Friday, June 3rd

Gift Shop
The Tempest, Gifts Shop offers products for sale that help increase understanding, appreciation and respect for the cultural and natural heritage of our two unique National Parks – Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park.
In the spring, our shop has everything displayed for your enjoyment.  Need a guidebook to Local orchids and wildflowers or a souvenir of your weekend – The Tempest Gift Shop is where you will find them. Toni – our Store Manager – will be glad to help you!

Parks Canada Visitor Centre

4:00pm - 9:00pm

Festival Headquarters and Naturalist Station
The Parks Canada Visitor Centre, on Chi Sin Tib Dek Road in Tobermory, Ontario Canada, is the headquarters for the annual Orchid Festival.
By 4:00pm on the Friday of the weekend, Volunteers are available for you to pick up or purchase your Festival passes.  Throughout the weekend – from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, a Park Naturalist is available to answer questions and provide maps and directions.
The Parks Canada Visitor Centre is a world-class facility that can provide a dynamic overview of these Parks.  Take your time touring the displays and view the video "Life on the Edge" in the Theatre.  Your Festival pass includes Park entry. 
Alternatively, if you are unable to participate in the Festival activities, the Visitor Centre is a great option for “What to Do”. (Park entry fees apply).

Parks Canada Visitor Centre

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Best of the Bruce - Ontario's Bruce Peninsula
Join the Friends at the Visitor Centre for a photo presentation by Naturalist Ethan Meleg
Seating is Limited - 100, so book early.

Parks Canada Visitor Centre

Saturday, June 4th

Gift Shop
The Tempest, Gifts Shop offers products for sale that help increase understanding, appreciation and respect for the cultural and natural heritage of our two unique National Parks – Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park.
In the spring, our shop has everything displayed for your enjoyment.  Need a guidebook to Local orchids and wildflowers or a souvenir of your weekend – The Tempest Gift Shop is where you will find them. Toni – our Store Manager – will be glad to help you!

Parks Canada Visitor Centre

7:00am - 9:00am

Coffee and Muffins
No time to make your cup of coffee or can’t find anywhere before you head out on your Festival excursion?  Drop by the Visitor Centre – Friend’s Volunteers will have coffee on and muffins ready.  Take a coffee along with you!  Remember – do NOT litter!
(DONATIONS APPRECIATED!)

Parks Canada Visitor Centre

7:30am - 4:00pm

Festival Headquarters and Naturalist Station
Pick up or purchase your passes before heading out.

Parks Canada Visitor Centre

7:30am - 10:00am

Wildflower Photo Workshop
Join our experts – Karin Adams and Chuck Carson – and learn the basics of wildflower photography. Our experts will demonstrate techniques that minimize impact on various species.  Join these experts at the Singing Sands parking lot off Dorcas Bay Road.
Limited - 15 people

Meet at the Singing Sands parking lot

8:00am - 11:30am

Hike the Burnt Point Loop Trail
Join our expert Ross McLean on a 4km hike around the Burnt Point loop. View some classic examples of plant life characteristic of the Northern Bruce Peninsula, as well as some stunning lookouts and interesting geological
features.  A wonderful mix of forest, shoreline and wetland ecosystems. Meet at the Parks Canada Visitor centre.  Proper footwear is required (no sandals or flip-flops). 
Limited -  20 people

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

8:15am - 11:30am

Car Caravan Orchid & Wildflower Tour (Group 1)
Join Lenore Keeshig-Tobias on this carpool tour to view & photograph the diverse array of orchid and wildflower species in bloom at several prime locations on the upper Peninsula.
Limited -  25 people

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

8:30am - 11:45am*FULL*

Car Caravan Orchid & Wildflower Tour (Group 2)
Join Don Wilkes on this carpool tour to view & photograph the diverse array of orchid and wildflower species in bloom at several prime locations on the upper Peninsula.
Limited -  25 people - *** FULL ***

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

*FULL*

10:00am - noon

Wildflower Drawing Workshop with Liz Lasky
Love to sketch, or want to learn? Join Liz on the trail (weather permitting), for a fun, casual workshop and learn to draw Orchids. These gorgeous wildflowers are the perfect subject matter to hone your drawing skills. You'll learn all about composition, technique and types of materials used to create your own unique drawing. Liz will help you choose one of the Park's beautiful wild Orchids to sketch, and at the end of the workshop, you will have a very personal memory to take home with you!
Limited -  10 people

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

9:00am - 3:30pm ongoing

Flowerpot Island – The Calypso Orchid Tour
Cruise over to Flowerpot Island for a hike to view and photograph the world famous Flowerpots, geological features of the Island and the delicate beauty of the Calypso Orchid and other spring flowers. Meet our Island expert – Garry Keast – on the dock and he will provide information and directions.

Note:
1. This is a weather dependent activity.
2. Anyone wishing to take advantage of this opportunity is responsible for making his or her own transportation arrangements and paying for this transport. Call the Blue Heron Company staff at 519-596-2999 to plan this trip
3. There will be no additional charge through the Festival for anyone wishing to take advantage of this tour.

Meet on
Flowerpot Island

1:00pm - 4:00pm

Ask the Experts
Throughout the day, there will be several experts on hand to answer your questions.
Native Gardening: Local gardening experts will give you practical advice on developing native plant gardens. There will also be plants available for sale.
Dark Skies: Learn the best methods of attaining a "dark sky" in your area. Also, learn why the Bruce Peninsula was designated Dark Sky Friendly - learn why Bruce Peninsula National Park is designated as a Dark Sky Reserve.
Bruce Trail Conservancy: Members of the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club will be on hand to talk to participants about this world-class trail.
Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory: Experts will be on hand to explain why the Bruce Peninsula is unique and a draw for birding enthusiasts.

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

1:30pm - 3:00pm

Wildflower Painting Workshop with Liz Lasky
Ever wanted to learn to paint with Acrylics? Here's your chance to join Liz for a fun workshop learning how to paint ... Orchids, of course! The aesthetic beauty of wild Orchids calls out to the artist in all of us and acrylics are a wonderful way to capture the beauty and colour of these unique wildflowers. Learn about the ease and advantage of painting with acrylics, as well as which materials, such as brushes and other supplies necessary to get you started. Then, Liz will teach you step by step how to create your own unique masterpiece to take home with you as a souvenir of your visit to the Orchid Festival.
Limited -  10 people

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Learn to Make a Dreamcatcher
Join Lenore Keeshig-Tobias – a member of the Chippewa of Nawash unceded First Nation.  In the Ojibwa culture, a Dreamcatcher (the Ojibwa words mean “spider” or “dream snare”) is handmade on a willow hoop with a loose web inside and decorated with personal or sacred items such as feathers of beads.  Lenore will show you how it’s done.  Materials are provided.
Limited -  10 people

Meet at Park Visitor Centre Lobby

1:30pm – 4:00pm

*FULL*

Car Caravan Orchid & Wildflower Tour (Group 3)
Join Ethan Meleg on this carpool tour to view & photograph the diverse array of orchid and wildflower species in bloom at several prime locations on the upper Peninsula.
Limited -  25 people - *** FULL ***

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

* FULL *

1:30pm – 4:00pm

*FULL*

Car Caravan Orchid & Wildflower Tour (Group 4)
Join Tony Edwards on this carpool tour to view & photograph the diverse array of orchid and wildflower species in bloom at several prime locations on the upper Peninsula.
Limited -  25 people - *** FULL ***

Meet at Park Visitor Centre

*FULL*

6:30pm - 9:00pm

FEATURE PRESENTATION
BOTANICAL VOYEURISM: THE SEX LIVE OF PLANTS IN ONTARIO
by Brendan Larson
Join the Friends of Bruce District Parks for Wine and cheese followed at 7:30 pm by the Feature Presentation
(Proudly serving Pelee Island Wines)
Seating is Limited - 100, so pre-registration is strongly recommended.

Park Visitor Centre Lobby and Theatre

Suggested things to do on Sunday June 5th

The following are a few things to do on your own in our 2 National Parks.

• Take a hike on the Bruce Trail - Start at the Park Visitor Centre or the Head of Trails at Cyprus Lake.
• Visit the Grotto at Cyprus Lake - Start at the Head of Trails and walk the Georgian Bay Trail to see this beautiful and unique rock formation.
• Take a Boat Tour of Fathom Five National Marine Park (Canada's First) - Book a tour with the Blue Heron Company (519-596-2999) to view the shipwrecks in Big Tub Harbour and tour around Flowerpot Island. - Pay a visit to the Flowerpot Light station. The may be volunteers on duty to make your Island tour even more enjoyable. Alternatively, just take a hike around the Island trail.
• Take a stroll around Singing Sands - Park at the Singing Sands parking lot on Dorcas Bay Road. Walk the boardwalk and trail to view the earth's renewal. Spring is one of the most amazing times to view Singing Sands.