Highlanders: get ready to celebrate this Canada Day

By Lisa Gervais

The Highlands will be busy with Canada Day activities July 1 after COVID-19 kicked celebrations to the curb the past couple of years.

Minden Hills will kick things off with its popular kids’ fishing derby on Water Street from 8-11 a.m. As usual, there will be plenty of prizes for the young anglers, courtesy of sponsors.

There will also be Wild Ontario: Birds of Prey shows along Water Street, and the Haliburton Highlands Time Travellers will be having a car show starting at 10 a.m.

Music Fridays at the Fairgrounds will begin its season at 7 p.m. featuring Gord Kidd. That will be followed by fireworks at dusk.

West Guilford will be paring down its celebrations this year as not enough volunteers came forward. However, a fireworks display will take place at the recreation centre at 9:30 p.m.

Close to West Guilford, Abbey Gardens is hosting The Makers Market from noon to 4 p.m. They’re welcoming all of their favourite local vendors to join their garden team for an afternoon of delicious local produce, sampling, artisans, tasty lunch specials, live music, summer cocktails, and more. Into The Blue Bakery is also making a return to Abbey Gardens and will be parked near Haliburton Highlands Brewing.

Admission to The Makers Market is by donation, but the public is urged to preregister online to help them plan ahead to keep lines and parking as efficient as possible.

Highlands East is holding a number of Canada Day events throughout the day.

In Cardiff, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 566 will host a breakfast at the community centre at 2747 Monck Rd. from 9-11 a.m. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

The Wilberforce Red Cross Outpost Museum, at 2314 Loop Rd., will raise the Canadian flag at 11:30 a.m. followed by live entertainment, sandwiches, and cake. The Kidd Schoolhouse Museum in Highland Grove will showcase children’s crafts, local entertainment, and a barbecue from noon to 3 p.m.

Tory Hill Park, at the intersection of Highway 118 and County Road 503, will feature live music and stories of Tory Hill’s history beginning at 1:30 p.m. Gooderham will have a full evening of celebration from 3 - 10:30 p.m. at the Robert McCausland Community Centre, at 1043 Community Centre Rd. There’ll be children’s activities, cake, a barbecue, face painting, a clown, and an Irondale display. The fire department will host a jaws of life demonstration at 5 p.m. followed by live entertainment by the Highlands Trio at 7 p.m. The night will conclude with a fireworks display at 10 p.m.