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9 Countdown to 1st Annual Big DADDY Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, June 1, 2010 17 DAYS TO GO Give DAD the News & Celebrate Together by Lois Fraser Culture Matters in most small towns, but even more so in Halton Hills with our enormous number of visual artists and performing arts groups. Culture (from the Latin word cultura meaning "to cultivate") is defined as an excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities. It is also defined as a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an organization or group. Halton Hills is a friendly, family oriented town, so why not celebrate an important day in family life? Bring your Dad, or the significant man in your life (or your kid's life) to celebrate the Father's Day weekend in our beautiful, culture filled town. The Halton Hills Cultural Roundtable, a not-for-profit, incorporated, volunteer organization created in 2009, brings together a broad representation of all cultural activities in Halton Hills in order to promote the well being and the development of culture in Halton Hills. They undertake projects that highlight local artistic and cultural talent and heritage attractions in order to bring enjoyment to local residents and showcase Halton Hills to visitors. Last summer, the Roundtable decided to start up a new festival to celebrate our family oriented culture. The result is the first annual Big DADDY Festival, which is happening over Father's Day weekend June 19 and 20. There are over 50 Dad related activities to suit all kinds of Dads, from the outdoorsy Dad (fishing derby, fly fishing demonstrations, Bruce Trail walks, historic lime kiln walk), the sports loving Dad (road hockey tournament, arm wrestling competition), the artistic Dad (glass blowing, boat building, folk art painting), the food and beverage loving Dad (trendy restaurants, international food, chocolate making, brew tasting), the music loving Dad (Dixie Land Jazz, folk, Celtic, rock) and the money conscious Dad (tons of free activities, free movies under the stars). And is there a Dad anywhere who doesn't like classic cars? We have it all covered! For details, see www.bigdaddyfestival.ca. The Big DADDY Festival is partnering with the Acton BIA, the Georgetown BIA, the Town of Halton Hills, the Classics against Cancer, and the Williams Mill. The plan is to grow this inaugural festival in 2010 into a much larger annual "signature" event for Halton Hills in the years ahead. The whole community is getting involved in the Big Daddy Festival, from the exhibitors and volunteer organizers, to participants and sponsors. Proving that culture matters to the business community too, the list of businesses and service clubs who are supporting the Big DADDY Festival is growing: Sheridan Nurseries, adwebdesign, The Independent and Free Press, Classic Entertainment Productions, Accountants on Main, Johnson Associates Real Estate, Patlon Aircraft, Halton Hills Hydro, Unilock, Dufferin Aggregates, The Georgetown Rotary Club, J.S. Jones & Son, Georgetown Kiwanis Club, Fraser Direct, Buy Wise Windows and Doors, Caledon Labs, Georgetown Toyota, The Denture Clinic, Halton Hills Speech Centre, Georgetown Terminal Warehouse and Best Western Inn. It won't belong before Toronto gets interested, with an article in the National Post last week and Steam Whistle Brewery jumping on board to help sponsor the event. If you'd like to support the festival too, just email: info@bigdaddyfestival.ca. We hope to see you there! PROUD SPONSORS: PAUL C. ARMSTRONG INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. ACTON EVERYONE "Salute to Dads" John Elliott 1923-1978 Love, Lois Don't wait! Happy Dad's Day! can pay tribute to their Dad in a in the Big Daddy Festival Special Section E-mail your photos to features@independentfreepress.com Happy Ads Wish you were here . . . ! for Dads . . . 95 $29. ds Tribute to Da we miss . . . ! $19.95 Love Zack Sponsors still needed . . . Please join in the fun ASAP. Please contact Amy Sykes 905-873-0301 ext. 237 or e-mail asykes@independentfreepress.com