Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UTOPIA, Ontario (August 17, 2023) – The Festival at Fort Willow is returning to Utopia! With an education day on Friday, September 29, and a public event on Saturday, September 30, the festival is a two-day celebration of the history of Fort Willow and the surrounding area. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the past through engaging demonstrations, displays, and performances. The festival aims to bring history to life and foster a deeper appreciation for the region’s history.
The Festival at Fort Willow is on the lookout for talented individuals and groups to join our vibrant community of demonstrators. Share your expertise, demonstrate your craft, and be a part of an immersive experience that brings the past to life. Whether you’re well-versed in pre-European contact lifestyles, the Fur Trade era, or the War of 1812, you are invited to apply and become a part of this historical showcase.
“The Festival at Fort Willow is a remarkable opportunity to connect with history in a truly immersive way,” said Kyra Howes, Director of Conservation Services at NVCA. “We are looking to emphasize what life was like for regular people around the turn of the 19th century. Military demonstrations will be part of the festival, these have always been a staple of the festival.”
Festival organizers are also hoping to recruit volunteers that want to help make the event a success. Volunteers will have the chance to experience the festival while engaging with visitors and helping to create unforgettable experiences.
The Historic Fort Willow Conservation Area was used for centuries by Indigenous Peoples, during the Fur Trade and by French explorers as part of a major transportation route known as the Nine Mile Portage. It was also strategically located as a supply depot during the War of 1812. Both Fort Willow and the Nine Mile Portage are provincial and national historic sites.
To register or for more information, contact Elise Barr-Klouman, Event Facilitator at NVCA at ebarr-klouman@nvca.on.ca or (705) 424-1479 ext. 236.
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About NVCA: The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority is a public agency dedicated to the preservation of a healthy environment through specialized programs to protect, conserve and enhance our water, wetlands, forests and lands.
Media contact: Maria Leung, Senior Communications Specialist, 705-424-1479 ext.254, mleung@nvca.on.ca
