The Village of Dorchester is gearing up for its 10th annual salute to its special yearly visitor, the semi-palmated sandpiper; with the Sandpiper Festival set for this Friday through Sunday.
Festival coordinator Lise Corkerton said Monday that organizers expect a good turnout for this year’s events, which includes a reunion for all former Dorchester Consolidated Schools students.
“There are a number of events being held in conjunction with the school reunion and we’re hoping that a lot of former students will come back home for them,” she said.
Of course, highlighted during the annual festival is the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the some two million sandpipers who stopover along the shoreline of Shepody Bay and the Bay of Fundy each summer to feed along the mudflats teeming with mud-shrimp. The best time to view the birds is two hours before and after high tide. The tide brings the birds closer to shore where to feed and they form amazing flight patterns as they swoop back and forth along the shoreline.
“We ask everyone to please not disturb the birds because this is the time when they feed a lot to build up their strength. They have a very small window of opportunity to feed and this is crucial to
making their long trip to South America. Every time they are startled or scared, it causes the birds to expend energy that they need for their long flight. It’s lovely just to stand and quietly watch them,” Corkerton explained.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada facility, which is open daily at Johnston’s Mills, offers a sandpiper lookout that is open to the public.
The Village of Dorchester invites everyone to help celebrate its 10th Sandpiper Festival at an anniversary party set for Saturday, July 24 at 6 p.m. in the Village Square.
“There will be cake and ice cream and sparkling juice for everyone; it should be a really nice time for all ages,” she noted.
The Sandpiper Festival kicks off on Friday, July 23 with the People’s Choice Photo Exhibit and contest from 12-8 p.m. at St. Ed’s Hall, 4955 Main Street. View over 100 images created by amateur
and professional photographers and have the opportunity to vote for the photo you like the most and be eligible for a door prize. The exhibit runs until Sunday and all entries must be entered before 12 p.m., on Friday, with four categories available.
Registration for the DCS reunion will be held on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. with events being held all weekend.
Included in the three-day events is the annual Rubber Duck Race on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bayview Farm, 6 Station Road, where participants get to see whose rubber duck will get to the finish line first.
“Everybody enjoys this event. Those wishing to take part can pick up their rubber ducks at a cost of $5 each at the village office, Scottie’s Inconvenience or the Bell Inn prior to the race,” she noted. The Sandpiper Festival annual egg hunt is also on for this year. “Beginning on Wednesday July 21, a new clue will be posted each
morning at the Post Office and online at www.dorchester.ca/ guestbook until Sunday July 25. Follow the clues, find the egg and you could win the prize,” Corkerton adds.
Also on Friday there will be a cold salad plate takeout at St. Ed’s Hall and Lion’s canteen from 6 p.m. until closing.
Saturday is a busy day beginning with a pancake and sausage breakfast at the Keillor House Museum followed by Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department’s yard sale at 1 Church Street from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. and a craft show in the Village Square as well as the Village Fine Art Studio and Gallery will be open, both from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada will hold an open house at its facility located at 2724, Route 935 where you can enjoy cake and refreshments from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
St. James Textile Museum and Keillor House Museum are also open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
At 11 a.m. New Brunswick’s lieutenant-governor the Honourable Nicholas Graydon arrive at the Bell Inn Restaurant for the annual chowder ceremony with town crier Jerry Randall followed by the opening ceremonies in the Village Square and the public is invited to taste the sandpiper chowder from 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Also on Saturday will be a Bake for Literacy silent cake auction from 1 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Dorchester Memorial Library, floral display contest, children’s events and musical entertainment in the Village Square, and a book launch with author Roger Burrows from 2-4 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge on Harrop Avenue.
A reunion Night Out Party will take place from 2 p.m. – 2 a.m. at St. Ed’s Hall with bar available, while the Westmorland Historical Society will present A History Lesson with WHS president Eugene Goodrich from 7:45 - 8:15 p.m. at St. Ed’s Hall.
On Sunday the photo exhibit continues while local church services will take place in addition to a craft sale from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Village Square, a sandpiper presentation at Dorchester Cap at 11 a.m., musical entertainment in the Village Square from 12 – 4 p.m. and parting reunion ceremonies at DCS from 1- 5 p.m.
Also from 1-4 p.m. there will be a folk art exhibit at The Lady Smith
Manor, 22 Woodlawn Road as well as an open house and guided tour at a cost of $2.
“Bring along the family and cheer for your lucky duck,” Corkerton noted.
