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 Campbellville residents celebrate the town's birthday in style. This year's bash takes place June 11-12. |
Campbellville is donning its funkiest dance shoes, for a party June 11-12. Folks in this serene village about an hour west of Toronto will salute the town's birthday -- its 91st -- with high-stepping strutters and a bevy of bands.
"The birthday bash is our major focus of the year," says Marilyn Goodale, spokesman for the Campbellville Area Business Association, adding that this is one of the attractions that helps draw more than 1.2 million visitors annually to this part of Escarpment Country. "We will celebrate our present and reflect on the town's storied past."
And an intriguing story it is. Nestled in a hollow of the Niagara Escarpment, the wooded valleys, streams and millpond around the village (population about 800) have attracted people for hundreds of years.
A stone's throw away is Crawford Lake, an archaeological site featuring a reconstructed 15th century Iroquoian village set in a heavily forested 468-hectare park.
Within slithering distance is Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area crowned by five lookouts atop towering cliffs. Experienced rock climbers can scale the challenging cliffs and there are hiking trails.
Campbellville is named after the first settler, John Campbell, who arrived here from Scotland in 1832. Built of crude hemlock boughs, his original cabin still stands (although stuccoed over) at 37 Campbell Ave. W. In 1838, he dammed Sixteen Mile Creek for a pond, and built a sawmill, forming the nucleus of the village's future growth. Most of the buildings along the main intersection date from the 1800s.
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Today Campbellville's streetscape hums with homey restaurants, antique stores and quaint shops specializing in pressed glass, stained glass, rare china, books, jewelry and collectibles.
Campbellville welcomes travellers with genial lodgings such as the Cedar Stone B&B Inn, run by Fran and Lisa.
In the morning, the B&B is filled with the aromas of butter croissants, wild berry crepes, Belgian waffles "and some of the best omelettes you've ever had, using our own organically grown eggs," says Lisa.
The Maranatha Log House B&B, bordered by forests, was built around 1850. Among its previous owners was John Carnegie, a relative of Andrew Carnegie -- the famous U.S. industrialist.
David and Martha McPhee now own the two-storey timbered home with its three fireplaces and adjoining shops. Martha serves up a candlelit breakfast of fresh fruit, muffins, crepes, eggs benedict or French toast.
Organizing the birthday celebrations is Sally Bridgman, who also manages Campbellville's country crooner Alysha Brooke.
"Birthday festivities start on Saturday morning at 10 with a pancake brunch at participating restaurants, featuring all you can eat pancakes for a nominal charge," says Bridgman. "As well, there will be a sidewalk sale ... and a community garage sale."
At 2 p.m., a Battle of the Bands will be held at the Mohawk Inn on Guelph Line, and a street dance (8:30-10 p.m.), featuring Brooke and her band.
Along with kiddie games and a dog show, June 12 includes a cake cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. and a concert by the Battle of the Bands winner at 4 p.m. All events are free.
"We only ask for donations of non-perishable food items for the town's Salvation Army Food Drive," says Bridgman. "It's a special way to share the special spirit of Campbellville."
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BOTTOM LINE
INFORMATION: Contact 905-854-1244 or mgoodale@idirect.com. For parks, contact conservationhalton.on.ca or 905-847-7430.
LODGING: Cedar Stone B&B, 1-866-373-5551, 905-854-1115 or bbcanada.com/6478.html. Maranatha Log House, 905-854-0444 or maranathalog house.yp.ca/en_CA.