Cranberry Festival 22
16th October 2022
Cranberries Centre Stage
By Tim Du Vernet
The weekend after Thanksgiving is the Cranberry Festival in Muskoka. The rest of Ontario might think of it just as the weekend after the end of the cottaging season, time to wrap up and shutter the summer. But Bala pulls out all the stops to celebrate the cranberry! The two cranberry marshes in Muskoka give reason for this special weekend. Muskoka Lakes Cranberry marsh was centre stage with fresh berries, jams, jellies, juice, wine, chocolates and more. Visitors come by car and bus to the little town and for the three-day event.
The weekend is usually mostly cold, wet and windy. Despite this, crowds lined the streets, filled the restaurants and cued to enter the main show, display and vendor area. The town gave up its arena and community centre to offer something for everyone and including their four legged dependents. Street actors, an art exhibition, crafts-persons, food and a farmers’ market entertained visitors. My favourites were the chocolate coated blueberries and assorted flavours of shortbread cookies.
The event wasn’t without its connection to boating. Boat shaped dishes and servers and small iron scale anchors, rope hooks were some of the nautical items for sale. The Bracebridge Town Crier, Bruce Kruger came out in full garb to share the moment with one of the street actors up on stilts. Bruce has represented Bracebridge for decades. One of the wonderful aspects of an event such as this is the opportunity to meet friends from all over Muskoka and the community connections it represents.
Summer Excitement is Here
By Tim Du Vernet
The ACBS-Toronto boat show is looming large now. With just one weekend to go! For wooden boaters, the show represents a serious start to the season with the long weekend past.
While ACBS-Toronto organizes the event hosted by the Town of Gravenhurst, the ACBS is a big organization and draws participation to this show from several of its chapters.
That means both boating participants and spectators alike will get to enjoy a broad range of classic boats from as far away as Florida, Ottawa, and beyond.
As classic boat collecting matures, more and more fiberglass boats become vintage and historically significant. This year’s show will combine all classic craft into a one day public event on Saturday with member activities happening Friday through Sunday.
Once again, the ever popular card board boat building event will be fun for youth and families as well as those who love to see just how far a card board boat can go.
A special highlight of this year’s event is the return of Miss Canada IV to Gravenhurst. Built by Greavette Boats, she will be the centre of attention at 12:00 with official ceremonies. The return of Miss Canada represents the co-ordinated efforts of many people from Ingersol to Gravenhurst. She will be part of a remarkable documentary film titled “Harold and Lorna”.
The show boat is the very historically significant KITTYHAWK. This name is tied to aviation history as well as more humble boating history on Georgian Bay.
Built in 1929 by Gidley Boats, KITTYHAWK started her career as a taxi boat. She came up for sale and Orville Wright bought her in 1931 after she a hardtop had been added.
KITTYHAWK was his Georgian Bay boat, where he spent the summer. At 32’6” and substantial freeboard , KITTYHAWK, is ready to handle the waters of Georgian Bay. Perhaps her sturdy nature is one of the features that attracted Orville Wright. The Gidley “Gull” model is described in the brochure as an all mahogany express runabout, equipped with a Kermath engine. A “general purpose craft she has a passenger capacity of eight plus incidental baggage accommodation.”
Shis is currently owned by Guy and Kathy Johnstone, who summer on Georgian Bay in an area known as Franceville East. KITTYHAWK will be brought to Lake Muskoka and launched specially for the show. It is expected that representatives of the Wright family will be present for the special showing of this remarkable boat.
Once again, there will be lots to see at this year’s boat show. Remember, the show is one day only with a modest admission fee.
The ACBS will also be selling posters featuring the KITTYHAWK in two versions, the production version and a very exclusive, limited edition version produced by Tim Du Vernet. More updates on the show next week!