Saturday June 14, 2014 marks the 8th edition of the Westport Heritage Festival, a family-friendly festival where you can spend the day relaxing in the village. Our 700 residents love opening the town up to visitors and their families. Come out and enjoy the festival, kids can roam through the petting zoo and have their faces painted, you can take home a freshly made rhubarb strawberry pie.

Each June the picturesque village of Westport celebrates its small town charm and heritage with an all-day street festival where dozens of vendors sell art, crafts, unique one-of-a-kind gifts and delicious homemade food, it provides a chance to showcase the village charms to new people coming from Ottawa and Kingston.

Thacker recently said, “The event celebrates our success as a village and as a community. Westport is not immune to the ups and downs of the economy and what have you, but we persevere and are rewarded with a vibrant, vigorous village. Each year we marvel at the number of people that return. It’s been said before; nobody’s a stranger very long in Westport”.

Information Contact:
Nicki Thacker, Westport Heritage Festival – 613.273.4780; visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/heritagewestport

This coming May 17 come down to Seeley’s Bay for the Red Canoe Festival. There are a series of canoe and kayak events, fitness events, a fishing tournament, and tons of activities for the little ones.

Shop in the Red Canoe Open Marketplace, enjoy a pancake breakfast or meal at the Volunteer Firefighters BBQ.

So much to see and do, it’s going to be fun for the whole family! So don’t miss out, come to Seeley’s Bay and stay for the whole day.

Events
Bowfin and Pike Tournament 6am-3pm
Kayak 101 Clinic 8-10:30am
Legion Pancake Breakfast 8:30-10:30am
Spring Back into Motion 9-10:30am
Fisheroo Silent Auction 9am-3:30pm
Kids and Cops Fishing 9am-noon
Red Canoe Fest Marketplace 9am-3:30pm
Antique Boat Display 9am-3:30pm
The Art of Paddle Making 9am-3:30pm
Adventure – Paddle Smart Interactive Demonstration 9:30am onwards
Paddling for Fitness 11am-12:30pm
Paddle Pursuit 11am-1pm
Silent Poker Run 1:30-3:30pm
Uncle Waldo’s Wacky Tacky Variety Puppet Show 11-11:40am & 2-2:40pm
Volunteer Firefighters Chicken BBQ 4:30pm
Harmoniacs Singalong Seely’s Bay Legion 7-9pm

Come the Elgin Public Library on Wednesday, May 14, for stories, activities, games and art for children and their families. Always free and always drop-in. Contact Vicki at 613-359-5315 or vstevenson@rideaulakeslibrary.ca for more information. This free event is open from 10:30-11:30am.

Come to Camp Iawah on May 17 for a free open house event and Beach BBQ. Fun for the whole family. Get to know our camp and our services. Also register your young ones for camp!

The last flag to be flown at Security Headquarters in Kabul will arrive in Westport on May 6 as part of the Soldier On Relay. The flag will arrive at the Westport Legion at 2:30 (approximately). A large receiving party will assemble at the Legion to welcome them. Members of the public are invited to attend to show their support. The flag will then travel to Parliament  Hill in Ottawa for the National Day of Honour on May 9th. More details are available on our blog and FB page.

The 22nd Annual indoor Westport Antique Show & Sale will return to the beautiful Village of Westport again this year on June 7-8, 2014. Doors open at 10am.

The show will be held in the Westport Community Centre on the corner of Spring and Concession Streets.Saturday show hours are 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm. Admission is $6, and children under 12 Free. Plenty of free parking!
This year we will have more fabulous dealers from Ontario and Quebec. There will be more new vendors this year, all qualified antique dealers! The dealers promise to bring excellent fresh inventory including the finest antiques in glass, tools, china, pine furniture, pottery, crystal, silver, folk art, formal furniture, collectibles and much more!
For more information: Email Canadianantiquefairs@gmail.com Phone: 613 795 9676
see more at: https://www.explorewestport.com

Spring has finally begun and Rideau Lakes residents are finally outdoors enjoying themselves. If you’re still looking for some fun events this May, join us at The Cove for concerts, dinners and more. Read on and find an event for you!

Every Wednesday until May.28
WINGS + TUNES Night with SHAWN McCULLOUGH (guitar/vocal)
6-9pm
www.reverbnation.com/shawnmccullough

Fri.May.2
HEAD OVER HEELS (Vocal Guitar Duo)
6-9pm
www.kevinheadmusic.com

Sat.May.3
THE NIGHT IS YOUNG: A Musical Tribute to Neil Young
feat. Seamus Cowan, Jason Kent, Eric Lawrance and Rob Radford
8-11pm

Sun.May.4
Sunday Roots Matinees
JAMES RYCE & TOP SHELF (Kingston, Old Time Country)
1-4pm
www.jamesryce.com

Fri.May.9 and Sat.May.10 (Saturday SOLD OUT)
Blues on the Rideau Presents
DAVID ROTUNDO BAND (Toronto)
7-11pm
Reservations Only
www.davidrotundo.com
www.bluesontherideau.ca

Tue.May.13
SOUTHERN ITALIAN WINE DINNER
5 Course Dinner with Wine Pairings! WOW!
6-9pm

Fri.May.16
SHAWN McCULLOUGH (guitar/vocal)
6-9pm
www.reverbnation.com/shawnmccullough

Sat.May.17
Westport Arts Council Fundraiser
SUMMER KICK OFF PARTY with THE KEY-LITES (Montreal, Soul)
www.thekeylites.com
www.westportartscouncil.ca

Sun.May.18
HEAD OVER HEELS (Vocal Guitar Duo) on the Patio
12:30-3:30pm
www.kevinheadmusic.com

Fri.May.23
SUNFIELDS (Montreal, Alt-Country Pop)
feat. Jason Kent
8-11pm
www.sunfieldsband.com

Sun.May.25
HEAD OVER HEELS (Vocal Guitar Duo) on the Patio
12:30-3:30pm
www.kevinheadmusic.com

Fri.May.30
ACOUSTIC SONGWRITER’S CIRCLE
with Mike Cochrane, Seamus Cowan, Kevin Head & Eric Lawrance
8-11pm

Sun.Jun.1
Sunday Roots Matinees
FOLEY MOUNTAIN PLAYBOYS (Kingston, Folk/Bluegrass)
feat. Tom Savage
1-4pm
www.tomsavage.ca

The Rideau Lakes Figure Skating Club’s Spring skate session is now accepting registrants to join the skate club in their Canskate programs. Early registrants enjoy a discount, so join today! http://www.rlfsc.com/index.html

Want to ride a really BIG BIKE? Join the Elgin Lions on April 29 as they raise funds and awareness for heart and Stroke by riding the famous big bike starting at 10:30 am. You can ride or sponsor a rider – contact Ross Hawkins for details at 613-359-5833. Lunch provided!

This April 20-26 it’s time to do your community duty. Pitch-in & help clean up roadsides, parks, school yards & shorelines. Pick up your free pitch in (yellow) bags at the Municipal Office, Post Offices, libraries & local businesses. Call 1-800-928-2250 Ext 230 for more information. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who “pitch-in” each year. Your efforts truly make Rideau Lakes a welcome community!