Privateer Days celebrates 250th anniversary of Township

"This year we've tried to make the festival go back to our roots with lots of local entertainment and family-orientated activities and we're really hoping people come out and support us because this is a very important year."

Some time-honoured favourites are returning, many with a new look, while some new activities have been added.

For example, the Canada Day Committee is hosting a red and white fireworks display on July 1 in addition to numerous other activities while Privateer Days is having its usual "Giant Fireworks" on July 5. "It's been a great collaboration between the two committees and they've worked very hard to make Canada Day successful."

Molson is sponsoring the annual Beer Tent but the cover charge is going back in time to only $5.

The entertainment starts on Friday (see schedule) with the headliners, The Sidemen and "local favourite Cameron Dexter" that night. It begins again 1 p.m. on Saturday. The evening line-up starts with the Road Rockets and ends with Blueberry Grunt, Fralic says, "an incredible band well known for providing a good party atmosphere."

Sunday is offering another full day of music with, for example, Drumlin and The Fabulous Hats. "We're really pleased to have Canadian Idol Dwight d'Eon," Fralic says. The d'Eon band will be playing songs off their new CD.

Sunday is also family day, meaning there won't be a cover charge. The tent will be open on the sides and a non-alcoholic section will be available. A complete schedule is available in The Queens County Advance.

New this year is a celebrity dunk tank in addition to the festival's regular dunk tank. The celebrities include educators, doctors, politicians, RCMP, some Privateer Days "Calendar Boys" and other personalities from 3-7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Maritime Rides is returning this year, but, for the first time, will be located at Privateer Park.

Fralic says, "We are very pleased to have the approval of the Region of Queens to have the rides located in the park this year. It will give us a great opportunity to use the park to its fullest."

One example of a community requested event is the washer toss tournament in front of the beer tent Sunday, starting at 11:30 a.m. The Queens County Museum is hosting a special 250th anniversary musical event and display and the Mersey Heritage Society is holding an Archaeological Dig at the West Tavern, both of which are detailed in this supplement.

Some always-popular events include graveyard tours, wagon tours, the Historic Encampment, the Re-enactment of a battle between the Kings Orange Rangers and ‘the Americans,’ lots of food, and Open Air Markets, to name just some examples.

Details are also available at www.privateerdays.ca.