A Victorian Reflection - Westport Log

The daylight hours are getting longer, spring is just around the corner and it is time to get out and around again. We are pleased to report that culture is alive and well in Westport. The Blues on the Rideau music series entertained us all winter, and these musical events featuring Juno-award winning blues artists are continuing monthly through June (http://www.choosetheblues.ca/).

Here are some of the events lined up for the coming months. We will update our blog page with details as they become available. Be sure to check back regularly for news on Westport musical and arts events. (www.avictorianreflection.com/blog).

March

Kitchen Party / Ceilidh (March 14th): A Kitchen Party is an informal gathering of music and dance and In case you do not speak Newfoundlander, the Gaelic word for Kitchen Party is “Ceilidh”. We will have non-stop lively music and dancing, from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Cash bar, dinner available. At the Westport Legion Hall. This event is sponsored by the Westport Arts Council in support of the MUSICWestport event to be held in August.

April

Poetry Along the Rideau (April 3 th -5 th): Join us for a weekend of poetry readings featuring Elizabeth Glenny (St. Catherines), Terje Thorsen (Norway), Carol Little (PEI), and Audrey Ogilvie (Westport). Anders Carson (Portland) will perform along with music in between.

Choose your venue and your experience. The venues are

• April 3rd 8:00 pm at The Cove Inn, Westport. No fee for the poetry. Have dinner at the Cove beforehand.
• April 4th Afternoon at North Crosby Hall with same poets along with child contestant winners from local schools. $5 fee money goes to North Crosby Hall
• April 4th 6:00 pm at Newboro Hall in Newboro. $20 includes meal. Same poets with a Cabaret atmosphere.
• April 5th 7:00pm at the Smiths Falls Railway Museum. Same poets. Pass the hat with money going towards the Railway Museum.

May

Dandelion Gardens Studio Tour (May 16-18): The Westport Area Dandelion Gardens Studio Tour is being held at various studios in Westport and Rideau Lakes.

50s and 60s Party (May 23rd) featuring Eddy and the Stingrays, Canada’s #1 Rock and Roll Show and Dance Band. At the Cove Inn, Westport. (http://www.eddyandthestingrays.com/)

June
Westport Antique Show & Sale (June 6 and 7): The ever-popular show returns to the Westport Arena.

Westport Heritage Festival and Farmer’s Market (June 20): Come to Bedford Street in Westport for our 3rd Heritage Festival. Locally produced crafts, food, and fun for the whole family.

Rideau Lakes Studio & Garden Tour (June 28-29): Saturday - Sunday 10am - 5pm. Spend a day in beautiful Rideau Lakes Township exploring the country roads as you visit the many talented Artists and Artisans of the Rideau Lakes Studio and Garden Tour. A free brochure will guide you through the tour and is available at most area stores, restaurants and welcome centres.

August

Third Annual MUSICestport (August 15th). A day of free music at three outdoor venues in Westport, including our front lawn. Bring a lawn chair.

Rideau Valley Art Show & Sale (August 21, 22, and 23): This exhibition and sale takes place at the Westport Community Centre on August 21, 22, 23. Over 60 of the countries finest artists and artisans attend this prestigious festival. Funds raised from this event go to support other community associations

And stay tuned for …

Country fairs (July and August)
Writers Reading (September)
Fall Colours Studio Tour October 10-12
Pumpkin Festival - October 24

We had a glorious long weekend for the studio tour, for the cottage, or for just hanging out and enjoying the changing foliage. It is a new season, with new reasons to visit Westport. Spend the day or spend the weekend. Here is what is coming up …

Saturday, October 25, Life is Good Festival, with 100% of all proceeds being donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation. This year’s theme is Pumpkins. The Festival will take place at the Westport Spring/Westport Harbour and entrance to the festival is free.

• Live Music with shows beginning at 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM
• An outdoor theatre
• Pumpkin carving.
• Fun games and activities.
• “Children’s Wish” wishing well.
• Hot drinks, roasted almonds, pumpkin soup, pumpkin chili and pumpkin tarts.
• And lots more

500 carved pumpkins to see, and all the pumpkins on the island will be illuminated around 5:30 PM. See http://www.westportfestivals.ca/ for details.

Saturday October 25th : Octoberfest .. a traditional Octoberfest celebration with live music and great food and drink! The Bavarian group, Twin Cities Alpine Echo, will perform from 8-12pm! The band consists of accordion, guitar, drums and trumpet. At the Cove Inn www.coveinn.com for reservations.

Friday and Saturday October 17/18: The Blues on the Rideau series continues, with two shows a month this year. This month’s lineup is Curley Bridges with the Chris Whiteley Band www.electrofi.com and www.chriswhiteley.com. Coming up on November 21/22 – Steve Strongman Trio - www.stevestrongman.com. At the Cove Inn, see www.coveinn.com for times and reservations.

Saturday, November 22: The annual Westport Santa Claus parade

It is hard to believe that it is already September. It seems like just yesterday that the last vestiges of winter’s massive snow disappeared, and now the first leaves are beginning to take on their autumn colours. This signals a new series of colourful events in Westport. See below for a few details.

But first, a few words on August, a big month for culture in Westport. Once again, Music Westport, our village celebration of free music in the outdoors, was a huge success. If the enthusiasm of the crowds was any indication, this will truly be an annual festival. Our front lawn stage, one of three Westport stages, was host to Romeria, who started it all off by weaving their magic blend of exotic and ancient music over Church Street, to Brea, a local recording artist who charmed the audience acoustically with her own compositions and covers of some well known favourites, and to Roger James, folk singer, instrumentalist, and humourist extraordinaire, whose unique blend of music and wit captivated us, made us laugh, and after it was all over, left us still scratching our heads about the meaning of Wooly Bully. With six more outdoor acts on the other stages, including the ever-popular Abrams Brothers, and evening indoor shows, Music Westport had something to offer to everyone.

Another evening, in a benefit concert, Guthrie House, quintessential folk-rockers from our area, entertained us up on Foley Mountain with their own compositions and timeless tunes spanning Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young to Joni Mitchell to Gillian Welch. A Company of Fools, the Ottawa Shakespeare company performed Romeo and Juliet at the Stepping Stone and Westport hosted over 63 artists at the 27th annual Rideau Valley Art Festival last week. And all that was just in August.

Be sure to mark your calendar with these upcoming events:

First Annual Writers Reading (Saturday, September 27, 2-5 PM): a literary afternoon with wine and cheese tasting, featuring Charlotte Gray, Mary Cook, and Terrence Rundle West, tickets $17.50. See the August 28 blog entry for the poster and full information.

Autumn Colour Geology Tour in the Biosphere Reserve (Sunday, October 5, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM) : The Frontenac Arch was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in November 2002. Learn how the Champlain Sea was created, what occurred during the last ice sheet (melt), and specifically, the underlying geology of the Frontenac Arch. This tour not only provides a summary of our geological history, but how it impacts us today. $25.00 per person includes the bus tour, box lunch, refreshments and tour guidebook. The tour departs and returns in Brockville. See the August 29 blog entry for the description and pamphlet.

Fall Colours Studio Tour (Saturday – Monday, October 11 - 13, 2008, 10 am - 5 pm): For three days, the 26 artists of the tour welcome you to join them in celebrating Westport’s Centennial Year by visiting the 12 studios as you meander through the countryside and enjoy this most colourful time of the year. The Studio Tour website is http://www.artatwork.ca/westport_studiotours/fall-colours/index.htm.

Curley Bridges with the Chris Whiteley Band (Friday – Saturday October 17-18): this is the first of this season’s Blues on the Rideau series at the Cove Inn featuring Canada’s best Blues artists. Shows are the 3rd weekend of the month, from October through June except December. See the full lineup at www.coveinn.com.

Coming up, more Blues on the Rideau, the Santa Claus parade, Skate the Lake. Stay tuned.

Autumn Colour Geology Tour in the Biosphere Reserve (Sunday, October 5, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, departs and returns in Brockville):

The Frontenac Arch was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in November 2002. Learn how the Champlain Sea was created, what occurred during the last ice sheet (melt), and specifically, the underlying geology of the Frontenac Arch. This tour not only provides a summary of our geological history, but how it impacts us today. $25.00 per person includes the bus tour, box lunch, refreshments and tour guidebook.

Click here for the pamphlet with the full details