Columnists
It’s all weekend
To borrow, and fine tune, a sentiment of Fozzie Bear’s, “Patriotism swells the heart of the Canadian Bear.” Indeed, if you happened to have spent a few moments in the Village of Wellington on Canada Day, you’d know exactly what I mean. A great wave of red and white washed through the downtown of Wellington on Sunday. Amongst all of the flags, there were big smiles and “hellos” being passed around, and even the most jaded became light-hearted. I’m among the “jaded”. Not the most jaded, but a person who needs to see it to believe it. I’m always just a bit concerned for the good outcome a celebration. Wellington always makes it just about perfect, in a most imperfectly wonderful way. This weekend past, LOML and I have filled our time with “things County”. Personally, I view Canada Day as a regional celebration of, and in, this community. Prince Edward County knows how to have a great get-together. However, I still believe our country has a very long way to go to become the best it can be.
Oldus McManus and I actually got an early start on the long weekend (BTW, it’s all weekend to us) with a stroll along Picton Main Street and a visit to Art in The County. Celebrating its 25th year, Art in The County is a phenomenal show and sale of visual works of art created by people who live and dream right here in the County. The show spent its early years in the old Picton Town Hall and then grew and moved to the second floor of Books & Company. This year it’s located in the newly refurbished Armoury mall. The 2018 year show runs until July 8, so when you read this column, you still have a few days to get yourself over to the Armoury to see one of the best shows of works of art you’re going to see in a community like ours. This show doesn’t happen without your participation as an attendee or a donor or a sponsor or as an artist. It takes the whole community to make this show happen. It’s a beautiful time-out from the “lazy, hazy days of summer”. Be inspired. Go, be cool, see the show before it closes on Sunday.
Is this all we did on the holiday weekend? Nope. Of course not. In addition to Wellington, we forced ourselves to head to the Main Street activities of Picton on Canada Day afternoon. I say “forced” because the minute we got home from Wellington all we wanted to do was sit in the shade, sip a cool one and listen to the hum of summer. But, we heard there was going to be a bit of funk going on near the top of the town hill. And talk about “funk”. What the H E double saxophones! Not to diminish all of the wonderful things that did happen on Main Street, Cue the Funk was far and away one of the best. Those kids really know their funky-music and, in spite of the scorching heat, managed to rock the sweat socks off of everyone in the audience. If you missed any of the long weekend events, maybe next year you’ll get out and enjoy the community.
And, speaking of community, this one is mighty fine. It doesn’t have to be a long weekend to savour this place. So much to see. So much to do. Places to go and people to meet. Pick up a couple of Red Maps and be a tourist, right here, where you live. Visit a museum—we’ve got museums. Shop at a farm stand. Pick up a cool outfit from a local retailer. Get an early start on your Christmas shopping and then lunch at a food truck or restaurant in the County. Visit the beach during the week. Pack a lunch and dine under a tree in a park. Don’t be afraid to “take a hike”. You know you wanna! Happy holiday week.
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