Comic Con attracts Trekkies; Battle of Stoney Creek returns; garden tours in Huron-Perth

   One-Tank Trip for May 31/14

 

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Trekkies, those devoted Star Trek fans, will be “beamed up” to Niagara Falls next week.

   They’ll be drawn by William Shatner who portrayed Captain James T. Kirk in the original TV series who appears at Niagara Falls Comic Con.

   This year’s event from June 6 to 8 features “more than 30 pop culture celebrities,” said Chris Dabrowski, show manager.

Darth Vader from Star Wars was among the celebrity guests at last year’s Niagara Falls Comic Con.

   Being held at the Scotiabank Convention Centre (6815 Stanley Ave.), there will be exhibitors, comic books, movie cars, cosplay (costume play) contests, celebrity autographs and photo-ops, a video gaming arena and Falls Horror Fest with movie actors, memorabilia, props and displays.

   Fans can have their picture taken with a replica of the Ghostbusters’ “Ecto-1” vehicle.

   Members of the 501st Legion will be dressed up as Stormtroopers and other characters from the Star Wars trilogy.

   Among the celebrities attending along with Shatner, who is there only on the Sunday, are Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman); Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead); Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring: Breaking Bad); Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off); Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters); and Erika Eleniak, “Shauni McClain” on Baywatch.

Crowds jam the exhibitor’s area at the Comic Con in Niagara Falls.

   Also appearing are Kevin Sorbo (TV’s Hercules); Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills 90210); Burt Young (Rocky); David Faustino, “Bud Bundy” on Married . . . With Children; wrestling legends the Killer Bees, Ric Flair and tag team Demolition; Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who: 7th Doctor); the Comic Book Men; Kevin Eastman (Creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles); Phil Ortiz (Simpsons’ artist); and Dan Parent (Archie Comics).

   Show hours are June 6, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; June 7, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and June 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

   Tickets are $25 daily or $60 for the weekend. Details: niagarafallscomiccon.com

   Ready, aim, fire

   It was considered a turning point in the War of 1812 and the Battle of Stoney Creek will be “re-enacted” for the 33rd year on June 7 and 8.

   The event is at Battlefield House Museum & Park National Historic Site (77 King St. W.)  in the community near Hamilton.

  The Battle of Stoney Creek in the War of 1812 is being re-enacted in June. (Tourism Hamilton photo)

   Visitors can explore encampments, interact with early 19th-century settlers and soldiers, climb up the Battlefield Monument and have a tour of the historic Gage family home.

   They can experience historical cooking, dancing and blacksmithing demonstrations, try period games and enter a 19th-century skills competition while one-of-a-kind wares will be sold by merchants.

   Live entertainment will include music, period-dancing demonstrations and performances by the Drums, Crown Forces 1812 drum corps, Rodney the Younger, 18th-century Conjurer and Faire Wynds Entertainment.

   There will also be the re-enactor cast iron cook-off competition and a men’s military and civilian fashion show.

   Weekend admission is $10, adults; $5, youths; free, children to age five. Hours are June 7, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and June 8, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

   Battle re-enactments are June 7 at 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., with fireworks to follow at night, and Sunday at 2 p.m. Details: battlefieldhouse.ca; (905) 662-8458

   Blooming visits

   Here’s a chance to “see over fences and hedges at gardens that are lovingly tended” in Huron and Perth counties.

   More than 20 private gardens will be open to the public starting June 1 in the Undiscovered Gardens’ program, said Rhea Hamilton Seeger of Auburn.

Shade and sunny gardens, featuring old-fashioned perennials and native trees, can be viewed at Rhea Hamilton Seeger and Klaus Seeger’s home in Auburn.

   The volunteer, non-profit group welcomes visitors to a “selection of gardens” at various times throughout June, July and August.

   They include the Purple Rooster at RR 1, Gorrie, with an eclectic mix of sun and shade, old and new shrubs and perennials.

   Karen Redmond in Auburn uses ornamental grasses to create a double garden – one that can be seen from the street and a hidden one in behind.

   Vicky and Doug Culbert in Goderich have designed and created a monument garden dedicated to surveyors’ monuments displayed in a reflective shade garden surrounded by Explorer roses.

   Riverbend Gardens and Nursery in Wroxeter/Howick features nearly 1,000 varieties of hostas, while others have vegetables and herbs, raised beds and functional gardens.

   Others incorporate environmental aspects such as rain barrels, rain gardens and wildlife habitats. Details: gardensofhuronperth.com

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca