KAWARTHA LAKES-“For me, Canada Day is all about family and the time that you spend together,” says Erick Watson. Each year, the 1st of July is one of the busiest and most exciting days of the year, as Fenelon Falls residents join together to celebrate the national holiday and the beginning of summer. With a beach park, splash pad, interactive museum, locks and a great variety of businesses and restaurants, the village has become a wonderful destination for families.
“What I like about Canada Day is that there is so much for the kids to do,” observes Andrea Byrne. On July 1, Maryboro Lodge Museum and Garnet Graham Park are filled with fun, interesting educational activities. Visitors can Be a Rockstar! with Marky Monday, ride a pony, hold a snake, learn about being a fire fighter, hula hoop, sit to have their caricature drawn, jump in a bouncy castle, and enjoy the countless interactive activities created by Maryboro Lodge Museum. Mista Banana Balloona Mana will be twisting balloons into just about any animal that you can imagine.
The Harry Peterson Band will have Garnet Graham Park rocking starting at 10 am, with Jeanne Truax following at 2 pm. The Royal Canadian Legion hosts Canada Day on the Patio with a barbeque starting at 11:30 am. Slippery and the Dead Enders will be performing from 1 to 4 pm. “It is always a lot of fun at the Legion,” Wayne Hutchison explains. “They put on a nice meal and it is always packed. It is a great day with good music and lots of good people.”
At 6 pm the Fenelon Falls Rotary Club will be raffling off a 1973 Dodge Challenger valued at $65,540. The draw is the club’s major fundraiser for the year, and allows it to support practically every good cause in the village. Over the years, the Rotary Club has developed the beach park, built the arena and community centre, the baseball park, and helped many local charities to operate.
When local residents are asked what they look forward to about Canada Day, for many the immediate answer is: ‘The Fireworks!’ At 10:15 pm, as the last band of light disappears on the horizon, Supernova Fireworks lights up the night sky over Cameron Lake. Crowds gather in Garnet Graham Park, boaters congregate on the lake, and those who are fortunate enough to live on the water can watch the show from home. Don Deathe explains, “The fireworks crown off the whole day of festivities. I sit on my dock and it always seems like a wonderful show, that’s right there, just for you. Everyone around the lake can see the fireworks over the water.” Kendra Bell adds, “I love meeting up with my friends at the park to watch the fireworks. They’re loud, colourful, and it’s exciting to watch them shoot up in the air and explode… who doesn’t love a good explosion?!”
For many people, Canada Day is about the community coming together. Don observes, “I love seeing the crowds and everyone dressed in red and white.” Darlene Young continues, “It is a great occasion for people to gather. Canada should be something that we celebrate every day, because we are very lucky to live in the country that we do. Canada is such a beautiful country, with water, mountains, trees, and friendly people. And Fenelon Falls is an exceptionally beautiful place, with a wonderful sense of community.”
For more information about Fenelon Falls’ Canada Day celebrations see: https://maryboro.ca/events/canada-day/
This story is part of our partnership with Maryboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum and was writtn by Glenn Walker.
If you want to make a donation to the museum, you can e-transfer to: curator@maryboro.ca or mail a cheque to :
Maryboro Lodge Museum
Box 179
50 Oak Street
Fenelon Falls, ON
K0M 1N0
