Acadian Days festival events announced
The Stompin’ Tom Centre in Skinners Pond is feeling the love.
During an intermission in the second annual Stompin’ Tom Music Fest on Sunday afternoon, Canada Day, the Canada Wall of Fame will present a large Hometown Star bronze plaque to display in the interpretive centre.
This is the first year for the Walk of Fame to present Hometown Star plaques, and the Connors’ family decided they wanted it permanently displayed at the Stompin’ Tom Centre.
“It is a big honour for us to have it here and for the family to have confidence in us,” said executive director Anne Arsenault. “They’re proud of what’s been put together here on the grounds and they continue to support it.”
Like the centre, the whole festival weekend is a tribute to the late Canadian country and folk legend, Stompin’ Tom Connors. It was from Skinners Pond that the guitar-toting teenager set out on a trek across Canada. He wrote and sang about the people and places of a country that would become his stomping grounds on a journey to musical stardom.
Anne Arsenault is encouraged the weather for the Canada day weekend is promising, but with rain in the forecast for opening day, Friday’s entertainment was moved indoors. Saturday and Sunday’s festival events will be held on the outdoor stage. The gates to Saturday’s outdoor show open at 5 p.m. Ben Chase and his band will get the evening started for headliner George Canyon, whom Arsenault describes as a “huge Stompin’ Tom fan.”
VIP ticketholders will then move indoors for a VIP party and entertainment until midnight. The Connors family is expected to be in attendance.
With the Irish Moss Festival parade in Tignish scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, the gates to the Stompin’ Tom Fest grounds will remain closed until 2 p.m. Waylon’s Drinking Buddies, made up of local performers Julie Lynn Arsenault, Kurk Bernard, Alyssa Harper, Mike O’Halloran and Jim Williams, will get the afternoon started.
Following the afternoon intermission and the unveiling of the Hometown Star plaque, Whiskey Jack takes over with music and stories of Stompin’ Tom.
This year’s Stompin’ Tom Fest comes on the one-year anniversary opening of the centre. Arsenault said year one at the centre exceeded expectations, and they are looking to build on that success this year.
Because Stompin’ Tom was a passionate Canadian, Arsenault said the centre will always hold some special event to commemorate his memory on Canada Day. She said they already have some ideas up their sleeves for next year’s Stompin’ Tom Fest. It will continue to be held on a weekend.
The Stompin’ Tom Dinner Theatre was so popular last year that the centre brought it back this year and also added a new dinner theatre show. “My Stompin’ Grounds” will debut on Monday, July 2, and members of the Connors family will be in attendance.
There is plenty to take in during the Acadian Days Festival throughout July.
The Farmers’ Bank of Rustico Museum and Doucet House (2188 Church Rd., Rustico, Route 243) will be holding daily events, July 4-28.
Activities include an exhibition featuring farm and fishing implements of the past with interpreters in period costume. Theresa Gallant will be available, by appointment, to help participants with the genealogy of Acadian families of Rustico.
Each day, 2-4 p.m., hot apple cider and cookies will be served at the Doucet House, and visitors can have their photographs taken in traditional Acadian costume.
On Mondays 2-4 p.m., there will be a weaving demonstration by local Acadian artisan Anne Marie Buote.
On July 20, participants will be painting on canvas the Farmers’ Bank or Doucet House, and on July 21, children’s activities will take place, including games and snacks.
On Thursdays, a traditional Acadian dinner with chef David Pendergast will take place 5:307:15 p.m. followed by a soirée at 7:30 p.m. Musical performances will include Katie McGarry and Dan Currie on July 5, Frank Whitty and Bobby McGillivray on July 12, Janet McGarry and Wildwood on July 19 and Teresa Doyle and her son, Patrick Bunston, on July 26.
The museum has air conditioning and is wheelchair accessible.
More information is available at 902-963-3168, by email at farmers@pei.aibn.com or online at Farmersbank.ca.