opening ceremonies at 6 p.m., the music continues throughout the night including Johnny Rock Starr at 6:30 p.m., The Journeymen, featuring Roger Plant and Friends from Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo at 7:30, Maria Hawkins at 9 and Fire weavers/CD music provided by Little Chicago Studio at 10:30 p.m.
The gates to Centennial Park actually open at 4 p.m. with Homeniuk Amusements kicking off their midway with a Loonie Toonie Night. All rides are $1 or $2 and all vendors will have at least one item at this price.
Also Friday evening, the traditional Night Shirt Parade, which can trace its roots to Old Home Week almost a century ago, will line up in front of the Town Hall at 7 p.m. From there, all those dressed in their pajamas, night shirts and bathrobes will make their way down Beckwith Street to the festival site in the park.
At 9 p.m., be sure to be on hand when organizers 'Light Up The Parks' a bright view of Centennial and Victoria park venues as well as the boat basin.
Co-chair Jim MacPherson says the great lineup of performers throughout the festival is due in large part to the strong support from the community.
"I'm tremendously pleased with the response we've gotten from our community," he said, noting local businesses have been generous in backing different acts.
BUSY SATURDAY
Saturday morning, family and youth-centred fun begins bright and early with a puppet-making workshop with the Purple Dragon Puppet Theatre group at 9 a.m. Eric Leclerc then instructs in the art of 'Elementary Magic' at 10:30 a.m. In the afternoon, youngsters can learn about balloon twisting with Lil' John, cartooning with Deputy Doodle, face painting with Dottie the Clown and character creation with Frank Meschkuleit.
At the Children's Stage on Turtle Island, Lil' John puts on his variety and magic show at 10:30 a.m. In the afternoon, there's Cap 'n Matt's Treasure Hunt at 1:45 p.m., YTV star Marcus at 2:45 and 5:15, Toopy and Binoo puppet show at 3:15, Deputy Doodle with Billy the Kidder at 4:45, and juggler Kobbler Jay at 6:15 p.m.
There's more children's entertainment at the Rideau Canal Museum with Dottie the Clown at 10:30 a.m., and The Renfrews at 1:45 p.m.
And at the Railway Museum, The Renfrews perform in the morning, with Eric Leclerc and his Elementary Magic at 1:45 p.m.
PARADE
Once again, the EMC parade returns to the streets of town, starting at noon on Saturday. The rolling celebration, which features a theme of 'Remembering the '50s and '60s' leaves from the old Croydon parking lot and travels along Lansdowne Avenue to Elmsley Street and down Beckwith Street, over the bridge and down Jasper Avenue where it will disperse around Riverdale Avenue. Anyone looking to participate in this year's parade is asked to be at the Croydon parking lot by 11 a.m. reports Margo Loughren of the town's community services department. "The parade is going to be astronomical," MacPherson said.
It will feature four bands, Shriners, and plenty of floats that are sure to bring a smile to all parade-watchers.
On the Main Stage on Saturday, there's a full day's worth of entertainment starting with Vyne Rhymes at noon. The Doherty Brothers play at 3:30 p.m., then return to the stage at 4:15 following the Dance-Off organized by the Smiths Falls & District Club for Youth. River City Junction and Kingston Grenadiers perform at 1 and 2:30 p.m. respectively while Cadillac Crew takes to the stage at 5 p.m.
Saturday evening, top stand-up comic Larry Smith serves as master of ceremonies at 6:15 p.m. leading into a performance by Elvis impersonator Shawn Barry and the AM/FM Band at 6:30 p.m.
Freddie Vette & The Flames fire up the audience with a near two-hour concert that starts at 8:30 p.m.
Fire Weavers closes out a very busy day at 10:30 p.m.
Pringle says he's pleased with music lineup which features blues/jazz on Friday, rock 'n' roll following the 50s and 60s theme on Saturday and folk on Sunday.
"There are so many great bands around but you can't have them all," he said.
ALL-WEEKEND EVENTS
If taking in one of the varied acts isn't in the cards, there's plenty to see and do all weekend long. The Homeniuk Amusements midway continues through Sunday, there are rickshaw as well as horse and wagon rides, Electric Circus Train rides in Centennial Park, Voyageur Canoe Rides along the Rideau, a wide array of displays and demonstrations as well as plenty of food booths and other vendors.
There's tug-o-war in the park Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., cardboard boat races Saturday morning at 10 a.m., Shriners Klowns, medieval battle demonstrations and even 'Fondue in the Park', offered up by the Garden Market (1 p.m. Saturday).
Local restaurants will be offering tasty chocolate treats on their respective menus during the festival. Be sure to taste-test your favorites during 'Adventures in Chocolate' at Chuckles Jack, 2 p.m. on Saturday. Also at that time, all those chefs with a sweet tooth are invited to share their talents through 'Creations in Chocolate'. Produce your favorite chocolate recipe and bring it to the restaurant where it will be auctioned off. Categories are:
- Remembering the 50s and 60s (festival theme),
- Tastiest
- Most Unusual.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Sunday, the schedule opens at 10:30 a.m. with Lil' John's magic show at the Rideau Canal Museum. The Renfrews return there at 1:30 p.m. that afternoon.
The family workshop schedule features Eccentric Juggler Kobbler Jay at 11 a.m., magician Eric Leclerc at noon, Dottie the Clown's face painting at 1 p.m., cartooning with Depute Doodle at 2 p.m. and Lil' John's balloon twisting at 3 p.m.
The Turtle Island stage lineup on Sunday starts at 11:30 a.m. with Capt 'n Matt's Treasure Hunt followed by Toopy and Binoo at 12:45 p.m., Purple Dragon Puppet Theatre at 1:45 and Play Date at 3 p.m.
MacPherson says the talent level of the children's entertainers is outstanding. Frank Meschkuleit is the man of a thousand voices, having worked on Fraggle Rock and currently on the Toopy and Binoo TV series. Markus, MacPherson notes, is flying in from Calgary where he is performing at the Stampede and Eric Leclerc is an accomplished performer who will amaze the audience.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing Capt'n Matt," he adds, explaining he's "kind of on two levels of humour.
"Every one of them has something unique to bring to the table."
On the Main Stage on Sunday, 'Tearless Soul' Dan Hedderson opens things at noon. On Common Ground takes over at 1 p.m., followed by The Roadies at 2 p.m., and closing with Meredith Luce & Band at 3:30 p.m.
All day long, the NAPA Auto Parts Gravity Grand Prix Soapbox Derby runs through the heart of town starting at 8:30 a.m. Beckwith Street will feature dozens of racers from across the region in this Canadian Soap Box Racing Association-supported event.
There's so much to see and do all weekend long. Admission is $5 per adults or $2 for children (each of Saturday and Sunday) or $10 for a Weekend Pass. For Friday, admission is just $2 for adults and $1 for children. Family passes can be purchased in advance at Milliwiggins, Dawn's Closet and the DBA office (morning hours only) for $20 each. These cover two adults and three children.
For more information, see the festival program in last week's EMC or visit www.canalrailwayfest.com
For Pringle, who has been involved with the festival on different levels for seven years, the event has come a long way to become a showcase of family and musical entertainment. "It's nice to watch the festival grow over the years," he said.
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