One lengthy leap
River Days Festival lineup makes a big splash for 15th season
There’s no holding back Kyle McCrindle, from Toronto, as he jumps off Stanley Bridge into the murky water below on Saturday morning. “The water was cold and salty and I was trying to encourage my child to go, so I had to make a good impression for him,” he said with a grin. The bridge jumping event was just one of the activities offered at the 15th annual River Days Festival at Stanley Bridge over the weekend.
It’s a vertigo-inducing moment as Kyle McCrindle peered over Stanley Bridge. Cheered on by his family and friends, he clambered over the rail and with toes curled around the edge – a brief moment of hesitation – he jumped into the nippy water below on Saturday morning.
“The water was cold and salty and I was trying to encourage my child to go, so I had to make a good impression for him,” he said with a grin.
The group that came from Toronto were participating in the activities offered at the 15th annual River Days Festival at Stanley Bridge, over the weekend.
“Where we come from, we could never do this,” added Mike Bennett.
Phyllis Carr, from the River Days committee, says the fun and eco-tourism festival raises awareness about their local watershed.
“Water is so important to us with farming, fishing, and tourism being our three major industries on the Island.” She continued, “We started the festival to bring the three groups together to make sure we can live in a clean community, with clean water, and safety on the water.”
The Trout River Environmental committee was a big part of the festival when it first kicked off.
“They are our watershed group for this area, and we all have the same common goals – to bring the industry people together, as well as the locals, and keep the watershed clean,” said Carr.
Carr owns a full service seafood restaurant with a deck overlooking New London Bay. “We have been in the shellfish
industry for years. And my whole life has been around the water because my father, and my husband’s family are all fisher people, so the water is very important to us for food, fun, as well as good healthy living.”
The River Days Festival started with the opening of the new Stanley Bridge marina on Friday evening.
“We had a big River Days Festival cake all beautifully decorated and made by the Old Village Bakery in North Rustico,” explained Carr. “We had a good amount of people out for that evening.”
The festival continued on Saturday with live music, food vendors, a boat parade, children’s events, farmers’ markets,
bridge jumping, to name but a few activities, and fireworks show over the bridge in the evening.
“I think we really succeeded this year,” noted Carr.
“We had such an awesome boat parade. And the New London Rural Volunteer Fire Department wanted to put on a fireworks show, and it was so well controlled. People absolutely loved it. Our new marina has brought so many people to the area, and we want to maintain good practices that will benefit everyone.”
The festival wrapped up on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Carr’s Oyster Bar with local music by Patina.