Annual Village Fest offers 12 hours of fun

To be held next Saturday, Aug. 11, from 12 noon to midnight, all proceeds from the day will go towards paying off the loan on the dry foam snuffer fire truck and purchasing new safety equipment mandated by the provinces new Traffic Management Guidelines for Emergency Scenes.

The Mill Village and District Fire Department serves the area from Happy Landing (Exit 18) to the Lunenburg County line and about halfway each to Charleston and Port Medway. In addition, the Department is a member of South Shore Mutual Aid furnishing backup service, and occasional first responses to the United Communities and Italy Cross Fire Departments in Lunenburg County. The Department responds to all calls to its neighbouring communities of Charleston and Port Medway.

The Festival begins with a light lunch, served from noon until 3 p.m., featuring German sausages, sauerkraut, hot dogs, and buffalo burgers.

Also beginning at 12 p.m. will be a seven-hour music program of Maritime, Newfie, Bluegrass, and Country and Western music, and the opening of the beer tent.

Supper will be from 4-6 p.m. with the ladies auxiliary serving baked beans, potato salad, scalloped potatoes, and ham, along with a variety of salads and desserts. The cost is $9 per person, with a children's menu at $4.50 for those between the ages of five and 12. The meal is free for anyone under five years of age.

The music program will consist of six, 65-minute gigs with five-minute breaks between acts. A highly entertaining group of talented and experienced performers includes: Evelyn Lockwood, Curtis Mahaney and The Country Ramblers at 1 p.m.; the Bo Boutilier Band at 2:10 p.m.; The Bauchmans at 3:20 p.m.; Robert Russell at 4:30 p.m.; Earl Teal & Jest Fer Fun at 5:40 p.m.; and Merril Greennough & Friends at 6:50 p.m.

There is no entry fee for the music but the hat will be passed.

Casino Night begins at 8 p.m. The casino door prize is a gift certificate for a night for two persons at White Point Beach Resort.

This years Casino will feature four Black Jack tables as well as a number of wheel games including two crown and anchor, a colour wheel and a firemen's wheel.

From 10:30 p.m. until midnight there will be a mystery auction of goods and services furnished by Nova Scotia and local Queens and Lunenburg businesses for which participants will use their winnings to make bids. This year's Mystery Items include a number of valuable gift certificates from merchants in Liverpool, Mill Village and Bridgewater as well as a range of goods and services, including a tandem load of top soil, free oil changes, groceries, haircuts and wind-breaker jackets, as well as loads of Class A gravel.

Most prizes are worth more than $50; some are well in excess of $100. It is anticipated that there will be a cash auction for a VIA Rail donated gift certificate with a full retail value of up to $1,267.68, which entitles the winner to one round-trip in VIA Comfort Class seating, for two passengers, between Halifax and Toronto.

During the day and evening a few attendees may exceed the legal limit for alcohol. They should use a designated driver. For those who lack a designated driver, a courtesy van will be available to take home those who live within a 35-kilometre radius.

Queens Chrysler has once again offered use of a van to serve those who should not be driving to cover the area between Bridgewater and White Point.

Buses should check in, leave passengers and use the Mill Village School lot. Bus drivers will be shuttled. Motorists can park along the road. Rain or shine, everything will be under cover.