Alcuin Society Book Awards Exhibition 
at the Muskoka Lakes Museum
August 19 to September 30
A display of the winners of the 2011 Alcuin Society Book Design Awards. The Alcuin Society is a voluntary association supported by people who care about the past, present and future of fine books. The Alcuin Society sponsors the only national competition for book design in Canada: http://www.alcuinsociety.com/awards/

Anne of Green Gables Silent Movie at Clevelands House
Thursday, August 18
A recreation of the long-lost 1919 silent movie, narrated by Linda Hutton with live piano accompaniment by Jack Hutton. As the audience watched the movie stills, listened to Linda's narration and Jack's totally authentic piano background, they felt like they had been transported right back to an old silent movie theatre.

Toronto All-Star Big Band Dance 
at the Port Carling Memorial Community Centre
Saturday, July 30 at 8:00 pm
One of the most exciting bands around, the Toronto All-Star Big Band revives the spirit, style and sound of the 1930s and 40s - that golden age of the big bands. Brilliant programming, slick choreography and witty cultural nostalgia. 

Everything Anne Day, the annual re-enactment of LM Montgomery coming to Bala in 1922, took place at the Bala Museum on July 23.  Families enjoyed egg-on-a-spoon races, 3-legged races, sack races and prizes for best costumes of characters from the novel. 

This year’s Canada Day celebrations on July 1 lasted all day in Minett, with face painting, stilt-walking lessons and high tea during the day and the annual fireworks show in the evening. 

As part of the Muskoka Literary Trail, the Muskoka Chautauqua was also on site displaying the organization’s archives – a selection of books, some very unique and valuable, that document the history of the movement in the area. The day’s festivities were well attended, with many families bringing their children to get their face painted with Zoe Harris or to interact with performers from the Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival. Complimentary Canada flags, pins and bookmarks were given out to get visitors in the patriotic spirit.

The High Tea was hosted by the Marriott and featured a performance of classical music with a string trio, topped off with a huge Canada Flag themed cupcake display. Down at the water there was also a water ski show performed by Summer Water Sports and a rowing demonstration by Hatchets Outdoor Centre, accompanied by a live performance with The Muskoka Jazz Guys.

The day ended with spectacular fireworks, which were viewed by thousands in boats, on docks and at various nearby resorts.

The 11th annual Flavours of Muskoka, a renowned food and beverage show, was a great success on Wednesday, June 29, with 35 wine and food vendors participating and over 250 attendees.

A collection of some of the area’s finest restaurants, wineries and breweries, as well as vendors from other parts of the province, offered samples of their latest menu items, wines and beers. The feedback was very positive with regards to the quality of the participating businesses and their offerings.

With the annual silent auction, attendees at the Flavours event had the opportunity to purchase pieces of artwork by local artists, as well as a wide array of items generously donated by local businesses. With over fifty items up for sale, the auction tables were busy all evening. A brand new wakeboard and life vest donated by Pride of Muskoka West Marine fetched the highest bid.

Artist and author Nola McConnan (pictured at far right), who donated two prints from her new book ABC Muskoka, was also on hand with copies of her latest work for a book signing, as part of the Muskoka Literary Trail. Diners were treated to music courtesy of The Muskoka Jazz Guys from Huntsville and on violin, Shari and Sarah Lundi.

The event raised close to $20,000 for Kaleidoscope Arts in Education Programs. 

During the weekend of June 25 and 26, more than one hundred children and their families turned out for the13th Annual Kaleidoscope Children's Art Festival. The festival featured clowns and face painting as well as dozens of hands-on, drop-in art workshops with professional artists. Children had the opportunity to use woodblocks to make coloured prints with local artist Krysia Bower. They were able to make carved stone pendants with Elise Muller and sculpt with clay under the encouragement of Tara Gilchrist. Barry “Bazza” Hayward led a drumming circle that was popular with children and adults alike, where participants tried out dozens of different drums and percussive instruments, many unusual and unfamiliar. Caroline Butson and Tori Wines helped children create a painted mural and Sandy Inkster used props and books for an exciting storytelling corner. There was also a wire jewelry making workshop with first-time festival artist Erin Lynch. Susan Hindle led a workshop where children made cards as part of a DAREArts Children for Peace project.

The festival’s annual banner making workshop, which will eventually result in the creation of a large quilt (past years’ quilts pictured below), was inspired this year by Literary Trail author and artist Nola McConnan’s new book ABC Muskoka. For the quilt, each child was asked to decorate a fabric square with their favourite Muskoka icons, all beginning with the same letter. Also featured on the Literary Trail was Sandy Inskter’s storytelling corner (pictured above), where she used props and enthusiasm to make storytelling come alive.

Saturday’s celebrations also featured face painting, theatre workshops and a pizza lunch. On Sunday, local children’s performance group Jam Sandwich sang and danced in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Overall, this year’s festival was a success, with even better attendance than last year. 

In honour of National Aboriginal Day on June 21 and as part of Kaleidoscope Arts in Education Programs, students from Watt Public School were involved in a four-day performance workshop hosted by four artists from the Debajehmujig Theatre Group of Manitoulin Island. During the workshop, grade 4, 5 and 6 students created their own play, reinterpreting the Ojibway creation story, and put together a rhythmic, Stomp-like dance performance. The workshop culminated in a presentation on June 21 at Wallace Bay, Red Leaves as part of the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival’s Aboriginal Day celebrations.

Over the weekend leading up to Aboriginal Day, Red Leaves was the setting of several events and activities, including demonstrations by artist and author Gordon Miller, whose work was on display at the Discovery Centre Art Gallery, including his new book of paintings and writing entitled Kokum’s Gift.

 International environmental artist Marc Walter also collaborated and spoke with visitors as he erected his installation called ‘Points of View’ at the shore.

On Aboriginal day, attendees first watched the Watt students’ performance and then were treated to music by the Wahta Singing Birds, during which the crowd participated by shaking shakers and beating drums. As part of the Muskoka Literary Trail, Gordon Miller was on-site discussing and signing copies of his new book, doing art demonstrations and guiding visitors through his exhibition at the gallery. Participants were also given Aboriginal themed gifts, including educational storybooks about aboriginal heritage and culture, buildable cardboard inukshuks and temporary tattoos.

The day concluded with the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce Business After-Hours. Guests to this event also toured the gallery with Gordon Miller and had the opportunity to watch Marc Walter at work. 

The 9th edition of the Muskoka Lakes Spring Art Tour took place on June 11 and 12. With eleven studios spanning Bracebridge, Windermere, Bala and Port Carling, the tour featured the work of twenty local artists. Work exhibited included painting, basketry, fabric art, pottery, metal, photography, wood, sculpture and jewelry. There were three new artists this year: James Tough with his wood creations, photographer Scott Turnbull and Gillian Woan who specializes in fabric and fibre arts. Other participating artists included Jon and Suzann Partridge, Wendy Moses, Tim du Vernet, Miranda Britton, Haysam Haytoaglu, Gayle Dempsey, Glenda Davies, Deborah Harkness, Jane Gordon, Connie Beninger, Iris Gammon, Jon Gurr, Margo Gracey, Ise Soja, Christine Marshall and Penny Varney. Galleries were open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm for both Saturday and Sunday and artists were all on hand to discuss their work and the creative process with visitors.

In partnership with the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival, the Canadian Federation of University Women held their 13th annual Author's Night on May 13, this year featuring Canadian Captain Ray Wiss, M.D., from Sudbury, Ontario. Capt. Wiss has written two books (FOB DOC and A Line in the Sand) both based on his experiences as a soldier and a medic on the front lines with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. He shared his experiences with a near-capacity crowd at the event, which was part of the Muskoka Chautauqua’s calendar of events as well as being featured on the Muskoka Literary Trail.  Capt. Wiss’s presentation also included videos and photos from his two tours of duty. A reception and book signing followed the talk. Proceeds of the event went to the CFUW Muskoka Charitable Trust.