Gananoque, ON
Friday to Sunday, Aug. 6-8 in Grass Creek Park (between Gananoque and Kingston at 2991 Hwy. 2) - has been named a Top 100 Ontario Event for the second year in a row.
First held in 1988, the Sheep Dog Trials is largest event of its kind in Canada attracting more than 140 competing dogs and handlers and 8,000 spectators. This year, Jennifer Clark-Ewers from San Diego, California and Frank Cashen from the U.K. will be judging the event.
In addition to the dog versus sheep herding action of Sheep Dog Trials themselves, this year's three-day event will also feature:
• 1000 Island Dock Dogs is a series of performance contests for dock-diving dogs who can win in the Big Air, Extreme Vertical, Speed Retrieve and Iron Dog competitions (see www.1000islandsdockdogs.com for details on how to enter your dog).
• The Agility Connection featuring dogs running through an agility course and activities including steeplechase, snooker, and team relays.
• Ready, Set, Go Flyball Team (Saturday and Sunday only). Dog and trainer teams perform jumps, hurdles and manoeuvre the spring-loaded box that releases the ball.
Back again this year are:
The Birds of Prey Show;
Young Sheep Dog Training demos;
Sheep shearing demonstrations;
The Sheep to Shawl competition;
Spinning and Weaving demos by Kingston Spinners & Weavers Guild;
A shawl auction;
Craft & Artisan Fair;
The Kingston Police K-9 Unit;
face-painting;
the Success by Six Play Corner;
crafts, post-card and mural-making;
pony rides and a petting zoo.
The border collie championship trials run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and the Trials' many other attractions run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 a day or $25 for a three-day pass. Kids 10 and under get in free.
A schedule of events may be found at www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/events/sheepdog/activities.asp.
There's plenty of on-site parking (including accessible parking), accessible washrooms, and food vendors will be offering BBQ, baked goods, kettle corn and cotton candy.
Free shuttle buses from downtown Kingston:
Departing from the Kingston Centre, near corner of Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard and Bath Road, at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.;
Departing from the K-Rock Centre, 1 Barrack St., at 9:20 a.m. and 1:20 p.m.;
and departing from Grass Creek Park at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
There will also be FREE admission to Maclachlan Woodworking Museum on the Saturday and Sunday of the Trials. The museum is located at the entrance of Grass Creek Park. With over 11,000 tools for woodworking and related trades, five galleries and an interactive children's exhibit, the museum is a great place to explore.
- Guided tours: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.
- Blacksmithing demonstrations: 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
- Children's hands-on activities: Making a cedar shake - 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Creating woolly crafts - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- In-house musicians' informal jam session: 2 p.m. on Saturday. Bring your instrument and join in! Children can make their own percussion instruments.
For more information call 613-542-0543 or visit www.cityofkingston.ca/museum
