The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is this year celebrating its 16th season of presenting quality, diversified Canadian arts fare to Muskokans, seasonal residents and cottagers.
The 2008 summer season runs July 3 to 31 and the jazz festival from Aug. 1 to 3. This is followed on Aug. 27 and 28 by two special performances from world-renowned Latin/flamenco/world rhythm guitarist Jesse Cook.
Most evening performances take place at the state-of-the-art Algonquin Theatre.
Headliners for this year’s festival include Huntsville’s own Hawksley Workman (July 4), Sophie Milman (July 5), Jim Cuddy, known for his work as the lead singer of Canadian supergroup Blue Rodeo (July 8), Jully Black (July 9), Hannaford Street Silver band (July 18), Stephen Lewis, Canada’s leading humanitarian (July 23), Michelle Wright (July 24), the Barra McNeils (July 25) and tenor John McDermott (July 26).
Huntsville artists will be well represented in this year’s festival. On July 19, Les Stroud of Survivorman fame will be presenting a multi-media evening filled with his filmwork and music as well as story telling, then from July 20 to 23 and again on the July 26, the North Muskoka Players bring Linus, Snoopy, Lucy, Schroeder and Charlie Brown to life in the fast-paced musical You’re a Good man Charlie Brown.
Huntsville High School alumnus Dan Watson presents Edge of the Woods, featuring outdoor plays and buskers at the town dock on July 12 and 13.
The August jazz festival will feature great day and evening offerings, including Michael Kaeshammer (Aug. 1) and Dionne Taylor (Aug. 2), at the Algonquin Theatre, as well as Jazz in the Garden at Spencer's Tall Trees (Aug. 3), in the afternoon.
A full Huntsville Festival of the Arts concert and event schedule can be found on the website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or the Algonquin Theatre website at www.algonquintheatre.ca.
Prices for all concerts range from $20 to $45 plus GST and there is special pricing for youth.
Free events include 10 Music at Noon weekday concerts, co-ordinated by pianist Marion Haggart, weekend Jazz on the River with the Trillium Dixie Jazz Band, the return of the family-focused Arts Splash (July 6) and the interactive Art Walk (July 27). Also featured is a Poetry Café workshop and reading. (July 15).
Meanwhile, the festival is encouraging all patrons to participate in a short survey which can be found at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca/survey or at the festival blog, www.trumpeterhfa. blogspot.com and by clicking on the survey link. This will help the board with its future program choices.
To thank patrons for their participation there will be a draw from among those who respond for two tickets to the show of their choice in the 2008 season.
The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is supported by grants from the Canadian Department of Heritage; sponsorship from several corporations, foundations and local businesses; individual donations; and hundreds of generous volunteers and artists in the community.
Tickets can be purchased through the festival website, at www.algonquintheatre.ca, or by calling the box office at 789-4975.
