(press release via the Goulbourn Museum)
The Goulbourn Museum is turning 25 and the community is invited to an old-world birthday bash on Father’s Day to celebrate! Watch a medieval fight, see a blacksmith at work, climb aboard the Old “27” Fire Truck, bid on some incredible prizes in the silent auction, and challenge dad to a hilarious game of lawn Twister or giant KerPlunk!
Father’s Day Flashback, sponsored by Minto Potter’s Key, takes place on Sunday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect a vintage birthday party feel with a pinch of medieval fun and a splash of historic flair.
Scallagrims Medieval Martial Arts Centre will reenact an exciting battle from days gone by – think MMA but with armor and swords! Fights will take place in the morning and in the afternoon but the reenactors will be onsite all day to talk to visitors about their costumes and weapons.
Before technology offered a myriad of fonts at the click of a button, there was the art of calligraphy. The Calligraphy Society of Ottawa will be at the Museum to demonstrate how beautiful a name can look in handwritten script on personalized bookmarks for visitors to keep.
Complimentary face painting by the talented artist & owner of A Little Bit Of Bling will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Big D’s Dog House & Poutine Emporium will tempt with their gourmet hot dogs and fries, and sweet treats like cotton candy and sno-cones will also be available.
“Before there were Museums, there were Cabinets of Curiosity,” says Tracey Donaldson, Education and Community Programmer at Goubourn Museum. “This event is like a Cabinet of Curiosity. You’ll get a feel for Museums of the past, present and future. Where else could you enjoy a medieval battle, see a vintage fire truck, get your face painted and interact with costumed characters?” she says.
Father’s Day Flashback is free but you’ll want to bring some cash for lunch and treats – not to mention silent auction prizes. Items to date include two tickets to the Ottawa Senators game of your choice, a Patio Flame valued at $250 donated by the Great Canadian Fireplace Company, rounds of golf at the Canadian Golf and Country Club, tools, gift certificates and more.
The Museum will also be launching its new exhibit Back to our Routes: The Evolution of Goubourn’s Streets at this event. Visitors will learn the origin of community and street names in old Goulbourn. “We’ll also be exploring the origin of street names in more recent communities and even areas that are currently under development,” says Donaldson.
The exhibition will include “fun facts” such as when Stittsville got its first street light and the definition of a corduroy road. Artefacts from the Museum’s collection will help narrate the story and bring the exhibit to life.
While it won’t be possible to include every street name, the Museum is hoping to get the public’s help in compiling a comprehensive list after the launch.
“If you don’t see your street name, or you know how your street got its name, there will be a file here for you to add that information,” she says.
The Goulbourn Museum is located at 2064 Huntley Road, just south of Stittsville, at Stanley’s Corners. For more information, please visit www.goulbournmuseum.ca or call 613-831-2393. Join Goulbourn Museum on Facebook for regular updates.