On the riverfront
New Glasgow gets set to host two events rolled into one on Saturday
This weekend, New Glasgow’s riverfront will be a happening place – with double the excitement as two community events take place at once.
Two events will be rolled into one on Saturday – the connection of local trails to The Great Trail across Canada, and New Glasgow River Days – combining into one big party by the water.
“We want to really celebrate the riverfront and marina, and each year we try to have an event that brings the community down to the river,” said Geralyn MacDonald, director of community development with the Town of New Glasgow. “We try to tie as many activities as possible to the river. People like that connection, because people are drawn to the river.”
MacDonald said the dock by the river, and the assortment of food services associated with the Pier 15 restaurant located there, make the perfect gathering place for a busy summer celebration.
The activities will feature a blow-up water park by the river, throughout the day – something MacDonald said is completely new, and funded by a federal Canada 150 grant.
“We have two water slides that go into a big cushiony foamy pools, as well as an ankle-height foam pool for children,” said Emily Morton-Fraser, interim project assistant with the Town of New Glasgow.
An assortment of carnival games and a free barbecue will also be happening throughout the day. At Moxie’s Riverside Rentals across the river, free bicycle and kayak rentals will be available.
On top of that, MacDonald said guests can pick up and stamp their passports as part of the celebration of the connection of local trails in Pictou to the Great Trail (formerly known as the Trans Canada Trail).
“That’s where the trail day comes into play,” explained Morton-Fraser. “We applied and received the Trans Canada Trail grant…and this allowed us to do the free bike and kayak rentals.”
Morton-Fraser said the water park activities were pushed ahead to this month from when they were originally planned for the local pre-Canada Day celebrations on June 29. Those activities were cancelled due to uncooperative weather at the time.
“We knew we wanted to have an end-of-season event for the community,” said MacDonald. “We looked at the farmer’s market down there, which has been bringing in 3,000 people on Saturday mornings. If we can get that many people to head down to the marina this weekend, we know we’re going to have a great day.”
During the afternoon, at 1 p.m., Central Nova MP Sean Fraser will make an appearance, to make an announcement in relation to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
The pace of the day’s activities won’t wane in the afternoon and evening, either. A number of local musicians will provide entertainment, with the Kitchen Criminals offering a musical backdrop for the family throughout the afternoon. Later in the day, the sounds of Hush’s rock and roll will keep the party going into the evening.
While the morning and afternoon will be more of a family event, the evening will be an adult-oriented time, in the style of a kitchen party by the water, MacDonald said.
She anticipates the event will also be an economic development opportunity, bringing many people into the downtown core, where they will visit and support local businesses.
“There’s a lot of interest in this – people sitting by the river, listening to music, having something from the Snack Shack, enjoying the riverside,” said MacDonald. “We will be celebrating Canada 150 right up to the fall.”