Hawk Dayze -From Pirates to the Wild West
2 min read
It's hard to pick a favourite Community Festival, there are so many great ones. Hawk Dayze makes the top of my list for how well it showcases the community while creating a truly unique experience. The festival takes place at its namesake location, the Hawk, Cape Sable Island, at the southern most tip of Nova Scotia and is surrounded by the majestic Atlantic Ocean on three sides. One of the rare magical places where you can catch both a sunrise and a sunset over the sea.
A few metrics I use to gauge the success of a community event: how well it highlights the local culture and history; creativity and planning; and of course, it must be fun and have food. Hawk Dayze checks all the boxes and then some.
Photo: Roaming Appetite - Hirtle’s Pond mini boat launch
The previous year's theme was Pirates! And just like that the Hawk was filled with scallywags and swashbucklers. Miniature boats set sail on nearby Hirtle’s Pond. Decorations sprang up roadside and on front lawns. There was a treasure race, involving clues and secret locations. A night of jollity and mirth at the Atlantic Hall with entertainment and a competitive pie auction. I donned the auctioneer hat and still haven’t figured out how I sold 13 pies when we only had 12 – a pirate trick if I ever did hear of one!
You’re familiar with Christmas in July, well on the Hawk it's Halloween in August. Hundreds of kids hit the street in costumes and the bounty was treats and treasures galore. The culminating event is the community potluck picnic at the beach - a feast for everyone, pirate or not. There are many delights, ranging from steamed muscles and clams to wild duck stew and baked halibut, along with a bounty of picnic fare. In keeping with tradition, there is a Sunday Church service the final day of the festival.
I have already marked my calendar for July 29 to August 4 for a week of the Wild West, 2024's theme.
Photo: Roaming Appetite. Hawke Dayze participant