Matthew Farfan

Stanstead's 4th annual Border Fest is placing more emphasis than ever on heritage. The theme of this year's festival is "Proud of Our Roots," and organizers are promising a fun day for the entire family.

FIVE KILOMETRE MARATHON
Many of the old favourites are returning to the Fest this year, which takes place on June 7. Kicking off the day at 10 a.m. is a five-kilometre "marathon" through the streets of Stanstead. At 11, a parade, complete with antique cars, marching bands, and floats, will wind its way up Dufferin Street to Collège des Ursulines, where most of the day's festivities will take place. Border Fest President Phil Désormeaux says that, because of heritage theme, more people will be participating in the parade this year, some of them in period costume.

Parade, Border Fest.
(Photo: Courtesy of The Stanstead Journal)

FOOD AND FUN
Returning this year are a variety of kids' games, including some old-fashioned ones, like sack races. A skateboard competition is in the works, as well. There will be booths for community groups and artisans, and of course, plenty of food and entertainment, including music by local favourite Mike Goudreau.

OLD-TIME FLAVOUR
New this year, and in keeping with the heritage theme, participants will be invited to sample some of the delicacies of yesteryear. The music, too, will have an old-time flavour, with fiddling and accordion playing in the line-up, and a contra dance demonstration is planned for the afternoon.

The troupe Ruiters' Rangers will be on hand throughout the day to show how soldiers dressed and drilled in days of old. A genealogy booth will be on site so that people can learn how to trace their ancestry in the border area. And open houses are planned at several local venues, including the Golden Rule Masonic Lodge, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, the Centenary United and Anglican churches, and the Colby-Curtis Museum, which is putting on several new exhibitions on local history, including one called "A Friendlier Border." Animators from the museum, also in period costume, will be giving guided tours of historic sites around Stanstead.

Phil Désormeaux says that this year's Border Fest promises to be a really fun day. But as always, he says, the event could use a few more volunteers. Anyone wishing to lend a hand can call at (819) 876-2200.

Sponsors of Border Fest 2003 include the Town of Stanstead, the Caisse populaire, the MRC Memphrémagog, and local businesses.