Second annual wood fair and auction will take place this Saturday

For the second consecutive year, wood lovers are invited to come and enjoy the magic of wood.

The second annual Glengarry Wood Fair and Auction is set to take place this Saturday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Glengarry Pioneer Museumin Dunvegan.

According to Robin Flockton, one of the organizers of this year's event, plans are coming together well and this year's event promises to be even better than last year.

"Last year, the weather was definitely not on our side," he told The Review. "It was also our first year and it was a learning curve. We're coming back to the table with some new ideas and ways to make the event a little bigger this year. We're very excited!"

He said plans are shaping up nicely and it's quite likely that "there will be more tents on the museum grounds at Dunvegan than there are houses."

Flockton said the wood fair and auction is a joint venture between the Glengarry Pioneer Museum and the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Certified Forest Owners Inc.

He said the fair has three primary objectives: to serve as an outlet for artisans to showcase the beautiful artwork they create, to serve as an outlet for woodlot owners and members to sell their wood, and to promote the museum.

In terms of the success of last year's wood fair and auction, Flockton said a little over 1,000 people attended and 21 artisans participated. There was one trade exhibitor, three government exhibitors and 83 lots sold at the auction.He is hopeful attendance will reach up to 2,500 this year.

"We currently have 20 artisans signed up," he said. "They cover a vast range from folk art, canoe making, boat building, woodturners, carvers, intarsia, marquetry, carvers, cabinet makers, crafts from recycled wood, bird houses, a wood sculpture and wooden marionette maker to mention a few."

Ojibway carver Paul Bruneau will be on hand giving a totem pole carving demonstration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Flockton said there will also be demonstrations of turning decorative fence posts and a saw mill.

Two significant groups will be holding their annual picnics at the wood fair and auction this year - the Ottawa Valley Woodturners and the Valley Karvers. Additionally, Flockton said, organizers are boosting the children's program and offering more workshops.

"There's going to be lots for the whole family to see and do this year," he noted.

The wood auction will begin at 1 p.m. and Flockton is hopeful the lots will fetch more money than they did last year.

"Honestly, the prices were quite low last year," he explained. "Hopefully, the prices will be a bit better this year."

Sponsored by Alexandria Moulding, Flockton said the wood auction "is moving ahead well", with the prime lot, to date, being quarter sawn tiger maple.

"This is a much sought after wood because it is very rare," he remarked.

The workshops will include a Tree Identification presentation by Steve Hunter of South Nation Conservation at 10 a.m. and Gestion des terres à bois by Jean-Claude Harvard, president of Boisés Est.

The children's program will be in full swing from 10 a.m. on. For a small cost, children will be able to make wooden toys and bird houses. The program, sponsored by Home Depot, will be supervised throughout the day.

There will be two food concessions and the beer garden will be open.

Enrty tickets are $5 each, while children under 12 free get in free. Tickets will qualify fair- goers for the gate prizes sponsored by Lee Valley Tools and Home Hardware, Alexandria.

The Glengarry Pioneer Museum will be open to all those attending the fair.

Museum curator and administrator Jennifer Black said the event is good for the museum because it brings in people who might not ordinarily visit the museum.

"This is a very interesting partnership," she said. "The wood industry is a very important part of our history and something we try to highlight and teach people about. This event is a great way of doing that and it also brings new visitors to the museum. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved."

For more information about the wood fair, please visit www.woodfair.ca.