Buckhorn rocks the locks at annual festival
Lock 31 took centre stage Saturday during Buckhorn’s Rock the Locks.
The community event was centred around the Trent-Severn Waterway lock, taking over the sidelines of Lakehurst Rd.
Buckhorn’s canal was lined with boats as people made their way to shore to check out activities on the main street.
There was live music and interactive drumming, a vendors market, pontoon and horse and buggy rides, a petting zoo, classic cars on display, and a kid’s art zone.
The event launched in 2012 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Locks.
Though it was designed be a onetime affair, organizers decided to keep it going and it’s growing every year.
“It really just lets people know that we’ve got something going on here in Buckhorn,” said Judy McWhirter.
Andrea McManus was amazed how much was going on and how many people were out.
“I’m actually quite surprised how busy it is today,” she said, as she waited for her daughters to get their faces painted.
Although the McManus family has lived in Buckhorn for more than 12 years, they hadn’t been to Rock the Locks before Saturday.
“This year we thought we’d come down and check it out and it’s been great,” McManus said.
Anne and Bruce Ferguson walked through the woods to get to event from their family cottage.
They stumbled on Rock the Locks last year.
“It was lots of fun, that’s why we’re back,” Anne said, who lives in Brampton.
Sweltering from the heat, the couple dined in an air-conditioning restaurant for lunch to cool down.
Then they were back at it afterwards, making their way down Lakehurst St.
“I just love to be out in the summer… and share the day with everybody,” Anne said.
Megan McCalmont and Brett Phillips were drawn straight to the classic cars when they arrived.
“Each one is like a work of art,” said McCalmont.
About 75 classic cars were spread out along the street, with a cluster of them in a parking lot.
The Oshawa duo walked the lot, peering in each one in awe.
“I love looking at the cars and imagining myself driving them,” said McCalmont with a laugh.
The couple was camping at a nearby campground, which Phillips planned specifically for this weekend so they could stop by Rock the Locks.
Taking a break from the heat, Marcia Deyell and her grandkids, Maisie, 9, and Malcolm, 6, sat in the shade as the kids sucked on popsicles to cool down.
It was their first time at Rock the Locks and Deyell liked that the event was centred around the Locks.
“It’s kind of a nice way to close the summer because the Locks bring everybody together,” said Deyell, a Buckhorn resident.
By early afternoon, the Deyells had already walked the entire strip, stopping by the fire station exhibit, the petting zoo, the OPP dock, and ate ice cream.
That meant the kids had their hearts set on something else for the rest of the day.
“They’re ready to go back and go on the boat and go swimming – that’s all they want to do now,” said Deyell.