The Citizen, 1995-05-31, Page 31-?..T.,
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FE TIVAL
lt, ARTS AND CRAFTS A RTS
July 7th, 8th & 9th, 1995
Artisans, crafters, painters, photographers and sculptors from all over Ontario and other parts of
Canada come to Goderich to display and sell their creations. There are special displays, food events,
cultural events and dozens of other Tourist attractions in this picturesque and historic Port town.
Court House Park
Goderich
Three full days of activities
For more, information, please call 519-524-2125
FIRESIDE CAFE}
A
Minutes north
of the
Blyth
Festival
Hours
Tues. - Sat.
11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sun.
4:30 - 7:30 p.m
Closed Monday
Casual dining in an inviting atmosphere offering traditional
country fare and deliciously decadent desserts. Relax in front
of the fireplace, enjoy the patio deck overlooking the
picturesque forest. Licensed.
For reservations
South of Wingham on Hwy. #4 357-4484
CELTIC ROOTS
FESTIVAL
August 11, 12, 13, 1995
HARBOUR PARK, GODERICH
Thirty hours of mainstage
music, three workshop and
children's areas, theme
food and craft artists
continuing Celtic traditions,
in a beautifully treed park
by Lake Huron.
Celtic College August 8-11/95
PERFORMERS
DOUGIE MACLEAN
LORETTO REID
KEN PERLMAN
BRIAN PETERS
KILLIECRANKIE
STRATHMORE
THE CRAIC
ENOCH KENT
THE GURRIERS
MARIANNE HOGAN
ANDERSON & BROWN
BRIAN TAHENY
FINOLA MACGINTY
COUNTY VAUDEVILLE
DUNCAN CAMERON
GOPHER BAROQUE
CELTIC OFFSPRING
DON CHARLES
PAUL HASLEM
BOBBY WATT
MAD PUDDING
HOMESPUN
PADDY TUTTY
DOUG DAVIDSON
LEN WALLACE
IAN BELL
DEB GESSNER
TALESPIN
FIRST GENERATION IRISH DANCERS
CANADIAN WELSH SINGERS
GLENELG FULL MOON COUNTRY DANCE BAND
For information, phone (519) 524-8221
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Page 7
---- Stops Meng The Way '95- -
Primetime Country fills Wingham with toe-tapping tunes
Continued from page 6
tremendous support that led to the approval
of the grant application.
The extra cash continues to assist The Ark
in becoming self-sufficient. Patch was hired
as staff manager/co-ordinator to make the
centre an on-going viable operation. The
grant also made it possible to begin the
Outreach program for the purpose of
teaching social education to communities
and their young people.
Despite the new programs that are being
experimented with, The Ark is still
essentially a drop-in centre. Teens are
encouraged to stop by to shoot basketball,
play pool, or just to get together with some
friends and listen to music.
The success that has come to The Ark has
not gone unnoticed. In hope of similar
results, many local areas such as Goderich
and Clinton, have considered duplicating the
centre.
This year organizers at The Ark have put
Together many summer events for both local
and visiting children.
Members of the youth group will
participate in a walk-a-thon from Brussels to
Listowel on June 17. This event is one of
many planned for Project Connect, which
Doc developed the idea of taking local
country and western musicians and giving
them a live platform, via his program, for
their talent.
A room in the Wingham Museum,
another favourite stop for visitors to the
town, stands as a testimony to this visionary.
An early organizer of Primetime Country
Jim Currie, remembers, "The first
entertainers brought in by Doc were
a couple of local musicians who
played mandolin and guitar -
Bill and Pete. The program
soon became known as the
Saturday Night Barn Dance.
It later travelled all over
southwestern Ontario,
playing live in arenas and
theatres, wherever they could
find an audience for
broadcast."
The desire to be on stage
brought performers from across
the country to Wingham and
Doe's Barn Dance because it was
one spot that would give them a
chance.
"This is the legacy behind Primetime
Country; an extremely successful one," says
Currie.
Over the years the Barn Dance gained in
popularity and in regular musicians. Familiar
names became household words and people
links the Brussels youth group with groups
in surrounding areas. Patch says that new
members are always welcome.
An open house will be held at the centre
on July 8-from 2-5 p.m.
Tourists and local residents can enjoy the
Fun Fair to be held at Lions Park Hill.
Waterslides, pony rides, and mini-golf are
just a few of the activities scheduled for the
fair on July 15.
Other Project Connect activities include a
bike-a-thon on July 29 from Brussels to
Goderich, and a baseball tournament on
Aug. 12.
Session one of The Ark Junior Summer
Recreation Program for children seven to 12
will begin on July 5. The cost is $5 a day or
$30 per three week session. Pre-registration
will take place June 8-9 at The Ark from 4-8
p.m. For more information call (519) 887-
9834 or 887-6024.
It has been over two years since Patch first
introduced the idea of a youth drop-in centre
in Brussels. The Ark has now expanded to
meet the needs of the entire community,
while remaining an entertaining place for
teens. This summer tourists acid Brussels
residents alike will continue to enjoy the
many activities The Ark has to offer.
gathered every Saturday night to listen to the
funtime music of Don Robertson, Cora Fair,
Rossie Mann, the Golden Prairie Cowboys,
Al Cherny, Ward Allen, Dusty DeNight,
Sharon Strong and Jack Kingston.
When Doc built the television station, he
couldn't continue the road shows so he
brought all the talent together for live TV.
"It became known that if you had talent and
wanted a chance in the field of country
music, you came to Wingham," said Currie.
"If you had talent you got exposure."
Due to the evolution of television, with
the types of programs being watched by the
public changing and live production costs
rising, the Saturday Night Barn Dance
eventually ceased to exist and the people
who had for so long been part of this
exciting idea, moved on to other ventures.
When Wingham celebrated its 75th
anniversary of incorporation many years
ago, Barn Dance was brought back as one of
the planned events. "The dance filled the
arena to capacity which resulted in a good
deal of discussion about bringing it back
permanently." However, as so often •
happens with the best laid plans, the intent
was lost and it wasn't until the centennial
celebration of Wingham, 25 years later that
Continued on page 8
By Bonnie Gropp
For the fifth time, Wingham will come
alive to the rousing strains of country and
western music, as Primetime Country romps
through another season at the historic town
hall.
Since its inception in 1991, Primetime
has been delighting its ever-increasing
audience with quality toe-tapping
performances. Highlighting this
year's season are tributes to C&W
legends George Jones, Don
Messer, Dolly Parton and
Johnny Cash, as well as a 1 it
country gospel concert in
June and a Christmas
Spectacluar in December.
That Primetime Country
ever began was due to the
foresight and commitment of
some community-spirited
volunteers, who wanted not
only to take Wingham back to
its country roots, but utilize the
town hall, built in 1890 in the
market square, which many felt had
not been used to potential in recent times.
Historically, Wingham earned the
reputation of the "Country Music Capital" in
the 1940s and 1950s, through the efforts of
the late Doc Cruikshank, a well-known and
highly respected community figure, who
began the CKNX radio station in Wingham.
Ark offers variety of events