Festival, Festival, Festival. And what a year it’s going to be!

Entertainment coordinators Tom Revell and Bill Kendall have lined up a terrific weekend of onstage delights: Friday begins with magician Rob Driscoll, a 45 minute show full of audience participation that promises to entertain the whole family. The evening ends with the ever popular country music group Printers Alley.

On Saturday afternoon you’ll hear everything from classic swing to rock to Celtic, and Saturday evening brings back Verona’s house band Bauder Road, with and opening by Mr. Excuses.

Sunday afternoon features the a capella group Marcatos, followed by the popular gospel group Crimson River and for the finale – the spectacular fiddle player and step dancer Kelli Trottier.

Bring a chair, the grounds will be packed!

Verona Festival Aug. 8-10.
A "heads up" about Festival Friday night. Highway 38 will be closed in both directions in Verona for about a half hour Friday evening Aug. 8 starting at about 7 PM to allow for the Festival Parade. If you’re familiar with the secondary roads, you can bypass the village via Snider Road and First Lake or via Desert Lake Road to Hinchinbrooke Road. Otherwise, plan to travel before 7 or after 7:30.

Jim Stinson and North Frontenac Community Arena staff have had their hands full with the renovation project, and in a couple of weeks they’re going to show off the fruits of everyone’s hard labour. The opening ceremony will feature a chicken BBQ (Pineridge Catering), cash bar, and dance music from the ever popular Red Rose Express with Rudy & Saddle Up.

This event is well worth attending, if only to see the magnificent new change rooms. “Other than those,” says Jim, “the biggest feature is the new entranceway and the handicapped facilities.” The arena got a $47,600 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help with that part of the renovation. Community Futures Development Corporation provided a $50,000 startup grant for blueprints and design, and the community is stepping forward to fund the rest of the project. It’s not too late to support this project.

The arena will have a booth at the Verona Festival next week where you can buy a commemorative brick or simply donate to this hub of athletic activity in south and central Frontenac. And don’t forget the opening. You’ll need to get your tickets in advance. Sat. Aug. 16 from 6PM-1AM. Tickets $20 a person, advance tickets only, from at Sydenham One Stop, Starke's Convenience (Harrowsmith), Petro Canada Service Station (Sharbot Lake), Verona Hardware (Verona) and the North Frontenac Community Arena (Godfrey). For more information contact Jim Stinson weekdays 8 am--4pm at 613 374-2177 of Glenna Asselstine 613 374-1448

Sharon Sole, Queen Mum of the Verona chapter of the Red Hat Society (the Purple Juliets) are heading off to Spindle Tree Gardens near Tamworth later this month, and they’re opening the visit up to non Red Hat members. Sharon says that she was thrilled with her recent visit to this lovely and large garden where she and a group of relatives had a leisurely two hour private tour and a delicious lunch. Wed. Aug. 20, leave from Verona Free Methodist parking lot by 10:30 sharp for the 11 o’clock tour. Cost of tour $10. Lunch is extra. Call Sharon for details by Aug.14 at 613-374-3557.

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