The Lakes and Trails Festival

2022 Lakes and Trails Festival Report

This post contains the final report on the 2022 Lakes and Trails Festival, a history of the Festival and some of the possible suggestions for future Festivals. Please read and comment with your suggestions. The last paragraph of the report says:

“There is great potential for a Festival built around these themes – South Frontenac’s natural beauty, history and active lifestyle . It showcases the area and fits into broader discussions on some of the strengths of South Frontenac. It attracts both residents and visitors. There is a volunteer base to do the work on the day, it just needs central organizing help.

lakes-and-trails-2022-tables-report Download

Historic Sydenham Escape Adventure returns to Lakes and Trails Festival:

The Spirit of Sydenham Awaits!

Small towns are full of mysteries. Some people talk, but others do not.

Sydenham’s hearsay tells us that a body went missing, but whose body was it? Only a revealing walk through the history of this town will tell. Come to the Lakes and Trails Festival, July 16 , the Point Park, Sydenham to participate.

The spirit of this unidentified body is unable to rest until you find out who he was, and why he was so fond of the village of Sydenham. You are the experts who will solve this crime.

The Historic Sydenham Escape Adventure Walk is part of the Lakes and Trails Festival, a celebration of our active lifestyle, natural beauty and history.

You’ll start at the detective’s tent located it the Point Park Festival headquarters. A detective will tell you the little they know and then turn the crime over to you. You will be given a map, a bag of clues, and a clue decoder card. To solve the mystery, you will visit the places where the mysterious person’s descendants spent time. You will find out more about these places as you read diary entries . At each location, you will gather a clue that will help to confirm their identity. At the end of your adventure, you can confirm your solution at the detective’s tent. And, if you softly whisper his name into the wind, you will possibly meet their spirit .

The Historic Sydenham Outdoor Escape Adventure should take about 60 minutes and involves walking a 2-kilometre paved and gravel route around the village. It will be best enjoyed in small groups working together, 2-8 people, with 4-6 as the optimal size.

No pre-registration is required. Come anytime between 8:45 and noon to the Point Park, Sydenham on Saturday, July 16.

Bike Tune-up Clinic Registration Opens

Registration for the bike tune-up clinic at the Lakes and Trails Festival, July 16 in Sydenham, has opened.

Bring your bike, your children’s bikes, any bike, and get them tuned up by Cycle Kingston’s professional mechanics.

There is a suggested donation of $30 per bike, all proceeds will go to GearUp Kingston, a social enterprise that employs youth and sells recycled bicycles at an affordable price. You can register to save your spot today or drop-in with your bike, first come first served. Payments and donations will be accepted at the event by cash or card.

The professional bicycle tune-up service is one of many activities at the Festival including: group cycling activities, a children’s entertainer (11am), a self-guided historical mystery adventure in Sydenham, and the Natural Heritage Expo featuring over 25 exhibitions and booths.

You can also donate your old bike and GearUp will renovate it as part of their program.

The Natural Heritage Expo: 24 Exhibitions and Counting

Many organizations will be coming to the Natural Heritage Expo at the 2022 Lakes and Trails Festival. They will showcase the wonderful natural features of South Frontenac: what they are, how to enjoy them, and how to improve them.

Included among the booths are: 20180714_095611

A pop-up library and giant lawn games from the Kingston-Frontenac Public Library.
A pickleball demonstration by the Frontenac Pickleball Club.
A “Collect and Protect” contest run by the Wolfe Lake Association to protect our lakes and wildlife from lead tackle. Everyone is encouraged to go through their tackle boxes, bag up any lead sinkers, jigs, etc., (we will also accept lead shot) and bring them to our booth. Please label your bag with contact information because prizes will be awarded to those turning in the most lead by weight. There will also be information on the deadly impacts of lead fishing tackle on wildlife, such as loons and bald eagles. Thank you for helping to protect wildlife. Let’s Get the Lead Out!
Information on development processes, the Official Plan, Zoning, Building and Sewage approvals from the Township Development Services Department
An obstacle course run by Elements Fitness & Wellness.

There will be booths, displays, maps, and people to talk with about South Frontenac’s natural wonders. Discover where you can hike, canoe or bike. Learn more about the natural environment, the local plants, animals and aquatic life. Find out about how to improve your property, help the environment, and much more. These organizations will be part of the Natural Heritage Expo:

Battersea Loughborough Lake Association
Cataraqui Canoe Club
Cataraqui Conservation/Cataraqui Trail
Dog & Cranberry Lake Association
Early-On Program
Eco Adventure Day Camp
Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre
Elements Fitness and Wellness
Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network
Frontenac County/ K+P Trail
Frontenac Provincial Park
Girl Guides of Canada
Inverary Lake Association
KF Public Library
Kingston Field Naturalists
Kingston Hockey Development Centre
Lake Ecosystem Advisory Committee
Queen’s University Research – Detecting Invasive Species
Queen’s University Research – Road Salt Runoff
South Frontenac Museum
South Frontenac Township Planning and Building Department
Southern Frontenac community Services
Sydenham Lake Association
Watersheds Canada
Wolf Lake Association

The Lakes and Trails Festival is an annual community Festival celebrating South Frontenac’s natural beauty, history and active lifestyle. Other featured activities include biking events and a walking tour of historic Sydenham.

Come on out and join us on Saturday, July 16 from 9am to 1pm at The Point Park in Sydenham. Check out our website or Facebook page for more details and updates. All events are free and family friendly.

Children Events at the Lakes and Trail Festival

Children have a special place at the 2022 Lakes and Trails Festival July 16, 9am to 1pm.

Child friendly cycling, ice cream, an obstacle course, swimming, a story book walk, reptiles and and Gaelen Strahedee, a children’s performer, are central to this year’s Festival. Bring the whole family and enjoy a day of activity, music, food and community.

Child Friendly Cycling – leaves The Point at 9am.

The family cycle is 8 beautiful kilometers of flat riding beside Sydenham Lake on the Cataraqui Trail: perfect for younger families.

Story Book Walk – Guided at 10am

Early-on learning is setting up a story book walk in Sydenham. Families can go anytime. Early On will be leading a guided walk at 10am.

Children’s Concert – 11am.

At 11 am there is an interactive concert with children’s performer, Gaelen Strathdee. Gaelen will be playing on the Point near the play structure.

gaelen Strathdee

Ice Cream

Trousdale’s General Store will be at the Festival. They are providing one free scoop of ice cream to all participants in an activity, and $1.00 scoops after that.

Games, An Obstacle Course and Much More

The Kingston Frontenac Library will have their giant yard games, Elements Fitness will be setting up an obstacle course and Girl Guides will have a variety of games.

After singing, cycling and playing games enjoy an ice cream from Trousdale’s and a swim at The Point beach.

The Lakes and Trails Festival is an annual community Festival. It celebrates the areas natural beauty, active lifestyle and history. Other events include a 21k Around-the-Lake bike, a bike tune-up clinic, The Natural Heritage Expo, swimming, and the Historic Sydenham Outdoor Escape Adventure.

Registration begins at 8:45 in Sydenham’s Point Park, come any time until 1:00. All events are free.

Cycling at the 2022 Lakes and Trails Festival

Cycling will again be a main activity at this year’s Lakes and Trials Festival, July 16 , 2022.

The Around-the-Lake bike, a 21-kilometre route on an off-road trial and low speed country roads, will circle Sydenham Lake. Guides will lead the group. It is a Festival favourite.

The Family-Cycle, an 8-kilometre route on a flat off-road trial bedside Sydenham Lake, is a great opportunity for families, and new cyclists to enjoy the Cataraqui Trail, scenic Sydenham Lake and find their cycling legs. Two experienced guides will go with the group.

Maps for longer bike routes, suitable for more experienced cyclists, will be available at the Festival.

Get your bike tuned up by a professional bike mechanic at a Tune-Up Clinic run by Cycle Kingston. The Clinic provides a valuable service , getting your bike running smoothly, and raises money for Gear-Up a social enterprise to train youth in the skills and business of cycling. There is a suggested donation for this service of $30.

Nature Heritage Expo Coming to the Lakes and Trails Festival

The Natural Heritage Expo is coming to the 2022 Lakes and Trails Festival.

The Expo will showcase the many wonderful natural features of South Frontenac: what they are, how to enjoy them, and how to improve them.

Many organizations will be present with booths, displays, maps, and people to talk with about South Frontenac’s natural wonders. Discover where you can hike, canoe or bike. Learn more out about the natural environment, the local plants, animals and aquatic life. Find out about how to improve your property, help the environment, and much more.

Historic Sydenham Outdoor Escape Adventure at the Lakes and Trails Festival

The Spirit of Sydenham Awaits!

Small towns are full of mysteries. Some people talk, but others do not. Sydenham’s hearsay tells us that a body went missing, but whose body was it? Only a revealing walk through the history of this town will tell. Come to the Lakes and Trails Festival, July 17 , the Point Park, Sydenham to participate.

The spirit of this unidentified body is unable to rest until you find out who he was, and why he was so fond of the village of Sydenham. You are the experts who will solve this crime.

The Historic Sydenham Outdoor Adventure Walk is part of the Lakes and Trails Festival, a celebration of our active lifestyle, natural beauty and history.

You’ll start at the detective’s tent located it the Point Park Festival headquarters. Two bumbling detectives will tell you the little they know and then turn the crime over to you. You will be given a map, a bag of clues, and a clue decoder card. To solve the mystery, you will visit the places where the mysterious man’s descendants spent time. You will find out more about these places as you read diary entries written by his youngest grandson, William. At each location, you will gather a clue that will help to confirm his identity. At the end of your adventure, you can confirm your solution at the detective’s tent. And, if you softly whisper his name into the wind, you will possibly meet his spirit and win a prize.

The Historic Sydenham Outdoor Escape Adventure should take about 60 minutes and involves walking a 2-kilometre paved and gravel route around the village. It will be best enjoyed in small COVID-respecting groups working together, 2-8 people, with 4-6 as the optimal size.

No pre-registration is required. Come anytime between 8:30 and noon to the Point Park, Sydenham on July 17.

For information on the cycling, bike tune-up clinic and paddling events at the Festival visit our website, https://lakesandtrailsfestival.org/, and Facebook Page.

We look forward to seeing you on July 17^th.

Lakes and Trails Festival Increases the Number Allowed at Events

The number of people who can participate in The Lakes and Trails Festival Family Cycle and Short Canoe on Sydenham Lake has increased. Both events “sold out” within days of the first preregistration starting.

The relaxing of COVID restrictions allowed the events to take more participants. Those who are interested can now pre-register at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lakes-trails-2021-tickets-159996819795

All events are free. The Festival runs from 8:30 am to 1 pm on Saturday, July 17 at the Point Park in Sydenham.

The Family Cycle is an 8-kilometre bike on a flat off-road trail beside Sydenham Lake starting at 9:30 or 10:30. Suitable for all ages and abilities.

A short paddle on Sydenham Lake will take about an hour, starts at 10am and will tour the west end of the lake.

Other pre-registered events include:

21-kilometre Bike-Around-the-Lake group rides (9am and 10am). The route is a mixture of trails and quiet country roads going around Sydenham Lake.
A longer paddle circumnavigating Sydenham Lake, about 3 hours, which starts at 9am.
A bike tune-up/ repair station run by GearUp Kingston. Half hour time slots are available from 9am to 12:30.

Self- guided activities include: (no pre-registration required)

a cycle route up to Desert Lake, 35 kilometers on hilly country roads suitable for advanced riders.
a walk around historic Sydenham to identify Points of interest.

Participants in the Festival will receive a festival ball cap on completion of their activity and be invited to pick-up lunch and shop at the many stores and restaurants in South Frontenac.

The Festival is a community celebration of South Frontenac’s natural environment, active lifestyle and history.

Please follow our website, https://lakesandtrailsfestival.org/, and Facebook Page for links to registration, other updates and to contact the Festival.

Have Your Bike Tuned-up in Sydenham

A bike tune-up service is being offered at this year’s July 17^th Lakes and Trails Festival. The service is being provided by Gear Up! Kingston.

Gear Up! Recycled Bikes is a social enterprise founded in 2016 and operated by Cycle Kingston. They provide youth with life skills and foundational employment skills, while providing less expensive transportation options for people living in the region.

Bike tune ups take about half an hour and will be offered from 9am to 12:30. Please per-register online: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lakes-trails-2021-tickets-159996819795.

Make sure and scroll down for the later times.

The service is pay-what you can. A suggested donation of $30 for one bike or $20 per bike for a family, would help off-set the cost of materials and labour.

The Lakes and Trails Festival, and the tune-up service, will be held in the Point Park, Sydenham. Other activities include Family and Round-the-Lake bike rides, canoeing and kayaking on Sydenham Lake and a historical scavenger hunt in Sydenham village.