Hartland’s covered bridge became the centre of a community celebration marking the 125th anniversary of the town’s best-known landmark during the New Brunswick Day weekend.
Residents and visitors gathered for meals, music, sports, a parade and other activities from Friday through Monday. Mayor Tracey DeMerchant and members of Hartland council joined local leaders, musicians and volunteers throughout the celebration.
In the days leading up to the anniversary, a metal arch was installed near the bridge entrance. Provided by Craig Manufacturing through a collaboration with the Covered Bridge Events Committee and municipal staff, the arch features silhouettes depicting people, animals and activities from Hartland’s history.
The opening events Friday included a picnic dinner inside the bridge, historical photographs, a community tug-of-war and music from Zach Peters. A drone show over the waterfront ended the evening.
Saturday began with the Hartland Farmers Market beside the bridge and a three-on-three basketball tournament at the Day & Ross Community Centre. Micah Martin of the Martin Boys even stopped by to jam with the band for a time that afternoon, providing a little musical interlude for festival goers.
Mayor Tracey DeMerchant led the parade down Main Street in a blazing yellow Mustang, courtesy of Legacy Ford. The parade that followed lasted the good part of an hour, delighting onlookers with Hartland Fire Dept vintage fire vehicles, a colourful troupe of clowns, floats representing local businesses, community groups and families, and much more.
Doris Kennedy, an organizer of the anniversary celebration, had family travel from as far away as Whitehorse to take part in the weekend.
“Ask me how proud I was when they were in the parade with me in their bright orange T-shirts!” Kennedy said. “They all want to come back! I love this community.”
The day continued with a traditional Carleton County pig roast inside the bridge, along with music from the Down River Band and Greg Albright.
Near the bridge, Bernard “Red” Valentine and his wife, Anita, stopped with their puppy, Charlie, and introduced him to Zaida Whorton, a young girl visiting with her family from Maine. Zaida crouched to pet Charlie while the adults chatted, turning a chance meeting between strangers into one of the weekend’s more common moments. Similar scenes played out throughout the celebration as residents welcomed visitors and shared stories. That easy kindness, along with a great pride in Hartland and its bridge, gave the event much of its warmth.
Hartland Farmers Market Manager Emily Nigro said the anniversary weekend drew visitors from across Canada.
“It is such an honor to bring the community together every weekend beside this beautiful piece of history, and this weekend was no exception,” Nigro said. “Visitors from all across the country came by to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Hartland Covered Bridge. Travellers from as far as British Columbia and PEI stopped in to support our local small businesses and enjoy seeing the Longest Covered Bridge in the World for themselves.”
Sunday began with an interdenominational service and community luncheon. The afternoon included the Bridge to Bridge Race, with one-kilometre, five-kilometre and 12.82-kilometre routes representing the 1282-foot length of the bridge.
“The rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the event,” said the Mayor. “Honestly, year after year, I’m truly amazed that our little municipality hosts this massive event. It began when Hartland was chosen as the official site for NB Day celebrations several years ago. From there, this incredible Covered Bridge Events Committee has grown it to be a well-known destination to celebrate our province and town every New Brunswick Day.”
“This anniversary honours the people who have loved it, protected it, and gathered around it for more than a century,” said Kennedy. “This bridge is cherished as the heart of our community, binding us together.”
Demerchant summed it up best.
“We’re better together.”
The celebration concluded Monday. For more coverage of the final day, check out Connor Barry’s story in the River Valley Sun.
