ANTIGONISH, N.S. — Since 1991, May has meant Mayfest in Antigonish; and it will be again in 2019.
On May 11, the Bloomfield Centre on the St. F.X. campus will be alive with hundreds of volunteers and members of St Martha’s Regional Hospital auxiliary, staffing tables covered with baked goods, fudge, plants, jewellery, gently used treasures and very special items at final offer.
If it is fun you are after, then there are a lot of things to enjoy, as usual.
New this year is a special Mother’s Day promotion of chocolates donated by Peace by Chocolate, which will be available on the bake table. As well, an art workshop in the St. F.X. Art Gallery will be showing an exhibition of works from the permanent collection of Dr. Thomas ‘Jock’ Murray. His collection will be most enjoyable, especially for the young people who will be having fun with the workshop.
As always, the raffle has exciting items, including $600 in gift certificates, for various stores and restaurants in town, as well as hand-crafted specials. Those items include; a garden stone from Joe Arsenault, a bench from Lionel Chiasson and an Afghan from Eileen Aucoin.
As well, Red Sky Gallery has donated a hanging pot and note cards and there is an events package for theatre and sports, and six picture frames donated by Trendy’s.
Food is also on offer with a gift basket donated by Gabrieau’s Bistro and 40 lbs of fresh lobster, courtesy of Ronnie Boyd; both of which could be much enjoyed with the barbecue Kent is donating.
The purchase of an entry to the draw is $5 which, in addition, includes free admission to Mayfest.
Always needed are baked goods, in particular cakes for the cake walk – 100 cakes are needed – and all items for any table can be dropped off at Bloomfield on Thursday and Friday (May 9 and 10) where they will be happily received. Donators are asked not take items to the hospital as there isn’t room to store them.
This year’s proceeds from Mayfest will be going to St. Martha’s Hospital, part of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, to purchase an NICU incubator.
The auxiliary would not be able to run Mayfest without the large number of volunteers from the community. More than 200 people happily give their time between now until the day is over to ensure that all goes well.
Games will be hosted by the Lions Club of Antigonish, the Kinsmen will be there in full force and the Antigonish Amateur Radio Club will be sending out messages to other enthusiasts.
The hospital staff will be well represented, especially in the teddy bear clinic, with additional help being given by the maintenance and laundry departments.
The RCMP will have Robocop there and local fire departments will have Sparky to thrill the children.
Members of the St. F.X. science faculty, under the guidance of Kris Hunter, will be exhibiting in the Science World, and sandwiches for the Daisy Café will be provided by UCW from St James’ United Church and the CWL from St Andrews.
Parking will be available behind Lane Hall and in the large parking lot at the back of Bloomfield.
All are invited to come to Mayfest May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and enjoy a great day for a great cause. Entry, without a sticker from the raffle, is $2.
