Haweaters come home this weekend on Manitouin Island

Manitoulin ready for Haweater Weekend It's going to be a busy weekend in downtown Little Current on Manitoulin Island as Haweater Weekend kicks off Friday night.

It's going to be busy in downtown Little Current this weekend as revellers get set for arguably one of the biggest parties on Manitoulin Island.

It’s the 54th anniversary of Haweater Weekend, a story of homecoming for not only permanent and seasonal residents, but tourists across the province.

"It would have been our 56th but COVID stopped us for two years," said Little Current Lions president Bruce Burnett.

"We're starting out right now with a display from the CarverKings and starting Friday we have vendors downtown along with the return of midway rides. We haven't had them in years and they'll be here all weekend."

PLAY BALL

Also new to the festivities is a bass tournament and a ball tournament. Sixteen teams have signed up to play ball.

"We try and get something new there every year. This year it is a bass tournament and the midway,” said Burnett.

“The fireworks this year, we're getting a lot of permission to do them and they're going to go off sometime Sunday night, whenever it gets dark enough.”

The festival derives its name from a term given to anyone on Manitoulin Island. Islanders call themselves ‘haweaters’ due to the amount of hawberries found throughout the island.

"We're just hoping people stay safe," said Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands Mayor Al MacNevin.

“There are a lot of people who will be driving around looking for events and they won't know where they are. Have a great time and give yourselves a lot of space.”

For a complete breakdown of the weekend's events, click here.