Shiretown prepares to celebrate Sandpiper Festival

Dorchester will once again celebrate the life of those tiny semipalmated sandpipers that flock to Johnson's Mills every summer with the eighth annual Sandpiper Festival. With three full days of events scheduled, from July 25-27, both local area residents and visitors from outside the village alike can expect a fun-filled weekend.
Festival coordinator Hayley Wells says planning for this year's festival started right after last year's festival ended. And by looking back on previous years the festival's planners have been able to spot what events work and what might be some fresh new ideas.
"We've got a few new things that we're going to try out this year," said Wells.
Some new events this year include a children's egg drop contest, which will take place at the Jail House Gym on Saturday at 4 p.m.
"We want them to make the nest out of household, recyclable materials at home," Wells added. "We're going to give a prize to the egg that survives the most falls and the egg that makes the biggest splat."
A sandpiper pizza party is scheduled for Friday evening beginning at 5 p.m. at the village square, where $3 will buy you a slice of pizza and can of pop. Wells says that proceeds from the pizza party will go towards a sandpiper mascot, which she hopes will be unveiled next year. Maritime Idol finalists will also provide live entertainment.
A birthday party for Shep, the sandpiper statue in the town square, will be held on Sunday for ages 14 and under.
"It's going to be a typical birthday party," Wells said. "There's going to be games and prizes and presents and cake, and a piÑata."
The party will be held at the village square and begins at 11 a.m.
Also on Sunday is a homemade kite flying competition at the Keillor House Museum, starting at 3 p.m.
On Saturday live entertainment will begin in the village square at 10 a.m., and throughout the day will include acts such as Isaac & Blewett, Natasha Richard and Family, R.A. Lautenschlager and 8Ball.
The annual sandpiper chowder tasting ceremony will take place Saturday morning at the Bell Inn Restaurant at 11 a.m., while the official opening ceremonies for the festival will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the village square, with special guest Peter Coade from the CBC.
Returning this year is the sandpiper photography exhibit, which will once again run all weekend long. Doors for the exhibit at St. Eds's Community Hall will open at 12 p.m. on Friday, and viewers of the 100-plus images can vote for their favorite and get a chance to win a prize as well. This year's featured artist is Dawn Sheppard.
Also returning this year is the rubber duck race on Sunday at 2 p.m., though it will have a few changes from last year.
"Last year we had a problem with some of the ducks not going, so we're going to change how we're going to set them off this year," Wells said. "Hopefully so I won't have to jump into the water after them this time."
Winners of the race, which takes place at 6 Station Road, will receive a minimum of $150 cash prize.
The debut of the official Sandpiper Song will debut on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the village square, and will be performed by the band Call Waiting. The song was written by Mike Kennedy, a musician from Moncton.
"He wrote this Sandpiper Song, and it's about the Maritimes and particularly the sandpipers that are here," explained Wells.
As for what the festival itself means for the village, Wells says it brings a lot of awareness to what the village has and what it is capable of.
"Where Shiretown Days is mainly for the community, the Sandpiper Festival is also for other communities to come and see," she said. "We draw a lot of people from different areas and it's good for them to see what we have and then they can go home and tell their friends what they saw."

Baking contest returns
On Saturday, July 26 Chef Roy Butterworth will return to Dorchester for the second annual Sandpiper Festival baking contest.
Whether you have a collection of family recipes or simply enjoy baking, festival coordinator Hayley Wells hopes a number of local bakers will whip up a cake or cheesecake for what she believes will be one of the highlights of this year's Sandpiper Festival.
Contestants should note this year's theme is chocolate, and entry forms are required to be filled out and handed in at the Access Centre by July 18.
Chef Roy will be doing cooking demonstrations during the festival, including how to decorate cakes and how to turn vegetables into works of art to help spruce up your dinner plate.
The grand prize for the baking contest is a $100 gift certificate along with assorted prizes and gift certificates. There will also be prizes for second, and third place winners. For more information on the rules and regulations for the contest, pick up an entry form at the Dorchester Access Centre or at the Sackville Co-op.