The Festival of the Strait runs from this Thursday to Sunday, July 9th-12th on the Port Hawkesbury Waterfront. There are numerous planned activities for children, families and adults running from early morning runs and pancake breakfasts to late night Pub parties and outdoor concerts. Thursday highlights include a Youth Band showcase from 6:30 to 9:30pm under the tent on the Waterfront and a family bon fire at 8pm at Granville Green.
Friday night will feature Pub Night under the tent on the Port Hawkesbury waterfront from 10pm to 2am. Admission is $10 for those 19 and over. Music is the Celtic folk rock of Crossfire which promises dancing and good times.
Saturday will feature popular busker Jeff Collins at 3pm in the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. Admission is $2 and a food bank donation. By the age of 12 Collins had developed a fascination with the circus arts and added fire-eating, sword-swallowing, unicycling and clowning to his repertoire. Following his graduation from high school, Jeff performed as a close-up magician in bars and restaurants while working towards a degree in Television Broadcasting. Between 1991 and 1996 Jeff said good-bye to his TV job and toured extensively across Canada and the United States with “Just Us” who developed a reputation as Canada’s best juggling duo and one of the top variety acts in the country. In August of 1996, Don left “Just Us” and began pursuing the overseas market. He debuted his new solo show in a shopping complex in Singapore and has been going strong ever since. Best described as a stand-up comedy show with props, Jeff’s solo show exhibits a unique blend of technical dexterity and off the wall Maritime humor. His bizarre, unorthadox approach to magic, fire-eating and escapes offers something for everyone. Never concerned about being politically correct, Jeff’s sharpness of tongue keeps his audience on their toes. Incorporating card tricks, straight jacket escapes, wheel chair races and impromtu water fights, Collins knows how to bring in a crowd and keep their attention.
Saturday’s Pub Night under the tent will feature Halifax’s Merimac – a four piece group (or often five with fiddle) based in Halifax, NS who play Classic Rock, Maritime/Celtic, Pop, Country, Reggae, R&B, Funk, Latin, Folk & instrumental music. Energetic and diverse music styles set the stage for an attention grabbing, foot stompin’ time that promises to take crowds on a musical journey while burning up the dance floor.
Sunday the festival offers a full slate of outdoor activities including a 5 and 10K Fun Run/Walk starting at 9am on Waterfront. At 11am the First Responders will be holding a bike rodeo in the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre parking lot. The annual Festival Street Parade begins at 1pm while the Michael Goodick Memorial War Canoe Challenge starts at 2:30pm. The festival weekend wraps up with the Granville Green Concert at 6:45 featuring PEI bluegrass sensations the Grass Mountain Hobos and a Teen Dance from 9 to Midnight, under the tent for those aged 13 to 18.
More information is available at http://www.festivalofthestrait.ca
