$1500 in prizes on tap at 18th Annual Whirligig Festival
Shelburne Whirligig & Weathervane organizers are looking for a few good men - and women - who might want to vie for $1,500 in prizes during the 18th Annual Whirligig & Weathervane Festival, scheduled for Shelburne's Historic waterfront on Saturday, September 16 & Sunday, September 17. There are more than fifteen awards in eleven categories for whirligigs, including People's Choice, Best of Show, Most Whimsical and First Time Entrant, plus an award for Best Weathervane. This year, a special prize will be awarded for best depiction of the theme, "Celebrating Canada's 150th".
The festival has been growing each year and the Festival Committee is committed to spreading the word to whirligig builders far and wide. "Given the growing popularity of the event last year and in years past, we expect more than 1500 visitors this year and they really come to see the great work produced by some very talented and inventive people," says co-chair Wayne Blinkhorn.
Past builders - men, women and kids - have come from Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg, Yarmouth and Halifax counties and a far away as Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, British Columbia and Ontario, as well as from Pennsylvania, Ohio and the eastern seaboard of the USA. “With 15 prizes in many categories and prizes surpassing $1500,” adds Blinkhorn, “we expect a lot of great entries.”
For many years the festival was the only one of its kind in the world and continues to be the largest featuring hand crafted wind machines and the only one of its kind in Canada. The Festival also includes a series of whirligig workshops for kids and adults, which have become a staple of the Festival. This year's Festival will also include a kite flying demonstration.
In past years, even some of the hundreds of attendees also came from throughout the Maritimes and as far away as British Columbia.
Whirligig makers can register in advance or at the Festival. There is no registration fee. For more information on the upcoming event, or for a full schedule, go to www.WhirligigFestival.com or call 1-902-656-2547.
