Set sail for Port Stanley Summer’s swan song celebrated with colourful display By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
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ummer will go out with an explosion of fire and music, against a backdrop of sails in the sunset, as Port Stanley celebrates Harbourfest on Labour Day weekend. “It’s the busiest weekend of the summer,” says coordinator Michelle Fournier. Last year she estimates there were 10,000 people roaming the streets despite less-than-ideal weather conditions. They came from the local area and as far away as Sarnia, Windsor and KitchenerWaterloo. “It’s really the signature summer event, and we’re trying to expand it to include different attractions each year,” she says. A highlight of the festival, now in its third year, is the arrival of tall ships in Port Stanley harbour. This year Pathfinder and Playfair, twomasted vessels crewed by young trainees from the Toronto Brigantine who are learning the ropes and riggings of sailing ships, will dock in the harbour for tours and cruises. Port Stanley Legion will be entertainment INFO
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central for the weekend, Fournier says. Friday is blues night, featuring well-known British Columbian bluesman Sam Hurrie and East-Coast-based roots/rock singer-songwriter Joe Fournier. Saturday is fish and fun night, featuring a perch-fry and entertainment by a Toronto comedy troupe. Throughout the weekend, Fournier says entertainment will take to the sidewalks and harbourfront with street performers and buskers. Fireguy, a.k.a. Torontonian Brant Matthews, will demonstrate his expertise in fire-eating and fire-breathing outside the Port Stanley Theatre, post-performance. Visitors will also be able to browse and shop from a variety of vendors with art, crafts and more, harbourside and in the DOC (Dominion of Canada warehouse) building. In addition to festival events, Fournier says local restaurants and pubs will be turning on the tunes and hosting their own celebrations. b Port Stanley Harbourfest www.portstanleyharbourfest.ca
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