It's party time along the Lake Huron shoreline

   One-Tank Trip for July 14/12

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The party’s happening along the Lake Huron shoreline to “celebrate summer, sand and sunshine.”

   Head for “Ontario’s West Coast” as one of the Great Lakes is the setting for a Shoreline Festival from July 20 to 22.

   It’s the place for beach tours, sandcastle building, shipwreck snorkelling, cardboard boat races and a Teddy Bear picnic.

The Lake Huron coast will be filled with visitors for the upcoming Shoreline Festival.

   Join the party

 

   “If you love summer, you’ll love the Lake Huron Shoreline Festival,” said Karen Stewart, event programmer.

   It encompasses the communities of Bayfield, Goderich, Point Farms, Port Albert, Port Blake and St. Joseph.

   “There’s always a lot going on all along the lakeshore,” added publicist Laurel Armstrong.

   Starting next Friday (July 20) at 6:30 p.m. in Goderich is a shore-line walk with a guide from the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation discussing the ecology and water quality.

   That’s followed by the National Film Board’s Waterlife documentary about the Great Lakes shown at the Huron County Museum.

   Cardboard cruisers

   The Huron Shore Regatta is on July 21 at 10 a.m., a cardboard boat-building competition and race in Goderich. The winner receives a cardboard trophy and bragging rights.

   Outdoor Adventures on the Shoreline, a beach hike and activities for children, starts at 10:30 a.m. hosted by the Port Blake Conservation Area.

   Then at 12:30 p.m., there’s a Teddy Bear picnic and parade at Port Blake with shoreline education and fun activities (after a bear sleepover at the Huron County Library on Friday night).

   That’s followed by OPP water safety demonstrations at the park at 2 p.m.

   Take a ride down memory lane at a Classic Car show by the Circle City Cruizers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on North Street and the Court House Square in Goderich.

   Guides from Save Ontario Shipwrecks will take visitors on hourly snorkelling tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see the wrecks in the Goderich “Boneyard.”

   There is a garden tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., youth activities at the Marine Museum from 1 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. and stargazing at 10 p.m. at Point Farms Provincial Park, north of Goderich.

   Port Albert is hosting bands and bocce on the beach from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

   St. Joseph brings the past alive in Grave Matters, a guided cemetery tour on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to share stories of the founders of the French settlement.

   Displays, music and refreshments will be offered at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

   On July 22, there’s a sandcastle building contest at 10 a.m. at Rotary Beach in Goderich while Bayfield hosts the Silly Summer Picnic and Croquet match on at noon at Clangregor Square with prizes for the silliest menu, decor, costumes and family or group.

   There’s the Thirsty Fames Adventure Scavenger Hunt, noon to 6 p.m. on sections of the Maitland Trail closest to Goderich.

   The festival is held by the Huron Arts & Heritage Network and the Goderich Marine Heritage Committee. Details at www.heritageandculture.on.ca

   Get out of jail free

   Go behind the bars at the Huron Historic Gaol in Goderich.

Faces of the Gaol is an event at the Huron Historic Gaol.

   Faces of the Gaol happens Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Aug. 23 and on Friday July 27 and Aug. 17.

   It’s a chance to “experience history as you explore and learn about daily life” at the National Historic Site between 1877 and 1911.

   Visit with accused murderer Sarah as well as Eva, committed for insanity, while the jail matron talks of the luxury of the newly constructed living quarters and her duties.

   The jail is open daily throughout the summer with admission $5; $4.50, seniors; $3.50, children. www.huroncounty.ca/museum; (519) 524-6971

   Celtic roots are showing

   “Great music and lots of learning can be had in all things Celtic” Armstrong said of the 

Goderich Celtic Roots Festival from Aug. 10 to 12 in Lions’ Harbour Park.

   Festival founders Warren and Eleanor Robinson said this marks the 20th year of bringing Celtic music, dance, craft art and culture to the area.

   It includes Celtic College, Celtic Kids Day Camp and the festival featuring the Tannahill Weavers of Scotland, Genticorum of Quebec, the Once of Newfoundland and Niamh Ni Charra from Ireland. www.celticfestival.ca; (519) 524 8221

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 Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com