Inspired by travelling carnivals from the Victorian era, Carnivàle Lune Bleue is a treat for all ages.
Looking for a fun day trip with the kids or visiting relatives? Jump in the car and head to historic Brockville for the Rails to Trails Festival and Brockville Ribfest.
Taking Place On Brockville’s waterfront, Rails to Trails is a fun four-day event that starts today, August 10, and runs through Sunday, August 13. The schedule is full of interactive programing featuring the sights, sounds and delectable aromas of the early 20th century. You’ll experience a travelling carnival with Carnivàle Lune Bleue, the pomp and pageantry of Canada’s First Railway Tunnel opening ceremony, and the ONTARIO 150 Tour with its entertaining cultural programing. Yes, that includes a visit from the World’s Biggest Rubber Duck too. QUACK!
You can’t miss seeing the duck. Literally.
Tunnel Opening Ceremony
Be a part of the Canada’s 150th birthday celebration at the opening of the restoration of Canada’s First Railway Tunnel. Slated for Saturday, August 12, it all starts off at 10:30 a.m. at Court House Square with a reenactment of the 1854 parade celebrating the laying of the Tunnel’s cornerstone.
The parade will start from the Court House and travel west on Church, south on John Street, east on King, and south W. Market
The parade will include many highlights of the original parade, plus many of Brockville’s tourism highlights. There will be a number of bands involved too, so if you like music, you will love the various musical troupes passing by. There will be something for everyone, including history, music, fun, and clowns.
The parade is followed at 11:30 a.m. with the opening ceremony at the tunnel’s south portal in Armagh S. Price Park in Brockville’s Tunnel Bay area.
The tunnel restoration has been a year-long project and now residents and visitors will be able to walk the whole length on a concrete pathway. The north and south portions are lined with stone and the center section features jagged rock surfaces where the long-ago workers blasted through granite. The Philips Light Show, an architectural lighting system that accentuates the landmark’s historic beauty, will operate 365 days a year.
A lumberjack show is part of the fun.
At the same time, the 17th annual Brockville Ribfest is happening at Hardy Park, at the corner of Water Street and Home Street. It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. THursday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. There’s live music, a volleyball tournament, a rib eating contest and tons of kid-friendly attractions from pony rides and a petting zoo to the Kids Zone. As for adults, there’s a beer tent, a vendor village, an arm wrestling competition and more. Besides the ribs, blooming onions, chicken, hot dogs, sausages, fries and poutine, deep fried pickles and other snacks and sweet are available on site. See Brockville Ribfest for details.
