The 1000 Islands Cruise and Tower package includes:

• A non-smoking room (on the same level for your easy access)
• Continental buffet breakfast
• A meal voucher to a local restaurant (so that you can also experience the town during your stay)
• 2.5 hour 1000 Islands scenic cruise (Gananoque Boat Line)
• Admission to the 1000 Islands Tower on Hill Island

Are you eager to explore the beauty of 1000 Islands? We have given you the opportunity to do it in style with a cruise that will leave you with plenty of memorable moments! Certified by Transport Canada, one of the highest standards in the world, the Gananoque Boat Line will make sure you get the best of your experience.

With over 60 years of history, the Gananoque Boat Line offers you an unforgettable cruise experience on one of its triple-decker, all-aluminum vessels. The scenic 2.5 hour cruise with a coffee shop and refreshments on board will take you on an exciting tour of the world famous 1000 Islands.

This is the most comprehensive of all the tours of the 1000 islands. Sit back and relax while you tour both the Canadian and the American side of the river, traveling down the Seaway channel.

Celebrating its 50^th anniversary, The 1000 Islands Tower is a unique tourist attraction, the only one of its kind in the 1000 Islands. The Skydeck will show you the best of what the area has to offer. Running continuously, the elevator takes only 40 seconds to reach the first (glass enclosed) of three observation decks and provide visitors with a spectacular photographic opportunity as they enjoy the panoramic view of the 1000 Islands and St Lawrence River stretched out 130 meters below.

The rates vary according to dates, room type and package inclusions. Visit our ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM (https://reservations.1000islandtours.com/)to get your rate; or call us Toll Free at 1-800-267-9497 and allow our friendly front desk staff to help you plan your 1000 Islands Getaway!

Please Note: there are no double discounts and packages must be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment. Packages are subject to availability of the attraction and hotel. Rates and Packages are subject to change without notice. There are no refunds for unused portions of packages.

Book your 1000 Islands Cruise & Tower package today!

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is on 12th October 2015.

Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957. It is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.

Many people have a day off work on the second Monday of October. They often use the three-day Thanksgiving weekend to visit family or friends who live far away, or to receive them in their own homes. Many people also prepare a special meal to eat at some point during the long weekend. Traditionally, this included roast turkey and seasonal produce, such as pumpkin, corn ears and pecan nuts. Now, the meal may consist of other foods, particularly if the family is of non-European descent.

The Thanksgiving weekend is also a popular time to take a short autumn vacation. This may be the last chance in a while for some people to use cottages or holiday homes before winter sets in. Other popular activities include: outdoor breaks to admire the spectacular colors of the Canadian autumn; hiking; and fishing. Fans of the teams in the Canadian Football League may spend part of the weekend watching the Thanksgiving Day Classic matches.

The native peoples of the Americas held ceremonies and festivals to celebrate the completion and bounty of the harvest long before European explorers and settlers arrived in what is now Canada. Early European thanksgivings were held to give thanks for some special fortune. An early example is the ceremony the explorer Martin Frobisher held in 1578 after he had survived the long journey in his quest to find a northern passage from Europe to Asia.

From the end of the First World War until 1930, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving Day were celebrated on the Monday closest to November 11, the anniversary of the official end of hostilities in World War I. In 1931, Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving Day was moved to a Monday in October. Since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has always been held on the second Monday in October.

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is linked to the European tradition of harvest festivals. A common image seen at this time of year is a cornucopia, or horn, filled with seasonal fruit and vegetables. The cornucopia, which means “Horn of Plenty” in Latin, was a symbol of bounty and plenty in ancient Greece. Turkeys, pumpkins, ears of corn and large displays of food are also used to symbolize Thanksgiving Day.

Halloween in 2015 is Saturday, October 31

It is a day to mark the single night in the year when, according to old Celtic beliefs, spirits and the dead can cross over into the world of the living. Some people hold parties and children may trick-or-treat in their neighborhood.

Some people put a lot of effort into decorating their homes, yards and drives. They may even construct life-size replica graveyards or dungeons and invite people from the neighborhood to view their creations or hold a themed party. Other people may organize fancy dress parties for adults or children. Popular activities at parties include watching horror films and trying to make fellow guests jump in fright.

Many children go out to play trick-or-treat. They dress up as ghosts, witches, skeletons or other characters and visit homes in their neighborhood. They ring doorbells and, when someone answers, they call out “trick-or-treat”. This means that they hope to receive a gift of candy or other snacks and that they are threatening to play a trick if they do not get anything. Usually, they receive a treat and tricks are rarely carried out.

There are special types of food associated with Halloween. These include candies in packets decorated with symbols of Halloween, toffee apples made by coating real apples with a boiled sugar solution, roasted corn, popcorn and pumpkin pie or bread. Halloween beer, which is made by adding pumpkin and spices to the mash before fermenting it, is also available in specialist stores.

Children also take part in a long-standing Canadian tradition of “Trick-or-Treat for Unicef”. Pumpkin-carving contests, pumpkin art tours, a reading marathon, and symbolic Walks for Water are just a few examples of the educational and fundraising activities schools and children develop to help provide thousands of children developing countries with basic quality education.

October 31 is not a public holiday. Schools, organizations, businesses, stores and post offices are open as usual. Some organizations may arrange Halloween parties, but these do not usually disrupt normal affairs. Public transport services run on their regular timetables. If people are driving around the neighborhood in the late afternoon or evening, it is important to be particularly aware of children, especially those wearing dark costumes, who may be unfamiliar with traffic conditions.

Halloween has Celtic origins. In pre-Christian times, many people believed that spirits from the underworld and ghosts of dead people could visit the world of the living on the night of October 31. These spirits could harm the living or take them back to the underworld. To avoid this, people started dressing up as ghosts and spirits if they left their homes on October 31. They hoped that this would confuse the ghosts and spirits.

Thanksgiving Cider and Gingerbread Cookies at the Arthur Child Heritage Museum

Monday, October 12, 2015 – from 10:00am to 5:00pm

125 Water Street., Gananoque

Step in from the cool fall air and enjoy a cup of hot apple cider with some gingerbread cookies on the side. Savour the aroma of autumn then visit the Museum exhibits and Gift shop or relax on our veranda overlooking the river and the Islands. Life is good!

Admission Details: By Donation

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Website: www.1000islandsheritagemuseum.com

Contact Name: Linda Mainse

Contact Email: ivillage@cogeco.net

Contact Phone: 613-382-2535

Contact Organization: Arthur Child Heritage Museum

Ready, Steady, Cook!

Thursday, October 1, 2015 – from 4:00pm to 7:00pm

We will be selling brown paper bags with mystery ingredients at the Thursday Farmers’ Market on Thursday October 1st for $30. Please sign up in advance by sending us a message (1000islandsfestivals@gmail.com) or by pre-paying here. http://www.gananoqueharvestfestival.ca/ready–steady–cook-.html

Your challenge should you choose to accept it: Make a three-course meal for neighbours who live on either side of you using the mystery ingredients and whatever is in your pantry.

Post pictures and comments from your dinner party (including your sumptuous meal) on our Facebook page. Describe your meal and send us the recipe!

Prizes for the first three posts – and prizes for the best-looking appetiser, main course, dessert and wittiest toast!

Event or Related Website: www.gananoqueharvestfestival.ca

Contact Name: Debra Davis

Contact Email: 1000islandsfestivals@gmail.com

Contact Phone: 613 929-3942

Contact Organization: Thousand Islands Festivals & Events

Puppy Pumpkin Prowl

Saturday, October 3, 2015 – from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Puppy Pumpkin Prowl is partnering with Pump-Gan-Fest

Location: Gananoque Town Hall Soccer Field

Description: Puppy Pumpkin Prowl is partnering with Pump-Gan-Fest, Saturday Oct. 3rd. Registration for the walk starts at 9 am at the Gananoque Town Hall Soccer Field and the walk starts at 10 am. The soccer field is behind the Town Hall building on King St. West. Walk with or without a dog to raise funds to support the Dog Rescue, Rehabilitation and Rehoming Programme of the Gananoque & District Humane Society with fun activities to follow at Pump-Gan-Fest back at the Town Hall park.

Admission Details: Please join in by walking and getting pledges or kindly pledge a walker or our Walk Spokes-dog “Sir Reginald” through www.canadahelps.org. You can register or request information by emailing gdhswalk@bell.net.

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Pet Friendly: Yes

Website: http://www.ganhumanesociety.ca/

Contact Name: Les Wonch

Contact Email: gdhswalk@bell.net

Contact Phone: 613-331-4611

Contact Organization: Gananoque & District Humane Society

Fall Swing and Sweep

Saturday, October 17, 2015 – from 9:00am to 7:00pm

Location: Gananoque Curling Club and Gananoque Golf Club

Description: Curl 6 ends and golf 9 holes, then return to Curling Club for dinner

Admission Details: Cost is: $40.00 per person. Includes HST, Golf w/Cart, Curling and dinner

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Pet Friendly: No

Event or Related Website: www.gananoquecurlingclub.com

Contact Name: Jayne Curtis

Contact Email: info@gananoquecurlingclub.com

Contact Phone: 613-382-3281

Contact Organization: Gananoque Curling Club

Business Mixer

Friday, October 23, 2015 – from 4:30pm to 9:30pm

Location: 300 William Street Gananoque Curling Club

Description: Fun Curling, and great food. Mingle with other business in town.

Admission Details: $25.00 per person

Wheelchair Accessible: Yes

Website: www.gananoquecurlingclub.com

Contact Name: Jayne Curtis

Contact Email: info@gananoquecurlingclub.com

Contact Phone: 613-382-3281

Organization: Gananoque Curling Club

2015 Kingston Prize

from Friday, October 9, 2015 – 12:00pm to Sunday, October 25, 2015 – 8:00pm

GANANOQUE EXHIBITION FIREHALL THEATRE

The Kingston Prize is a Canada-wide competition and exhibition tour for Canadian portrait painting. The competition is open to any Canadian artist who depicts a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant in a portrait based on a real life encounter. The aim of The Kingston Prize is to encourage and reward the creation of contemporary portraits by Canadian artists, to promote Canadian artists through competition, and over time to develop an historical record of Canadians, by Canadians.

Each exhibition becomes a fascinating snapshot of a cross-section of Canadian life. A distinguished panel of judges determines the 30 finalists, whose work then becomes part of the national touring exhibition. The exhibition gives much needed public exposure to talented Canadian artists, while at the same time sparking interest, conversation and inspiration in the visitors attending the exhibitions.

The Kingston Prize provides an opportunity for Canadians to celebrate gifted artists in a way that was not previously available. The interest from artists and the public has grown exponentially since the inception of the Kingston Prize in 2005.

Admission by Donation

185 South Street Gananoque, Ontario noon – 8:00pm Closed Mondays

http://kingstonprize.ca/

The 1000 Islands Kayaking package includes:

• A non-smoking room (on the same level for your easy access)
• Continental buffet breakfast
• A meal voucher to a local restaurant (so that you can also experience the town during your stay)
• Guided kayak tour through the 1000 Islands

Is there an adventurer inside you? Get him out as this escape is just for you! With a guided kayak tour through the 1000 Islands, including outfitting and beginner instructions, you will have the opportunity to check out the most rewarding and refreshing way to experience the 1000 Islands!

The 1000 Islands Kayaking Company is nationally certified and has an incredible passion for the unique paddling adventures in the 1000 Islands. These kayak tours are ideal for a quick get-a-way from the city as you can be enjoying the river in no time! Explore while on a romantic weekend retreat or take advantage of this unique opportunity to try something you have always wanted to do!

The rates vary according to dates, room type and package inclusions. Visit our ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM (https://reservations.1000islandtours.com/)to get your rate; or call us Toll Free at 1-800-267-9497 and allow our friendly front desk staff to help you plan your 1000 Islands Getaway!

Please Note: there are no double discounts and packages must be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment. Packages are subject to availability of the attraction and hotel. Rates and Packages are subject to change without notice. There are no refunds for unused portions of packages.

Book your 1000 Islands Kayaking package today!