The Marine Heritage Society in Southampton has some new and improved things to talk about this year.
The society launched a new website Monday which highlights all aspects of its work and the marine heritage sites it celebrates. You can find it at chantryisland.com
A delegation to council by Heritage society members Wayne and Deb Kaufman and Eric Tolton Monday outlined some of the latest news for the group.
The Marine Heritage Society offers boat tours out to Chantry Island, and they’re planning to launch online booking for their island boat tours May 1st.
Wayne Kaufman says the steering for the tour boat The Peerless has been upgraded to joystick control. They’ve also replaced their two-year-old motor with a twin 200 horsepower motor system. “The state-of-the-art joysticks will help our captains manoeuvre the Peerless at slow speeds in any direction by simply moving a joystick in the direction they want the boat to travel,” says Kaufman.
The society, with the help of local sponsors and volunteers, hosts a three day free family festival in the summer which is planned for July 26 to 28, 2024.
New this year, is a shuttle bus in the Southampton area during the festival.
The event will have a cardboard boat race, children’s gold hunt, games in the park, bike rally, range light and museum exhibits, a yacht club sail past and a ghost walk.
There will be shanty songs, a summer jazz gala, and music in a beer garden.
The festival will also offer a pancake breakfast, corn roast, fish fry, and an expanded selection of food vendors.
Society member Deb Kaufman told council, the Saturday night event will be extended to 11 p.m.
The Marine Heritage Society also presents an Artisans and Taste Market which will also be expanding this year to 45-50 different artisan vendors each Friday throughout the summer (June 28 to Aug 30) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It can be found in Southampton between the old Town Hall and the Coliseum, just off of Hwy 21.