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Posts Tagged ‘City of Kawartha Lakes’

Yes the clocks have turned back and it is time to get ready for the holidays.

What better way to get into the spirit than visiting the Kawartha Lakes Festival of Trees.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Kawartha Lakes Festival of Trees is taking place this year from November 9th to the 12th, 2017. This is a special 4 day event where you can wander through displays of trees, wreaths, garlands, and other festive items that have been generously donated by a number of community sponsors – businesses within the City of Kawartha Lakes and outlying communities.

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Photo Source http://kawarthalakesfestivaloftrees.org/ 

There are activities to appeal to the whole family, young and old. Here are just a few  highlights:

  • Friday night, November 10th, start off with a great meal – there are two sitting for the famous Roast Beef Dinner. Tickets are only $20 each but there are only 80 seats per sitting, so get your tickets soon.
  • For the first time in 20 years, Santa’s Reindeer will be at the Village on Saturday, November 11th from 12pm-4:30pm.
  • On Saturday, the Twilight Auction features a special Christmas tree to auction off, with proceeds going to a local charity. Register at 7 pm and be ready for the bidding at 7:30.
  • Children can get all their shopping done at Santa’s Secret Shoppe with the help of volunteers.
  • Santa, Mrs Claus, and elves visit the Festival of Trees!  Bring your children to Toyland Showcase on Friday: 6pm-8pm, Saturday: 12pm-8pm or Sunday 12pm-3pm to have them tell Santa what they would like for Christmas.
  • A traditon at the Festival of Trees is the Memorial Tree. Purchase a special ornament to take home for your own tree and a memorial card will be placed on the Festival tree in your loved one’s memory. Ornaments are only $5.00.
  • Parents can do their shopping too at the Christmas Boutique which offers stocking stuffers and unique gift items.

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Photo Source http://kawarthalakesfestivaloftrees.org/

Hours & Admission 

  • Thursday, November 9th: 5pm – 9pm
  • Friday, November 10th: 5pm – 9 pm
  • Saturday, November 11th: 12pm-9pm *Please note later than usual start time – Visit your local cenotaph and pay your respects for Remembrance Day*
  • Sunday, November 12th: 11am-3:30pm

Admission Price

  • Adult Weekend Pass: $10
  • Children aged 12 and under: Free

Complete details of all of the Festival activities can be found at the Festival of Trees Website http://kawarthalakesfestivaloftrees.org/. 

Hope to see you at the Kawartha Settlers’ Village, 85 Dunn St., Bobcaygeon, On. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Labour Day brings some relief for busy parents – school starts again! But with that relief comes the age old challenge of packing lunches that your kids will enjoy. What better shopping resource for the next two months than your local farmers market?

Take your pick!

  • peaches, apples, pears…
  • leafy greens, crispy carrots, peppers, tomatoes and celery
  • jams and jellies
  • deli meats
  • amazing baked goods
  • a full array of cheeses
  • naturally raised meats, eggs, and fish…

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Nutritionists offer some helpful ideas on how to encourage kids to enjoy the foods that are good for them. The habits they develop at a young age will remain with them long into adulthood.

  1. Set an example – Kids copy what their older siblings and parents are eating.
  2. Make food fun – Broccoli is not too exciting when you’re really hoping for macaroni and cheese. But if he is a dinosaur who needs to eat three small trees in order to outrun a tyrannosaurus rex, suddenly broccoli becomes fun.
  3. Get them involved in the shopping and cooking – Children are more invested in a meal if they help with its preparation.

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  1. Enforce the “one bite rule” – Research shows that children who have initially rejected a food must be exposed to it at least 8-10 times for the food to be accepted. Many parents have had success by requiring the child to try at least one solid mouthful of a rejected food whenever it is served. Eventually the food will be more familiar to the child and usually they begin to actually like it.
  2. Don’t force them to finish – One bite is different from finishing your plate. Fighting and punishments create a negative meal experience, and the child will learn to associate food with the bad feelings.
  3. Reward good behavior – Creating positive food experiences can decrease picky eating tendencies. Try rewarding with stickers for instance if they try a new food.
  4. Understand their knowledge base – Kids don’t understand what all the fuss is about good health. But they do understand getting bigger and stronger.
  5. Offer colorful food – You can expose them to more colors by adding more vegetables to their plates.
  6. Arrange food in patterns on the plate – Children love when their food is designed into patterns and when foods are separated.
  7. Keep at it!

You will survive back to school lunches and busy dinner hours with some help from the farmers in the area.

And help is close by. The Lindsay Farmer’s Market is one of the longest running markets in Ontario, established in 1859. It runs Saturdays until October 31st from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.

In addition to the items listed above, over 35 vendors also offer flowers, shrubs, home baking, wood furniture, crafts, fair trade organic coffee, outdoor wooden furniture, soaps, hand made jewelry, and paintings from local artists. You can start some Christmas shopping!

The Lindsay Farmers’ Market is at Victoria St. between Kent St. & Peel St., Lindsay, ON. Find out more from their website at http://lindsayfarmersmarket.ca/

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If you are a motorcycle enthusiast or a racing fan, you won’t want to miss the Canadian Tire Mosport Park Superbike Double Header this weekend.

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You can see Canada’s top motorcycle riders compete in a double header points race for the national Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship. Racing classes will include ProSportBike, Amateur Superbike, Amateur Sport Bike, and the Kawasaki Ninja 300 Racing Series.

Advance tickets are only $50 per person for the weekend or $60 at the gate. Your admission will give you access to the paddock areas right on the circuit infield where you can get photos and autographs from the racers – and a bird’s eye view of the action.

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If you are passionate fan and want to be even closer to the action, you can purchase a race day VIP hospitality package that includes a fully catered lunch, beverages and bar service on Sunday. And your VIP includes your admission for the whole weekend.

For further information contact the organizers…

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Email:

info@ctmpark.com

Phone:

1-800-866-1072

Address:

3233 Concession Road #10 Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K6

Buy your tickets online https://canadiantiremotorsportpark.com/collections/events-tickets

Interested in NASCAR truck racing? Then mark September 1st – 3rd on your calendar! You won’t want to miss the Chevrolet Silverado 250 returning on Labour Day weekend for its only Canadian appearance this year.

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Joining the trucks will be the NASCAR Pinty’s Series with the TOTAL QUARTZ 200, the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, the Canadian Touring Car Championship, and the Nissan Micra Cup.

Check out all the details at https://canadiantiremotorsportpark.com/pages/chevrolet-silverado-250

 

 

 

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I challenge you to find a more unique camping experience in the Kawarthas! In fact, if you know of something that can compete with this experience, let me know and I will write about it.

What am I referring to? Camping in beautiful Sandaraska Park, amid 200 acres and 219 campsites, in scenic Ganaraska Forest…with your horse!

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The surrounding forest includes 11,000 acres with access to hundreds of trails. You can explore the Ganaraska Forest on horseback and both of you can return to your private campsite. Most sites are fully serviced with hydro and water and offer pens of 10’ by 10’ or 12’ by 12’.

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Options range from 2 people / 2 horses + 2 pens, 3 persons / 3 horses + 3 pens, to 4 persons / 4 horses and 4 pens.

“Pack up the RV or tent, the family and your four-legged friend(s) and a spend a few days or a week in beautiful Sandaraska Park!” 

And there is more! Check out the special events happening every weekend including horse clinics with topics such as de spooking, and fun for the family including drama clubs, kid’s crafts, kids and adult’s karaoke.

Facilities include:

  • Daily, weekly or seasonal sites
  • Clean washrooms, hot showers and flush toilets
  • Two playgrounds and playhouse; large recreational hall, basketball and park library
  • Laundry facilities
  • Dumping station
  • New heated salt water pool; pool open from 9am to dusk
  • Hiking trails; nightly patrols
  • Fire pits, firewood and ice
  • Park store

…And fresh air, peace, tranquility and the opportunity to make new friends who love all of things that you do.

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For more information:

Sandaraska Park 156 Sandaraska Road Pontypool, ON  L0A 1K0

Phone: 705.277.2000

Our Park

Email:  sandaraskapark@live.ca

 Please note: Atv’s and dirt bikes are not to be ridden on Sandaraska Park property

 

Ganaraska Forest Centre 10585 Cold Springs Camp Road Campbellcroft ON L0A 1B0 Phone: 905.797.2721

gfc@grca.on.ca

Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority 2216 County Road 28 Port Hope ON L1A 3V8 Phone: 905.885.8173 Fax: 905.885.9824 info@grca.on.ca

 

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There is no shortage of special events and activities taking place on July 1st to help you celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary. Pick a location anywhere in the Kawarthas and you can be guaranteed to find lots of red and white!

Why not go to the Ranch Resort at 252 Ski Hill Road in Bethany? From July 1 to July 3 you can enjoy the Canada Day Tag Sale and Music Festival featuring local artisans, vendors, antique furniture, hanging art work, country bands, singers and more from 1 to 4 p.m.

Or if you venture a little further from home, why not attend the Multicultural Canada Day Festival at the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough? From 10 am to 3:30 pm you can enjoy International food and craft vendors, stage performers, and even demonstrations on a variety of sports from different cultures. Enjoy the fun at the Del Cray Park, 100 George St. N. in Peterborough.

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And don’t forget the Canada Day Parade in Peterborough. Entertainment from such groups as the Dixie Cats Band, Northern Roads Band and the Peterborough Pop Ensemble begins at 9 a.m. And be sure to be there for exactly 5 minutes to noon to participate in the singing of “O Canada”. The parade begins at 12 noon down George Street from Murray Street to Morrow Park. Children can enter the Bicycle Contest and ride their decorated bikes in the parade – but don’t let them forget their helmet!

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In fact, there are parades and celebrations throughout the area including:

Canada Day Celebrations – July 1, 2017 – Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre.

Canada Day Celebrations – July 1, 2017 – Maple Leaf Park, Cavan ON.

Classic Car Show – July 1, 2017 – King Street, Millbrook, ON.

Canada Day Parade – July 1, 2017 – Douro Community Centre.

Havelock-Belmont-Metheun Canada Day Celebration – 39 George Street East, Havelock.

Canada Day Parade – July 1, 2017 – Along Burleigh Street in North Kawartha.

Canada Day Celebrations – July 1, 2017 – Isabel Morris Park 20 Concession Street, Lakefield.

And in the City of Peterborough…

150 Downtown Pop-Up – Thursday June 29, 2017 – Great local entertainment and art at various locations throughout Downtown Peterborough.

Bash 150 – Friday June 30th, 2017 – Street Dance on Hunter Street with a great line-up of local musicians including headliners The Rocket Revue.

Canada Day Parade – July 1, 2017 – followed by the Multicultural Festival, Peterborough Musicfest with Kim Mitchell and Canada 150 Fireworks.

Heritage Day – July 2, 2017 – A full day of family fun at the Peterborough Museum and Archives and Peterborough Lift Lock.

There is so much going on that it will be hard to take it all in. Check for other details in your area at http://thekawarthas.ca/canada-day-in-peterborough-the-kawarthas/

…and review this list of other websites to help you fine tune your plans.

http://www.explorekawarthalakes.com/lindsay-canada-da

http://www.explorekawarthalakes.com/bobcaygeon-canada-day

http://www.cavanmonaghan.net/en/canada-150-celebrations.asp

http://www.townofbwg.com/Canada150

 

Let’s not forget a lot of the fun, great food and fireworks will be happening in your own backyard, literally! Enjoy the weekend with your family and friends – and of course, stay safe!

Happy Canada Day!

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Bethany.Ontario.Blog.Kawartha.TubingThis picture says it all!

Details can be found at: http://www.kawarthatubing.ca/

 

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It’s simple. The Buddha is smiling because he has recently been released from a storage crate in time to greet visitors at the Cham Shan Temple Open House on June 19th, 2017.

 

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The Temple is the first of the Buddhist Association of Canada Cham Shan Temple’s project to build four Temples that mimic the sacred Temples in China. Years ago the Buddhist Association of Canada purchased about 1,700 acres of land for this purpose. The Wutai Shan Temple is on 530 acres and is the first to be built. The remaining three are planned for Manvers Township.

The Temples will take at least 20 years to build for one simple reason – they are funded only by donations.

The doors will be open at 10 a.m. on June 19th for the annual open house. If last years open house is any indication, you will want to get there early as almost 2000 visitors enjoyed the 2016 tour. Admission and parking are free, but remember how critical your donation is to the ongoing development of the project. You will be able to tour all 530 acres by car, on foot or by tour bus.

The Cham Shan Temple is a recreation of a series of sacred sites of China, designed to be a smaller version of the sacred pilgrimage of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China.

The main building at the Wutai Sham Temple site is the Main Dharma Hall – it faces Devil’s Elbow Ski Hill. The main reception area, gift shop, tea room and dining hall are on the first floor. You will also find a display of 88 Jade Buddha Statues, all carved in Myanmar from white jade.

Below is an artist’s rendering of the Temple.

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This year’s event will feature a prayer and blessing service to celebrate the Buddhist Association of Canada Cham Shan Temple’s 50th Anniversary in Canada.

Visitors will be welcomed by the massive Happy Buddha statue – smiling above!

Here is some trivia to mark the special open house on June 19th: the Happy Buddha weighs in at 126 tons and makes the landscape around it look small. The statue reflects the Buddhist philosophy of tolerance, compassion and the belief that you reap what you sow.

Enjoy the open house on June 19th!

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Yes it’s that time of year again and the stars have certainly aligned for school aged children. Friday June 9th is a PA day which has given the Fair organizers the chance for an extra day of fun and activities. The Millbrook Fair will actually open on Thursday, June 8th at 9:30 am for students in grades 1 through 3. They will have the opportunity to visit a number of activity stations, supporting their early learning of all things agricultural.

Others can get a head start at 3:00 pm when general admission opens. The early birds will be ready for the midway to open at 4:00.  

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 This year marks the 168th year for the Millbrook Fair. That’s 168 years to perfect the full lineup of things to do and see. And there is something for everyone. What’s your preference?     

  •  The 4 x 4 Challenge
  • Ambassador Competition
  • Antique Tractor Show
  • Beef Show
  • Beer Barn
  • Demo Derby
  • Heavy Horses
  • Home Craft Show
  • Midway
  • Open Horse Show
  • Parade
  • Poultry Show
  • Rabbit Show
  • Truck and Tractor Pulls               

The 4 x 4 Challenge is hosted by the Kawartha Lakes Jeep Owners Club. Competition includes the Small Mud Pit, Big Mud Pit, Super Modified Challenge for Jeeps with tires 50 inches and over, and of course a Rock Crawl.        

The Ambassador Competition was designed for youth to show their leadership skills in supporting the community. Contestants have to complete a private interview, give a 2-5 minute speech on a selected topic, and answer an impromptu question. The ambassador will be present the weekend of the fair, attend the O.A.A.S Convention in Toronto in February at the Royal York and possibly represent Millbrook Fair at the C.N.E.  Ambassador Competition the following year in August. And a $500 scholarship will be presented to the winner.       

No Fair is complete without an Antique Tractor Show and Pull, Demolition Derby, and Truck and Tractor Pulls. Antique Tractors will compete in a variety of weight classes ranging from 2700 pounds to over 6500 pounds. The Truck and Tractor Pulls will include Local Gas 4 x 4 Trucks, Circuit Vintage Tractors, and Diesel 4 x 4 Trucks, including weights from 5500 pounds to 8500 pounds. 

If you want something a little more serene, you can enjoy the Home Craft Show including crafts, baking and more. 

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The Millbrook Fair offers something for everyone, including an extra day to enjoy it all. On Friday you can have a flat rate ride pass for only $15. Students will be able to get their fill of rides between 11 am and 2 pm, have time for a bite to eat, and be ready to enjoy the 4 p.m. opening to the rest of the fair grounds. Parents can enjoy award winning singer and songwriter Dean James in the Beer Barn.  

Saturday starts off with a bang! The Ontario Xtreme Cowboy Event at 9 am will feature contestants who will work through a series of trail and farm based obstacles on their horses – showcasing both skill and speed.  Sunday activities include the Rabbit Show, Baking Competition Auction, Tough Truck Competition and the Demolition Derby.  

There is so much to see and do for the whole family. Get all the times and days from the Millbrook Fair paper or at the Fair Website at www.MillbrookFair.ca. 

See you there!

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The long May weekend has passed and for many it’s time to travel to the family cottage. Great diners and restaurants can be found along the way – but how about taking a new route – The Chip Truck Trail through the Kawartha’s.

You can find Chip Trucks in every corner of the Kawartha’s. And there is good reason. French fries are a simple comfort food.

History is a bit vague on the origin of the French fry, but most votes are cast for the Belgians as being the first to fry up thin strips of potatoes. It may have been as early as the late 17th century. The story goes that adding potatoes was the next step to compliment the daily frying of small fish for dinner. When the rivers were frozen and the fish were not accessible, the potato was still available for frying.

Now Poutine is another story. It is said to have originated in Quebec. A customer asked to have cheese curds added to his fires. The Chef replied, “Ça va faire une maudite poutine,” or, “That’s going to make a dreadful mess.” Although that story may not be 100% confirmed, it is felt that the origins were in rural Quebec in the mid-century.

CottageLife.com (http://cottagelife.com/canadiana/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-poutine) has created a list of the “10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Poutine.” Two of the items on the list are great trivia topics.

  1. Poutine is one of Canada’s greatest inventions. “It’s number 10 on a list put together by CBC in 2007, with input from such Canadian luminaries as Margaret Atwood, Mike Holmes, and Preston Manning. Poutine beat out standard time, the Bloody Caesar, and the BlackBerry, but was defeated by insulin, the telephone, and five-pin bowling, among others.”
  2. And are you ready for this fact? It’s in the Guinness Book of World Records. Joe Beeverz broke the record for the world’s largest poutine in 2014 in Brandon, Manitoba. His poutine weighed in at 1,949 pounds, 800 pounds heavier than the original Saguenay, Quebec creation.

If you have a craving for French fries or poutine, do you know where you can find the Kawartha’s famous chip trucks and wagons? Well, there is actually a map!

 

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The map highlights the following locations to help you get your comfort food fix:

  • Sullivan’s General Store/ 4Corners Chip Truck: 472 Ennis Road, Ennismore
  • Fergie’s Fries: 3295 County Rd 36, Bobcaygeon
  • The Cabin:1384 Armour Road, Peterborough / 2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough
  • Country Bob’s Chip Truck: 3192 Buckhorn Road, Buckhorn
  • Pirate Shack: RR. 36, Bobcaygeon
  • Homer’s Chip Trailer: 4454 Highway 7, Norwood
  • Kiss Chip Truck: 989 Ward Street, Bridgenorth
  • Reggie’s Hot Grill: 89 Hunter St. E., Peterborough
  • The Brown Eyed Susan: 200 County Road 28, Bailieboro
  • Terry’s Taters and Treats:2550 Lansdowne St. West, Cavan Monaghan  

But I did a little digging and there are a couple of other chip wagons even closer to home!  

Visit the Sizzle Wagon at 1265 Hwy 35 in Bethany. “Friendly staff, great service with a delicious menu. More than your average chip truck has to offer. Definitely  worth the drive south on Hwy 35 @ Hwy 7A.”

Or how about Vicki’s Chips on 1482 Ontario Hwy 7A right in Bethany!

Whether you are staying home for the weekend or traveling throughout the Kawartha’s, your craving for fresh French fries and other Chip Truck food is just a short drive away.

 

 

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The Mother’s Day weekend is fast approaching. I wanted to highlight two more studios that are on the Rolling Hills Studio Tour.  

I have written about the Williams Design Studio Gallery in a previous blog. Their gallery is featured as ‘Studio C’ this year and warrants our attention again!  

Paul and Beverley Williams have been creating fine crafts for over 40 years. The variety of work they create is quite amazing. Their studio includes a secret garden, fountains, gourd art, wall sculptures, murals, leather sculpture, tree sculpture, ponds, coracles, weaving…  

Obviously, the Williams Design Studio Gallery has to be on your weekend agenda! 

The photo below is just one example of the beauty in the Secret Garden – A stacked Rock Waterfall on a dry river bed.

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Paul and Beverley will be featuring the following artists:

 Walpeg Studio – Photography 

Through their photography, Walter and Peggy’s work highlights the fundamental building blocks of nature. As you can see from the photo below, “they bring uniqueness to the ordinary.”

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 Sandy Cline – Sculpture

Sandy’s website covers so much detail on soap stone culture and his own history, it is hard to know what to focus on! His art, which has found its way to collections around the world, including that of Prince Phillip will certainly be a focal point for the Mother’s Day Tour.

 

William Boyd Fraser – Multimedia  

William is a sculptor and a self proclaimed ‘unconventional thinker’! You can find a detailed description of his projects at his website https://williamboydfraser.wordpress.com/.

 

Studio D features the Photographic art of Tim Bellhouse. He began taking photographs in the 1970’s and he has studied biology for over 35 years. His work has taken him from the shores of Lake Ontario to the coast of James Bay. It is easy to see the connection of his two passions – biology and photography – in the photographic art he has created. 

The photos below certainly accomplish a goal for him as an artist – they cause the viewer to take a closer look at the world in which we live.  

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See you on Rolling Hills Studio Tour!

 

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