So long summer, it was good to know you
Well, my friends, the summer season officially comes to an end this Saturday, Sept. 22 at 10:58 p.m., but there’s still plenty of summering left to do.
Depending upon whom you talk to, you will get varying reviews of the summer of 2018, but I think, by and large, most people will agree it was a good season. Or at least it was a good season if you like dry, humid weather.
Heading into the fall, some areas of the region are in desperate need of rain, as wells are dry, the forests are tinder crisp and the soil is mostly like dust, but the drought-like conditions are another story better left for another day. Right now, I’ve got other things on my mind.
As we’ve discussed in the past, tourism continues to be a major economic driver in the South Shore region. Overall, the summer of 2018 was reportedly a good tourist season with many establishments, attractions and events reporting good numbers and generating millions of dollars into the local marketplace.
I recently asked Donna Hatt, chair of the South Shore Tourism Co-operative, to talk about the importance of the fall tourist season. This is how she sees it.
“Increasingly, the fall has become the season of choice for many travellers on the South Shore. With a spectacular calendar of events rich in history and tradition and innovation, [with] warmest ocean temperatures of the season, we’re anticipating greeting Thanksgiving season of 2018 with another banner season, building on the two per cent growth we saw in 2017,” said Hatt.
With the tourist season extending well beyond the traditional calendar dates, in recent years, we have seen the steady and continual growth of numbers right up until December and even beyond.
In a large part, these growing numbers have been fuelled by the addition and expansion of festivals, so, as we did last spring when we talked about the summertime events one could enjoy throughout the season, I thought it would be fun and informative to have a look at some of the fall offerings we can enjoy.
Keep in mind that the following list is not a complete inventory of all those events available on the South Shore in the coming fall months, but, in fact, represent a sampling of the attractions.
Also, keep in mind that many of these events would not happen without the hard work, energy, enthusiasm and commitment of volunteers, so, thank you, to anyone and everyone who has or who will make a contribution to their community through their involvement. The South Shore is a better place because of you.
Looking ahead, you’ll discover many events designed to celebrate the region’s heritage, culture, economy and resources. And of course, in addition to these festivals, there is still plenty of swimming, surfing, sailing, golfing, beach strolling, hiking, fishing, eating, playing, singing, dancing, bird watching, exploring, discovering and more to be done on the South Shore throughout the fall.
Earlier this month, we had the Gold River Pow Wow celebrating the First Nations heritage, Shelburne Whirligig & Weathervane Festival, which I understand was another tremendous event, and Cider Days at Ross Farm.
With a spectacular calendar of events rich in history and tradition and innovation, [with] warmest ocean temperatures of the season, we’re anticipating greeting Thanksgiving season of 2018 with another banner season ... Donna Hatt South Shore Tourism Co-operative, chairman
This week, from Sept. 18 to 23, you can enjoy the Queens County Fair in Caledonia, one of the oldest exhibitions in the province featuring downhome fun and excitement.
Other events include:
Sept. 22: Craft Beer Festival at Michelin Social Club in Bridgewater.
Sept. 20 to 23: Lunenburg Doc Festival.
Sept. 22 to 23: Pumpkin Harvest Festival at Ross Farm Museum.
Sept. 29: Savour the Trail at Kejimkujik National Park.
Sept. 28 to Sept. 30: Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival and Antique Fair.
Oct. 1 to 5: Knitting Festival in Lockport.
Oct. 5: Revisiting the Shag Harbour UFO incident, White Point Beach Resort and Shag Harbour.
Oct. 5 to 8: Thanksgiving weekend is a feast of festivities from long weekend events at Oak Island Resort and White Point Beach Resort, to brunches and buffets at restaurants all along the South Shore (so you don’t have to do all the cooking).
Oct. 12 to 14: Nova Scotia Craft Spirits Festival in Lunenburg.
Oct. 13: Mi’kmaq History Month Mawiomi at White Point Beach Resort.
Oct. 18 to 21: Liverpool International Theatre Festival.
And there’s more coming in November, too!
Nov. 16: Kick off to the South Shore Christmas Crawl.
Nov. 18: Artists of White Point at White Point Beach Resort.
Nov. 26: Dumping Day. Let the lobster season begin!
As we head into the end of November, many communities throughout the South Shore will be gearing up for Christmas, so watch the Festival of Lights and many other exciting events that we will look at later on.
Whew! Now that’s a lot of fun and excitement to be enjoyed right here at home.
With such an extensive list of things to do, you should be able to find a few activities to enjoy, or at least that’s the view form here.
Vernon Oickle was born and raised in Liverpool where he continues to reside with his family. He has worked for more than 30 years in community newspapers on the South Shore and is the author of 28 books.