Celebrate Launch Days Festival in Maitland

Put on your Victorian attire, or your favourite modern-day clothes and bring the family to Maitland for the Annual Launch Days Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28.

It's just like 1874 again. That's when the largest full-rigged ship ever launched in Canada -- "WD Lawrence" -- slipped into the waters of the Bay of Fundy from the Lawrence shipyard along the Maitland shore, to the applause of thousands of spectators.

Visitors to Maitland during Launch Days will meet characters such as shipwrights, caulkers, and ships' captains awaiting the next high tide. Villagers in mid-1800s' costume will add to the hustle and bustle of activity as they gather for fun, food, demonstrations of heritage crafts and many maritime-related special events.

Re-enactments will be held of the launch and the banishment of a whiskey pedlar, both based on actual historic events. Throughout the day, there will be demonstrations of blacksmithing, figurehead carving, model making, weaving and much more.

On Saturday, dancing will be presented by the Playford Dancers. A display of antique ship-building tools will be available, and a unique presentation will be held on sea-monsters and serpents. Special events feature horse and wagon rides, and an identification of antiques by local experts.

An evening graveyard tour, nature walk, and candlelight tour of Lawrence House Museum takes place on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door.

Visitors are also invited to tour Lawrence House Museum on Launch Day weekend and discover the story of W.D. Lawrence and his family. Displays in the house offer an in-depth look at the history of Maitland and show just how many shipyards were in the area in years past. More than 40 photos in the upstairs exhibit date from the late 1800s and show the Maitland area and its people. Admission to the museum is free all day Saturday. Regular fees will be charged on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The weekend's events can be topped off with a feed of turkey or roast pork at one of the special church suppers in the village.

The Annual Launch Days Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. It is organized by Lawrence House Museum in partnership with the community of Maitland. Contact the museum at 902-261- 2628 for more information on activities and to pre-register for Saturday's candlelight tour.

Lawrence House Museum is part of the Nova Scotia Museum and is operated by the Museum Committee of the Maitland and District Development Association. In addition to Launch Days weekend, the museum remains open to the public every day until Oct. 15.

NOTE TO EDITORS--Following is a schedule of events for Launch Days Festival:

Saturday, Sept. 27:
Activities take place on the Lawrence House Museum grounds. Admission to Lawrence House Museum is free today.

10 a.m.- 5 p.m. -- Activities take place on the Museum grounds

• What'chamacallit? Antique identification (any
  three items for identification for $5)
• Guided horse and wagon tours of the Oak Island
  Cemetery depart on the hour from the Lawrence
  House Museum grounds, $3/person
• Shipbuilding Along the Shore slide show and
  presentation with Marven Moore from the
  Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax
• Traditional baked goods sales tables;
  Tennecape United Church stewards

10 a.m.- 1 p.m. -- Box lunch. Includes sandwich, three homemade
cookies, and a hot or cold drink - Maitland
and District Development Association

10 a.m.- 2 p.m. -- Hamburgers/hot dogs - Maitland Fire Department

1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Judging of best Victorian costume
(Monteith Award is presented after the
Launch)
-- award presented to the guest who has
travelled furthest to attend the festival
(Port of Call Award made following the
Launch)

1:30 p.m. -- Banishment of the Whiskey Pedlar (Skit based on
actual historic events)

2 p.m. -- Re-enactment of the launch of the great ship,
"WD Lawrence"

2:30 p.m. -- Playford Dancers presentation

3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. -- Turkey supper at United Church Hall

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. -- Evening at Lawrence House: includes nature
walk, graveyard tour and candlelit tour of the
house ($5/advance, $6/door)

9 p.m. - 1 a.m. -- Dance at Maitland Fire Hall. Music by Heel and
Toe Express. Cash bar, 19+ only, call
902-261-2560 for ticket information

Sunday, Sept. 28

Activities take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Lawrence House Museum grounds. Admission is charged to the Lawrence House Museum today.

11 a.m. - sell-out -- Barbecued Oktoberfest sausage and
Sauerkraut

1 p.m. - 5 p.m. -- Hamburgers and hot dogs - Maitland Fire
Department

• What'chamacallit? Antique identification
  (Any three items identified for $5)
• Guided horse and wagon tours of the Oak
  Island Cemetery depart on the hour from the
  Lawrence House Museum grounds, $3/person
• Shipbuilding Along the Shore slide show and
  presentation, with Marven Moore Maritime
  Museum of the Atlantic

2:30 p.m. -- Banishment of the Whiskey Pedlar (skit based on
actual historic event)

3 p.m. -- Re-enactment of the launch of the great ship, "WD
Lawrence"

Following the Launch -- Crew's Choice Awards for best venue of
the festival, voted by public ballot

• Raffle of W.D. Lawrence $20 Sterling
  Silver Coin

3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. -- Roast Pork Supper at the Anglican Church
Hall

The following demonstrations will also be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday: blacksmithing; caning; canvas sewing; felt making; figurehead carving; honey extraction; knot tying; leaded glass; line drawing from the original "WD Lawrence" half-model; model making; shearing; weaving; wool carding.

The following displays will also be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday:

• antique ship-building tools;
• Great Outdoors of the Past Cobequid 4-H Poster Project;
• heritage breeds of farm animals;
• model ships;
• sea monsters and serpents.