Smiling faces were a feature at this year’s Bay Day, as can be seen from the photos below. The annual event was arranged by Barry’s Bay Business Improvement Area (BIA) Co-chairs Marcia Rutledge and Ted Williamson. Kids enjoyed family-friendly activities such as a bouncy castle, balloon creations by Terry Newcombe of Balloons Beyond Belief, face painting by Marie-Josée Levesque of Happy Valley Face Painting, henna tattoos created by Fatima Adams-Zahn at Eve’s Escape Spa, and gourmet popcorn from DB Kettle Corn. If the kids weren’t bouncing, they were dancing in the street to live music provided by Fran’s Band. There was a Kids Biz Contest sponsored by Northern Credit Union delegates. The annual Show and Shine Classic Car display attracted many admirers. Families enjoyed browsing the sidewalk sales, the first Farmers’ Market of the season and learning about various community organizations. Photo above of Opeongo Line by Sharon Gardiner. To view gallery below, hover over each thumbnail for caption and click to open.
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Also on May 18, Valley visitors enjoyed fare from many seasonal food and drink vendors, attended yard sales galore and took advantage of the early morning MV Gardening Club plant sale in Combermere where the Combermere Craft Cabin opened for the season. The Station Keepers held a Grand Re-opening of the Barry’s Bay Railway Station timed to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the first school teacher in the village. Shoppers can now rest on a new handcrafted log bench dedicated to Vince and Nancy Steepe installed on Dunn Street in Barry’s Bay. Greening Main Street Committee representatives Claudia Van Wijk and Doug De La Matter acknowledged both donor Deanne Farrar and Sean Afelskie for assistance.