LIVERPOOL – A festival that’s spanned more than 40 years is soon set to descend on Liverpool again.
Privateer Days is scheduled for June 22 to 24.
A lot of new events are happening this year, including a Stompin’ Tom Connors tribute show by Taw Connors, Stompin’ Tom Connors’ son.
“He’s had great success with it,” said Brian Fralic, executive director of Privateer Days, about the tribute show.
The idea for the show developed after Taw contacted the Astor Theatre. The Astor forwarded Taw’s name to Fralic, who took it from there.
That show is set for 7 p.m. on June 22.
Parade
The annual Privateer Days parade is set to kick off at Queens Place Emera Centre at 11 a.m. on June 23. Fralic says the parade will follow the regular route.
This year, Oscar’s Flowers, Gifts and Such has organized a float to support the LGBTQ+ community.
“We’re excited for that, and we’re looking for people to march behind it to show support,” Fralic said.
So far, the parade has about 50 entries, and there’s a new committee.
In front of the parade will be Queens Manor’s Happy Wheelers Club.
“They will be our guests of honour in the parade,” said Fralic.
Children’s events and activities
Fralic and Sam Hatt, the summer events co-ordinator, say there will be a lot going on at the festival for children. Some of those activities include face painting, balloon animals and the Lions Club train, among other things.
One of the main events Saturday is new to Privateer Days. Halifax’s Discovery Centre will be presenting three shows on June 23.
Tiger Warrington
Fralic says about 15 years ago, a group formed to find a way to honour Tiger Warrington.
Warrington was a two-time Canadian boxing champion in the light heavyweight division in the 1950s. Fralic says he was born and raised in Liverpool and began to box on Waterloo Street.
Also, sculptor Ivan Higgins created a statue that is scheduled to be unveiled at 10:30 a.m. at the entertainment tent.
Sharon Johnson, Warrington’s daughter and member of the Nova Scotia Mass Choir, will be there. Fralic said the choir would be doing a performance as part of the Multicultural Festival and statue unveiling.
“It’s going to be a very special day for Queens County,” said Fralic.
He says the committee wants the statue to represent diversity, art and community.
Tina Warrington-Joudrey, who was part of the original committee, died in 2016. Fralic says she was excited to see the project happen.
“So, the statue’s going to be in honour of her and dedicated to her memory,” he said.
South Shore Multicultural Festival
“Three years ago, we partnered with the multicultural festival, which was normally held in Lunenburg, and we started off with a very small stage, and each year we continue to grow and grow,” explained Fralic.
He says the event is one of the highlights for the final day of the festival.
This year, there will be an art show called We Are One Art Show. The show will be in a tent. Fralic says the festival has added a tent because of its continued growth. He says one tent will have vendors in it and one will be an activities tent.
Students from DEVI School in Mill Village will be taking the stage as part of the festival at 3 p.m. on June 24.
The multicultural festival will close with Women of the Shore at 6 p.m.
Music
Louis Zwicker is the music co-ordinator for the second season.
Zwicker says the lineups for the first and second night have changed a little. He says the idea is to introduce as much local music as possible.
“When new bands appear, we bring them in,” he said.
There are many returning bands as well, and one of those is the Saltwater Cowboys, a group that kicks off the festival every year.
Also returning to the stage on Friday night is The Hupman Brothers.
“They’re a great band for closing out. Lots of people love their music and love to dance to their music,” said Zwicker.
This year’s closing act on Saturday night will be Roxy & the Underground Soul Sound, a six-piece soul-funk band from Halifax.
Some local artists include The Lewinskies, The Sponagle Band, Johnny Lake, and Dave Dobson and Philip Harding.
Closing the festival’s musical lineup will be the Kevin Davison Band.
About
Fralic says Privateer Days has had a number of names over the years, including Pioneer Days. Since the festival began, it’s grown. Fralic says he was looking at an old brochure that had five items in it.
The festival is volunteer-driven, and Fralic says Privateer Days is looking for a treasurer. Hatt is working on finding volunteers for the weekend of the festival.
“Why should they come to the park?” Fralic asked. “Because there’s so much to do for everybody. There are events happening at every corner of the park and at Fort Point Lighthouse and everything in between.”
