Author: Ross Sutherland

The 2021 Lakes and Trails Festival will feature small group cycling and paddling activities, and a self -guided historical walk/ scavenger hunt.

Pre-registration for all group activities will be required. Registration will open on June 21. The Festival will begin in the morning with specific times for each event announced when registration opens.

All activities will be within public health guidelines and are subject to change if the situation changes.  Groups will initially be limited to 10 people and could increase or be cancelled if the regulations change.  

The 2021 Lakes and Trails festival activities are:

• 8-kilometre family cycles on a flat off-road trail beside Sydenham Lake.  Suitable for all ages and abilities.
• 21-kilometre Bike-Around-the- Lake group rides.  The route is a mixture of trails and quiet country roads going around Sydenham Lake.
• A short paddle on Sydenham Lake, about one hour, and a longer paddle circumnavigating Sydenham Lake, about 3 hours.
• A bike tune-up/ repair station run by GearUp Kingston.

Self- guided activities include:

• 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 Lakes and Trails Festival is based out of the Point Park in Sydenham.  It started in 2017. The Festival is a community celebration of South Frontenac’s natural environment, active lifestyle and history.

a walk around historic Sydenham to identify Points of interest.

All activities are free. Donations are welcome and volunteers needed.

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

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

The 2021 Lakes and Trails Festival Is Happening

The Organizing Committee of the Lakes and Trails Festival recently met and developed a format and set of activities that should respect probable COVID limitations. The 2021 Festival l will take place on Saturday July 17.

The Festival will include walking, cycling and boating activities that will highlight our community’s lakes, trails, history and meet likely safety protocols.  Participants will be invited to:

1)      Walk a scavenger hunt in historic Sydenham.  Historical interpreters will be available throughout the village to help individuals and families at a safe distance;

2)      Cycle in groups of 10 on a 10-kilometer family cycle, or join one of the groups cycling around Sydenham Lake: a favorite Festival event. Cyclists can also participate individually or in self-selected groups on one of numerous routes that follow the trails and quiet rural roads round Sydenham. Maps with local sites of interest will be provided;

3)      Paddle a poker-run/scavenger hunt to explore beautiful Sydenham Lake and Eel Bay.  

After participating in one or more of the Festival events participants will be eligible for Lakes and Trails memorabilia, invited to swim at the public beach in the Point Park and encouraged to shop at the many stores and restaurants in South Frontenac. 

The organizing committee will be working closely with the KFL+A Public Health Unit to ensure the safety of all participants. It is felt that all these events can proceed under most scenarios.

The Lakes and Trails Festival is based out of the Point Park in Sydenham.  It started in 2017. The Festival is a community celebration of South Frontenac’s natural environment, active lifestyle and history.

All activities are free, though donations are welcome. Pre-registration for the small group bike rides will likely be necessary.

Please follow our website, https://lakesandtrailsfestival.org/, and Facebook Page for updates.

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

The Lakes and Trails Organizing Committee has decided to postpone the fourth annual Lakes and Trails festival to July 17, 2021.  The committee felt it likely that larger gatherings would not be allowed, and, either way, by the time any government directives were issued it would be too late to effectively organize the Festival.  We want to thank everyone who donated to this year’s Festival, volunteered to help and expressed an interest in coming.  We hope you will hold onto that support and come out in 2021.  Look forward to seeing you all then.

The third annual Lakes and Trails Festival on July 20 in Sydenham Ontario features an interpreted walk of the historic village

Sydenham is a historic village dating back to early 1800s.  It is home to Canada’s longest continually running general store and has vibrant industrial and cultural history.

The walk of historic Sydenham follows a 2-kilometre route with local history interpreters.  The historic interpreters will be on the route from 10:30 am to 1pm.

Go at your own pace.  The walk starts at The Point Park.  Come at a time convenient to you and hear stories from Sydenham’s past.

If you want a longer walk, a group of walkers will be walking to Harrowsmith and back (12kilometres total) on the Cataraqui trail leaving the Festival registration desk at 9am.

Sydenham is also close to the junction of the Cataraqui Trail, the K+P Trail and the Rideau Trail.  Frontenac Provincial Park is only 12 Kilometers north.  All provide wonderful hiking options. 

After the walk stay for a free community lunch – donations appreciated – and a live music concert in the Point Park with the Saggy Bottom Boyz from noon to 2.

Other events include paddling on the lake, cycling around the lake, a cycle skills competition, a children’s music concert with Gary Raspberry, a dragon boat and a variety of other activities and booths. Join-in where you can. 

Registration begins at 9:00 in Sydenham’s Point Park and the music ends at 2. Come any time.

The Lakes and Trails Festival relies on scores of organizing volunteers, hundreds of resident and visitor participants and the dozens of individual, organization and business sponsors. Without all these groups the Festival would not be in its third year.

As of June 24, 2019, the Sponsors of the Third Annual Lakes and Trails Festival are:

Beckwith Contracting
Cataraqui Canoe Club
Clinton Family Dentistry
Dr. Sheldon Cook Chiropractic
Fran and John Willes
Frontenac Outfitters
KFL+A Public Health Unit
KFL+A Public Library
Kingston Dragon Boat Club
Lanherne Technology INC.
Local Family Farms
Lorraine and Richard Lobb
Memory Lane Florists
Nancy Bayly
One Stop Convenience
Point Restaurant
Ross Sutherland
Scouts Canada
Shaggy Bottom Boyz
Shelly Home Improvements
South Frontenac Rides
South Frontenac Township
South Frontenac Community Services
South Frontenac Fire and Rescue
Sydenham Canoe Club
Sydenham Lions Club
Steve Clinton
Trailhead
Trousdale’s General Store

Thank you. Without your support the Festival would not be possible.

It is not to late to support this years Festival. Sponsorship donations keep the festival accessible to all and ongoing. They are also tax deductible.