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OkillLiving LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.comEveryone's invited to the Mayor's PicnicBy Angela BlackburnOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFant to go for a picnic in the park? The Wphrase is a tradition of the season and one thats making a full-fledged revival in Oakville.The Mayors Picnic in the Park is back.Its set for Sunday, June 12 in historic Lakeside Park, downtown Oakville on the shore of Lake Ontario.This is not the picnic that once marked the local Civic Day celebration. Instead, it is a revival of an historic local tradition.Upon the demise of the Civic Day party and more recently, the local waterfront festival, the Oakville Historical Society (OHS) thought it was high time to put the mayor back into its long-standing June tradition that had more recently become known simply as Picnic in the Park.Running from noon to 4:30 p.m., it promises the best of old and new and its hoped Oakville residents, old and new, will come.We hope many of our new residents will come down and have a taste of what our lovely lakeside has to offer, said Marianne Hawthorne, president of the Friends of the Oakville Historical Society.The event will go ahead, rain or shine, though Hawthorne said theres not been a rainy picnic since it began in the 1970s.Its been gloomy, yes, but weve never had rain, said Hawthorne, with fingers crossed.We are trying to revive the old-style picnics with the bands playing and a clown with bal-loons and pocket magic, an antique car courtesy OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTOof George Farrow, (Ward 4 Town Councillor and local DJ) Roger Lapworths great sound system KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE:George Farrow assists Marianne Hawthorne, president of the Friends of the Oakville Historical Society, into hiswith demonstrations from the Scottish Country 1911 Ford horseless carriage at a previous Picnic in the Park at Lakeside Park.Dancers and Sword Dancers to the music of the in the park and what had been the first postmorning preparing the park with festive bun-dents they didnt know about the picnic so theCeltic fiddlers, said Mary Davidson of the OHS.office in Oakville was moved to the park as well.tings around the gazebo where the Dixieland OHS is working hard to extend the invitation.Lakeside Park is at the foot of Navy Street. As has become tradition for Hawthorne, theJazz Band of St. Pauls will be playing. The Those attending should also be aware thatThe nearby Thomas House and Oakville Museum picnic is a chance to get decked out as one wouldOakville Wind Orchestra will delight us for the while the park can accommodate thousands,at Erchless Estate will be open.have done for a picnic in days past.second half of the afternoon. Tables will be deco-they will need to park anywhere in the vicinityThis is the area in which Oakville began, Creating additional historical ambiance willrated with colourful cloths and flowered center-they can get a spot.when Col. William Chisholm became owner of be Farrows antique car, bunting hung at thepieces with umbrellas placed strategically Its all done by volunteers. Its one day and aproperty at the foot of the Sixteen Mile Creek, gazebo and around, checked tablecloths, flowershopefully for shade against the relentless sun huge production, but its so worth it because itsbuilt a home and business and established the on park tables and more.and not to shelter from the rain sorry, no rain so delightful and fun for everyone, saidport of Oakville in the 1800s.Yet anyone who likes their picnics with adate, said Davidson.Hawthorne.According to Hawthorne, Lakeside Park itself more modern twist, should not be dissuaded.The Downtown, Bronte and Kerr Village Among the many points of interest at thewas the land on which a home called Mount There may be bands and pocket magicians,BIAs have been working to get the word out picnic will be the display of the Prince of WalesVernon once stood.but there will also be a very modern fire truckthough theres no need to get word out about award the Town of Oakville received in 2010 forIt was the summer home of the Chisholms and police cruiser for children to explore.the picnic on picnic day. According to Hawthorne, municipal heritage leadership from the Heritagegrandson who lived in New York State. Entertainment will be by DJ, but also theeven sailboats out on Lake Ontario hear the Canada Foundation.A fire destroyed that home in the 1920s and Oakville Wind Orchestra will perform (2:15-4:15strains of music and pull in close.Its really an incredible honour, saidthe house was not rebuilt and eventually the p.m.) as will St. Pauls Dixie Land Band fromThough the roots of the picnic were estab-Hawthorne.Chisholms gifted the property to the Town of noon-2 p.m.lished when the event first occurred as a fund-Large flags embroidered with snippets of Oakville to be used as a park. Those attending are urged to bring a picnicraiser for Erchless Estate, Hawthorne said, Oakvilles history will also be displayed and avail-Hazel Mathews, author of the book Oakville lunch and lawn chairs and settle in for an after-Were trying to attract young people and new able for members of the public to sign.and the Sixteen,moved the Thomas House noon in the park. Admission is free.residents.For more details, contact the OHS at 905-from where it stood near what is today St. Members of the Society will be working allLast year, the OHS heard from some resi-844-2695.Thomas of Aquinas High School, to be preserved www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 10, 2011 24