The Civic Holiday marks the halfway point of the summer. Some might have a “glass half empty” point of view, thinking “Oh no, Summer’s almost over!”
But with these five events going on during the Civic Holiday long weekend, you’ll be seeing the summer from a “glass half full” perspective in Northeastern Ontario.
AfroFest - This event is being held on Saturday, August 3, from noon to 4 p.m. Afrofest is a non-profit organization that promotes celebration of Afro culture. This free event takes place in the heart of Sudbury at Bell Park. You can expect a variety of different African inspired vendors, music, dance, and food. For more information please visit their website.
Hosted by the Little Current Lions Club you can enjoy multiple different mini events tied into the whole weekend. Starting as early as Wednesday and Thursday, there are performances from the HGTV show Craver Kings. Throughout the weekend there are different events going on throughout the Little Current area. Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be events held by different organizations in the community along with local businesses showcasing food, drinks, and handmade goods. To finish the weekend off there will be a Mammoth Fireworks Display at dusk. The Haweater Weekend is a family friendly event with fun for all ages. To find out more information on the event check it out here.
The Northern Bluegrass Committee hosts their annual Bluegrass Jamboree. For the 35th year in a row there will be bands, vendors, and activities for children. Camping is available for the whole weekend (Thursday to Sunday). The lineup includes: Hard Ryde, The Dave Atkins Band, Habourtown, and many more. Prices vary depending on camping, days, and special pricing. For all information on the event please check out their website.
During your time on Manitoulin Island be sure to check out the different night activities at Gordon’s Park including star gazing and astronomy. The Astronomy Night runs the month of August which involves a guided laser sky tour, teachings on how to read a planisphere, and the ability to see deep space through the lens of an 8” Dobsonian Telescope. The Star Gazing Night Hike activity includes teachings about different native animals that are nocturnal, looking at the stars and being able to use a star map, and learn about light pollution and night ecology. Both these programs are available at Gordon’s Park during the long weekend and for the month of August, but reserving your spot is necessary. Make sure to reach out to Gordon's Park to learn more about availabilities and to learn more.
If you are deciding to do something more low-key for the Civic Long Weekend, don’t fret. We have many different Farmer’s Markets in every area of Northeastern Ontario. Each market offers fresh produce and local products to purchase from vendors in the area. Several communities host farmers’ markets including: North Bay, Powassan, Timmins’ Urban Park Market, Cochrane, Kapuskasing, The City of Greater Sudbury, NEMI’s in Little Current, Manitowaning Community Heritage Market, Gore Bay, Island Summer Market in M’Chigeeng, and Riverside Farmers’ Market New Liskeard. If you think this will interest you, bring a reusable bag and enjoy what is made/grown locally. For more information on markets across the region check out this article.
There are tons of great events for all types of people across our region during the August long weekend! We hope everyone gets out and enjoys one of the festivals or activities that are being hosted in Northeastern Ontario during the Civic Holiday.
