Huron County View

Heritage Festival on tap this weekend at Lighthouse Park




POINTE AUX BARQUES – The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Society (PABLS) invites everyone to attend the 17th Annual Heritage Festival this Saturday, Aug. 7.

The event takes place 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the county’s Lighthouse Park, located six miles north of Port Hope.

After having to cancel the festival last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers are excited to be able to offer a great day of family-friendly activities. All proceeds from the festival will be used for restoration of the lighthouse and life saving station.

“It’s such a relief that we can offer something again,” said PABLS member Mimi Herrington. “We’re very glad that we can invite the public to come, and we really want to highlight the life saving station.”

Back in May, the society was awarded a $15,000 Evans Graham Preservation Award, which is being used to help fund what is called a Historic Structures Report. The report is the first step in eventually restoring the life saving station and attached captain’s quarters.

With the report, experts will research the history of the building and provide a detailed analysis of its background, guide restoration efforts, and define and prepare requests for proposals to begin specific restoration tasks. Herrington said that process is already underway.

“The process has started, so that’s really exciting,” Herrington said.

On Saturday, a day of free musical entertainment is scheduled for the entire family.

From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Celtic band Stoner will play, followed in the afternoon by classical jazz band Steven Somers Band.

Plenty of food will be available on site as well, with the Harbor Beach Lions Club bringing its food truck. There will also be a corn roast, bake sale and various other refreshments.

Perhaps the top highlight of the day will be the lighthouse tower being open to climb, with a chance to see the lighthouse’s 3rd Order Fresnel Lens. Tours of the museum are also available, where you can learn about the lighthouse, life saving station and Lake Huron history.

Museum admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children; climb the tower at a cost of $4 for adults and $2 for children; or do both for $8 for adults and $4 for children. When you’re done, shop at the PABLS Gift Shop.

For more information on the festival, visit pointeauxbarqueslighthouse.org/heritage-festival.