The celebration of our rich heritage continues with the Heritage Mica Festival! So far we’ve seen Voyageur canoes on Hogg Bay, the spirits of miners on the Silver Queen Mine trail, Bear the Tinker with fabulous storytelling, heritage games and a fantastic dinner in the miners’ bunkhouse and it’s not over yet!

Ken Ramsden of Freshwater Trade gets the audience involved at the amphitheatre concert held on July 21.

Don’t despair if you missed these events as there is something happening every week all summer long. We are only midway through the summer and there is lots more Heritage Mica Festival to come! 

Take advantage of the “Be a Miner for a Day” event on Saturday, Aug. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 1. The whole family can enjoy a self-guided tour along the trail to the Silver Queen Mine. You’ll see costumed interpreters, heritage displays and the restored ore wagon that used to haul mica to the Rideau for shipping. Stop in the miners’ bunkhouse, see the horse whim and, of course, don’t forget to take a trip underground into the mine. Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy a corn on the cob lunch provided by our volunteers.

Our ever-popular Spirit Walk returns on Friday, Aug. 24 and the Voyageur Canoes will be back on Hogg Bay on Saturday, Aug. 19 along with a pancake breakfast on the beach. Life doesn’t get much better than that! Corkery Road takes to the stage at the amphitheatre on Sept. 1 to provide their melodies of Canadian heritage. Click here for full details for all Heritage Mica Festival events.

One special new event for 2012 is our dinner/theatre experience, which includes a theatre presentation along the Silver Queen Mine trail, a visit into the underground mine and our early 1900s dinner in the miner’s bunkhouse.  One commenter from the July event said, “The evening was absolutely exceptional. The script, the cultural interpretation, the use of the heritage site, the food, and the commitment by all has been masterful.” Tickets for the Aug. 15 date are selling quickly and are required at least one week in advance. The cost is $55 per person which includes your park entry permit and all taxes. Click here to order your tickets (scroll down to the dinner/theatre section).

For a truly unique experience for the cultural explorer, you can upgrade your dinner/theatre experience to the “Culture, Crier and Canoes” package. This two-day package includes the dinner/theatre as described above as well as overnight accommodation at the Best Western Plus Parkside Inn and Spa, an afternoon wine and cider sampling at a reception in the Perth Museum hosted by the Perth Town Crier, a guided tour in a Voyageur Canoe and more. The cost is $450 for double accommodation and $310 for single. Click here for details.

The Heritage Mica Festival has received support from Tay Valley Township, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Valley Heartland and Ontario Parks in addition to many community partners. We are particularly pleased with our partnership with the Skills Link participants from YAK, who have volunteered their time to help at the festival.  Some events have an admission fee and advance tickets are recommended by contacting us by phone at 613-267-5340 or email at eventsmurphys@ripnet.com.  

Two volunteers from YAK have fun during a tug of War during the Lally Day event on July 21.

All events at the park require a vehicle permit for entry. This can be a current camping pass from any one of the Ontario Parks, a summer or annual pass or a day-use permit. Day use permits range from $7 to $14, can be purchased at the park gate and provide access to all the facilities at the park – including beaches and trails.

Can’t wait to see you at the festival!