Haweaters come home this weekend on Manitouin Island
It's going to be busy in downtown Little Current this weekend as revellers get set for arguably one of the biggest parties on Manitoulin Island.
It’s the 54th anniversary of Haweater Weekend, a story of homecoming for not only permanent and seasonal residents, but tourists across the province.
"It would have been our 56th but COVID stopped us for two years," said Little Current Lions president Bruce Burnett.
"We're starting out right now with a display from the CarverKings and starting Friday we have vendors downtown along with the return of midway rides. We haven't had them in years and they'll be here all weekend."
PLAY BALL
Also new to the festivities is a bass tournament and a ball tournament. Sixteen teams have signed up to play ball.
"We try and get something new there every year. This year it is a bass tournament and the midway,” said Burnett.
“The fireworks this year, we're getting a lot of permission to do them and they're going to go off sometime Sunday night, whenever it gets dark enough.”
The festival derives its name from a term given to anyone on Manitoulin Island. Islanders call themselves ‘haweaters’ due to the amount of hawberries found throughout the island.
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
"We're just hoping people stay safe," said Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands Mayor Al MacNevin.
“There are a lot of people who will be driving around looking for events and they won't know where they are. Have a great time and give yourselves a lot of space.”
For a complete breakdown of the weekend's events, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mark Carney reaches out to dozens of Liberal MPs ahead of potential leadership campaign
Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, is actively considering running in a potential Liberal party leadership race should Justin Trudeau resign, sources tell CTV News.
WATCH Woman critically injured in explosive Ottawa crash caught on camera
Dashcam footage sent to CTV News shows a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed in the wrong direction before striking and damaging a hydro pole.
Here’s why you should monitor your blood pressure, keep it in check
An Ottawa pharmacist says blood pressure is a good indicator of overall health, noting the importance of keeping it at healthy rates.
Big Dreams for ‘The Littlest Hobo’: Fans push for star on Canada’s Walk of Fame
When Terry Bush co-wrote and sang Maybe Tomorrow, the theme song for The Littlest Hobo, he thought it was just another gig—a catchy tune for a TV show about a wandering German Shepherd. Forty-five years later, that 'little tune' still tugs at heartstrings, pops up on playlists, and has even been known to be played at closing time in English pubs.
Peel police investigate possible connections between gunshot injury, luxury vehicle carjacking
Police are investigating possible connections between a gunshot injury and an attempted carjacking in Mississauga.
TikTok creators left in limbo while awaiting decision on potential platform ban
At the heart of the case is whether the law violates the First Amendment with TikTok and its creator allies arguing that it does.
Trump appears with Italian Prime Minister Meloni at his Florida club
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump made an appearance Saturday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was visiting his Mar-a-Lago club.
Here’s the latest on this weekend's winter storms in Canada
From snow, to high winds, to extreme cold, much of Canada is under a severe weather alert this weekend. Here's what to expect in your region.
This Canadian couple has been to 195 countries. Here's what they learned on their eight-year journey
Masha and Robert Glanville, a Canadian couple, sold everything they owned to travel the world full-time. With over 195 countries visited, they focus on mindful, eco-friendly travel and giving back. Here’s what they had to say about their global journey.