Pumpkinfest 2010 - Port Elgin top Ontario event!

Looking for world record excitement? Wondering how big a GIANT pumpkin can really get? Then head over to Port Elgin for Pumpkinfest 2010 on October 2nd and 3rd and experience one of Ontario’s truly unique events.

Pumpkinfest has been around now for over two decades. The winner of numerous awards for Ontario’s best festival, it features two giant vegetable weigh offs, one of Ontario’s largest two day outdoor car shows and over 100 craft and marketplace vendors.

There is much to see and do at Pumpkinfest including a seed spitting contest, master carvers working on giant pumpkins, a Patches’ Pumpkin Zone, and a pumpkin baking competition. New for 2010 are a gladiator joust, a Velcro climbing wall, a bungie run and a sumo battle.

But the star of the show takes place at the Bruce Power Weigh-Off Tent on both Saturday and Sunday. Port Elgin’s Pumpkinfest is one of more than 30 sites around the world that compete in the International Weigh Off. The top grower at Port Elgin walk away with $5,000 and the chance to be named “Top Grower in the World.”

Weigh off competitions for giant pumpkins have been a popular fall festival activity for decades. But it wasn’t until Howard Dill of Nova Scotia broke the record for the largest pumpkin in 1981 with one near 500 pounds (226.80 kilograms) that pumpkins really began to grow larger and larger.

Today, Dill is credited for most of the giant pumpkins being grown today, most of which result from crossing and re-crossing his patented seed with other varieties. The current world record holder is Christy Harp’s 1,725 pound (782 kilograms) Atlantic giant pumpkin that won last year’s Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Grower’s annual weigh off. But maybe, just maybe an entry at Pumpkinfest 2010 may win it all.

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Bruce Wild with Wildflowers

With the very warm weather of March and April many plants this year had been deceived into sprouting ahead of schedule but it was bone dry and tough. The soaking rain of early May came just in time to save the day, kick starting the wildflowers on the Bruce for 2010. The rare Lake Side Daisies and deep blue Dwarf Lake Iris found in Bruce Peninsula National Park came two weeks ahead of schedule. And everything else seems to be early.

The Bruce Peninsula is renowned for its wildflowers especially the orchids. Each of the 44 orchid species found here have a favourite time for blooming … earliest being one of the prizes, the Calypso Orchid and, yes, it’s up. But the month to catch the biggest diversity of wildflowers is June. Ram’s Head Lady’s Slippers (the flower looks like a goat head, ears and all) are easiest to find at Singing Sands in the national park as June begins. Then comes the gold rush of the Yellow Lady’s Slippers which thrive on a bit of disturbance … so do very well on road sides. Two years ago there were 600 flowers along the Cyprus Lake road alone! Then as June wears on come the fen-loving orchids like Rose Pagonia, Grass Pink, Tall White Bog Orchid, and Showy Lady’s Slipper which are best seen along the dyke-like road from Highway #6 to Singing Sands in the national park. The “showies” have a slipper that is a gorgeous pink with white and almost the size of an egg. Its known as the queen of the lady’s slippers.

Road sides are one of the best places to see our wildflowers and waves of different species dress up the ditches from June through September. At one point its the Indian Paint Brushes, then the Ox-eye Daisies and Wood Lilies, then Queen Anne’s Lace and Hawkweed, then Chicory … and finally the Asters and Golden Rods to end the season.

Drop into the National Park Visitor Centre in Tobermory to get current information on local wildflowers. Expect some wildflowers to be earlier than usual and bring your camera. Every year at the end of May and beginning of June (May 29th this year) is the Tobermory Orchid Festival and it’s something worth catching. It is a great time to learn about orchids and to enjoy the blossoms of “the Bruce”.

Sea Monsters - Predators of the Ancient Seas

Spring has arrived and that means New and exciting exhibits at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre in Southampton.

The first one opened on May 7th and run through until September 6th. Check out their site for all the details and for all other great exhibits coming to the museum this year. Don't forget about their many permanent exhibits to explore while you are there.

You will want to save sometime while you visit to take in their cool movie, which plays daily in the theatre right inside the museum, it really gives you a birds eye view of what life is like living in Bruce County, past, present and future!

For a full list of museums across the Bruce and links to their websites visit Explore the Bruce

6th Annual Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport Contest

Breaking News:

Hello Fellow Adventurer's, and welcome all you new Adventurer's!

It is that time of year again. The 6th Annual Explore the Bruce Adventure Passport Contest start Saturday May 1st and runs through till Friday December 3rd, 2010. This year we asked you the FAN to choose your favourite location across the Bruce to make as a passport stop and we listened. The Grotto in Bruce Peninsula National Park won hands down.

The passports are at the printer right now and will be in a black box in 12 secret locations thorughout the Bruce, ready for your next adventure to begin May 1st.

It is simple visit the Adventure Passport Official Website for all the details, tips, clues, maps, and to order your adeventure passport. Don't forget to send in your photos from your adventurer and you could get a chance to be a "Featured Adventurer" on our website!

If you are a facebooker, check out our Facebook Fan Page and share your stories from your adventure with others, shhhhhhhh... don't give away all the secrets, because you don't want to take all the fun out of the adventure now do you...

P.S. If you are in Owen Sound this weekend, check out the Home & Cottage Expo taking place at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre at 1900 3rd Ave E. Bruce County has a booth and our Explore the Bruce Adventure Team will be on hand, we are having a contest. Plus we are going to have Adventure Passports on hand Hot of the Press, and will be giving them out to early bird adventurer's. You know you can't start the contest till May 1st, but think of all the fun you could have getting ready for your next Adventure!!!