Don’t tell anyone, but some people say summer is inching towards the end.

Never mind, however: the sun still shines over Westport and the Rideau Lakes, and there are still plenty of things to do.

All the villages in the area are alive with people who want to go for a stroll and perhaps buy an ice cream cone or visit the shops.

The canals are especially beautiful at this time of year, and become even more so as Fall approaches. You don’t have to have a boat to see them. They’re rich with parkland, walking paths, picnic areas, and history.

At Jones Falls, you can visit the old blacksmith shop, built in the mid-1980s, with a real blacksmith who plies the trade in the old-fashioned way.

Every bit as interesting is Sweeney House, the lockmaster’s house, which dates back to the 1830s. If you have an imagination, you will love this place, with its stories and gossip about the Sweeney family. You can peek into their rooms and a diary that tells it all. Plan to spend some time here. It’s worth it.

There’s a wonderful museum in Chaffey’s Lock, too. It depicts life in the area nearly 180 years ago; and it overlooks the pretty lock, with its boathouses and overhanging trees. If you like to take photographs, this is a perfect place.

In Westport, the Rideau District Museum is full of intriguing things from the past. The building was once a blacksmith shop from the middle 1800s. It has been restored to its original look and feeling; it’s good just to step inside. Once you’re there, however, you’ll see all the many things, big and small, that accompanied local people in their ordinary lives over two centuries.

Another lovely place just to “be” is the Old Stone Mill in Delta. It, too, has been restored with love and detail. The mill is actually in operation. Nearby is a full interpretative display of industry through the years, with artifacts from days of ironworks, cheese-making, and dairying.

Summer’s nearly over? No! Not yet; not here.

Don’t tell anyone, but some people say summer is inching towards the end.

Never mind, however: the sun still shines over Westport and the Rideau Lakes, and there are still plenty of things to do.

All the villages in the area are alive with people who want to go for a stroll and perhaps buy an ice cream cone or visit the shops.

The canals are especially beautiful at this time of year, and become even more so as Fall approaches. You don’t have to have a boat to see them. They’re rich with parkland, walking paths, picnic areas, and history.

At Jones Falls, you can visit the old blacksmith shop, built in the mid-1980s, with a real blacksmith who plies the trade in the old-fashioned way.

Every bit as interesting is Sweeney House, the lockmaster’s house, which dates back to the 1830s. If you have an imagination, you will love this place, with its stories and gossip about the Sweeney family. You can peek into their rooms and a diary that tells it all. Plan to spend some time here. It’s worth it.

There’s a wonderful museum in Chaffey’s Lock, too. It depicts life in the area nearly 180 years ago; and it overlooks the pretty lock, with its boathouses and overhanging trees. If you like to take photographs, this is a perfect place.

In Westport, the Rideau District Museum is full of intriguing things from the past. The building was once a blacksmith shop from the middle 1800s. It has been restored to its original look and feeling; it’s good just to step inside. Once you’re there, however, you’ll see all the many things, big and small, that accompanied local people in their ordinary lives over two centuries.

Another lovely place just to “be” is the Old Stone Mill in Delta. It, too, has been restored with love and detail. The mill is actually in operation. Nearby is a full interpretative display of industry through the years, with artifacts from days of ironworks, cheese-making, and dairying.

Summer’s nearly over? No! Not yet; not here.

One of the biggest weekends in Westport each year is the Rideau Valley Art Festival. It will be back again from Friday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 23 at the Westport Community Centre.

You’ll see original (juried) work from a variety of artists. At the same time, the Rideau Lakes Artists Association will hold a special exhibition. So will the local decorative painters. It will be a whole-weekend feast for the eyes.

Natural beauty will be on display on Saturday, Aug. 15 when the Rideau Lakes Horticultural Society holds its Garden Show at the Elgin Municipal Complex in Elgin. This is a judged competition; the doors will open to the public at 2 p.m.

If you want an endless day of fun and music, you won’t want to miss MusicWestport on Saturday, Aug. 15, starting at noon in Westport. There will be three outdoor stages with six superb performers.

Bring a chair; bring a hat. The show will go on rain or shine. And it’s free.

After-hours shows, at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., will go on at The Cove, corner of Main and Bedford. There will be a $5 cover charge.

Sink your teeth into sweet, juicy corn at Forfar Community Hall on Saturday, Aug. 8. Sponsored by the Simpson Lodge of Newboro, the corn roast begins at 4:30.

It will be a good old foot-stompin’ time on Friday, Aug. 7 when everyone gets together for a new-barn fundraiser in North Crosby.

The shindig, sponsored by the Westport Arts Council, will fill the North Crosby Community Hall, with live music by String Tease. There will be a silent auction, lots of good folks, and plenty of food.

Freewill donations will be gratefully accepted. Everyone (of every age) is welcome.

If you enjoy Poetry, you won’t want to miss visiting Artemisia in Westport. August 9th from 2 – 4 pm, Audrey Ogilvie, John Donlan and Anders Carson, will be reading from their own work. There will be refreshments and they ask that you bring a $5.00 donation at the door.

Also another event you won’t want to miss is the James Henderson Boyd (1929 – 2002) exhibition. The opening reception will be on Saturday, August 22 from noon – 4pm. Original prints and other works will be on exhibit and for sale curated by his son Steven.

James Henderson Boyd was a professor, artist, printmaker at several Canadian schools and universities. A larger than life artist who was enormously fun to be around and was a life member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art.

We hope you will be able to come and see this exhibition: August 22, 2009 – August 31, 2009. 10am – 5pm.

Please see our events calendar for more events from Artemisia