WaterFest 2001 in Midland, Ontario - August 3, 4, and 5, 2001

Come 100 miles north of Toronto to beautiful Georgian Bay! Come to WaterFest!

This is Midland’s second annual WaterFest Art Exhibition and is an integral part of Midland’s tourism program. The intent is to continue to build an annual fine-art tourist attraction by capitalizing on visitors attending many integrated Georgian Bay-related events simultaneously taking place in the Town docks and in the immediate parklands.

The highlight of Waterfest 2001 is the Fine Art Exhibition, supported by the intended unveiling of:

• Ron Hunt’s breathtaking Trumpeter Swan sculpture in Harbourside Park
• on-site dedication of mural artist Fred Lenz’s Huronia mural, the largest of its kind in North America.

The OSPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Tea Garden will cater to our visitors.

Other simultaneous events include:
• antique watercraft show
• tugboat tours
• Canadian Coast Guard vessel tours
• main street yacht & boat show
• canoe displays
• water safety and environmental presentations.

This year’s WaterFest is enthusiastically supported by the Midland Chamber of Commerce and the Midland Business Improvement Association.

Last year’s event hosted twenty-two artists and drew approximately 7000 visitors, 2200 of them between 7PM and 9:20PM on opening Friday, and more than 2000 each on Saturday and the Sunday: public response was excellent.

The event was attended by a delegation from South Africa’s Prime Minister Nelson Mandela, and by our own Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Jean Chretien.

Thanks to Orton T. Carberry for information about Waterfest

Editor's note: I was one of the 22 artists last year and I will be exhibiting this year. WJG