Set your sights on Deep River's summerfest
Arts/Life
Updated 1 month ago
Summerfest 2010 is quickly approaching and we're giving you an insight as to what will be happening on the August long weekend! Whether you're into gruelling sports competition or friendly team games, artistic expression or expanding your cultural horizons, or just good fun, Summerfest has activities for you.
At Grouse Park you can take in the Ultimate Tournament and the Threepitch Ball Tournament. The Mountain Bike Scramble will feature two levels of challenge, for the experienced and the not-so-brave cyclists. The Tandem Canoe Race and Beach Volleyball are happening at Lamure Beach, and a three-on-three pick-up soccer games on the main campus.
The main campus will be a busy place this Summerfest. The science show will feature the Canadian Raptor Conservancy Birds of Prey with three shows daily, and the Free-style Soccer experts will not only demonstrate some awesome footwork, but will invite anyone to come forward and learn some new tricks. There will be inflatables, a bouncer for younger kids and an all-ages obstacle course.
The Society for Creative Anachronism will be demonstrating medieval swordplay and costumes, and as always the Roaming Horde will be everywhere, with their circus tricks and stilt-walking. The Horde will be giving workshops for would-be circus performers, too. And of course, everyone will want to be at the stupendous fireworks display on Saturday night.
The Family Fun Beach Day will be at Lamure Beach on Saturday afternoon (rain date Sunday), and the Fancy Dress Parade will start its procession between Giant Tiger and The Health Haven on Friday. Saturday night all the teens will want to be in the town hall parking lot, for the Guitar Hero event followed by the Much Video street dance. At the Yacht Club Saturday morning you can learn how to fight like a pro actor at the Stage Combat Workshop. On Sunday discover your inner fool at the Introduction to Clown Workshop. The euchre tournament will be taking place at the Legion, as will the Sunday Pancake breakfast.
The Potters Guild will be offering the opportunity to try your hand at Raku firing, and new this year are two other artisan events. Pottery throwing workshops will be taking place at Carol Grant's studio on Beach Avenue, and the Artists in the Garden will take place at 48 Huron Street. In addition, the Artisans Village will be offering wares for sale, near the food court. Summerfest is proud to present another Multicultural Show, this time featuring dancers and traditional dress from our local ethnic communities, followed by the Suns Drum Inuit performers, who will also be giving a workshop in Inuit throat-singing and children's games.
If you feel the need for a spiritual or physical lift after all this activity, come to Yoga for All at the marina Saturday morning or evening, and the Riverbank Worship on Sunday morning.
Summerfest always takes great pride in presenting a variety of excellent live entertainment. This year the headline performer is the hugely popular rapper K'Naan, whose signature song "Wavin'Flag" was the FIFA world cup anthem. Preceding him on the Sunday night stage is the Montreal ska band The Planet Smashers, who are guaranteed to get the party going! Sunday night will also see Ottawa singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume, and the evening kicks off with a full-length family show presented by the Roaming Horde. At the Yacht Club you can take in the Bricktop classic gypsy jazz ensemble, performing music from the 30s and 40s of Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, and the Company of Fools outdoor performance of Shakespeare's' "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The Deep River Community Band will also be heard at the Yacht Club, and the Deep River Players will be putting on their funny, quirky skit show.
