Rain doesn’t spoil celebration
Rain gently poured and dripped as the sounds of fiddling and singing filled the air.
This scene was one of many that embodied the 11th annual Covered Bridge Festival that ended with the market and other events on Monday, Aug. 3.
The event was an important one for the town, as in addition to expected events, this year’s celebrations coincided with the 125th anniversary of the Hartland Covered Bridge, a topic highlighted in the day’s official welcome.
“For 125 years, the Hartland Covered Bridge has served as a source of pride for our municipality, and we are honoured today to recognize this significant milestone,” said Hartland Mayor Tracey DeMerchant.
“On behalf of the municipality of Hartland, I would like to thank the government of Canada and the government of New Brunswick for the support of this celebration,” she added.
The events were also notable for the sheer number of vendors present at the market this year, totalling 119.
“Absolutely,” said organizer Shirley Dickinson, a member of the Covered Bridge Events committee, when asked if the festivities last Monday broke the record for the largest New Brunswick Day celebrations Hartland has had.
“We actually had to shut people off, … [and] to put a notice out two weeks ago that we couldn’t receive any more vendors,” continued Dickinson, who later noted that this is far beyond the count the market had received in the past.
However, vendors who participated in the market report that despite the incredibly large numbers of vendors, the process of setting up and taking down was remarkably streamlined.
“The entire operation is such a well-oiled machine, [and] it is amazing as a vendor to show up and [for] there to be so many volunteers who are kind and polite and willing to assist in any way that they can,” said Jody Vail, vendor and owner of Lane 19 Creations.
She went on to say that business in the market was mind-blowing and encouraged other vendors interested to sign up.
At the same time as the market were some other smaller attractions, chiefly the Heartland Culture on the Green Fine Arts Show & Sale.
At this event, 10 local artists displayed their works at Hartland’s Dr Walter Chestnut Library and, throughout the day, worked on pieces to add to it at the nearby Charles Allen Park.
Other attractions include live music from many different performers, Hole in One-Shore to Score, the colour run, and Elizabeth Lunnie’s Quilting Corner.
