DAY 7
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breakfast Stone Maiden Inn go
Another breakfast surprise – Chef Mark does not run short of ideas. New juice combos this morning. His French toast is cut 1 1/2″ wide and about 6″ long and served with white chocolate. More delights on Day 8.
10 am unveiling of Stratford’s Official Tartan City Hall video
Yep, Stratford has its own official tartan, approved by the Scottish Tartan Authority and registered to the City of Stratford. With a bagpipe fanfare, the Stratford Police Pipes and Drums kick off the ceremony before the official unveiling. Stratford tartan colors appear in the city’s coat of arms: blue represents Lake Victoria waters; gold – the shield; green – Stratford’s parks and gardens; white – the swans, tiger and lion; red – the peaks of the Festival crown. Visitors can buy this tartan – ties and scarfs – as reminders for their trip to Stratford.
10:30 am opening of Slow Food Market Market Square, next to City Hall go
We join a growing crowd of foodies at the opening of this open air market right in the heart of Stratford. The new market is piped-in with majestic style by the Stratford Police Pipe and Drum band, fresh from the City Hall tartan unveiling, around the corner. Every Sunday, from 10 am to 2 pm, slow food producers take over half of Market Square closest to City Hall, serving up and selling quality, organic, local food. Antony John (Soiled Reputation) vocals entertain. The celebration/enjoyment builds; we’d like to stay but we have to go on a tour.
11:30 am River Walk Heritage Tour Avon River
This is “Heritage Weekend”. We glimpse Stratford’s past on a guided walk along the banks of the Avon River. We’re introduced to the heritage district’s architectural blend, memorial sculptures and fountains, natural beauty, river walkways, breathtaking views, manicured gardens and parks. (The river is named after the River Avon in England. Even the schools are named after Shakespearean characters – Falstaff, Romeo).
noon Heritage Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride Tour
At the Freeland Fountain on Ontario Street we board a horse-drawn carriage to ride through Stratford’s Victorian era downtown to see the well conserved buildings. Ontario, York, Wellington – local streets with a past. We enjoy the turn of the century charm while hearing tales of Stratford’s infamous past, fascinating personalities and its transition from industrial to creative artistic center. Many book stores, toy shops and restaurants. We pass the Sputnik Coffee House above which young Thomas Edison lived while working for the Grand Trunk Railway.
2-5 pm Pubs, Pilsner and Spirits tour
This guided pub crawl with a haunted twist! takes us to historic pubs, including Anything Grows (Stratford’s original brewery), Bentley’s, Foster’s Inn, The (Old English) Parlour, and The Boar’s Head. We sample local micro-brewed full-bodied beer through deep reddish amber ale, hear spooky stories of ghosts that haunt Stratford’s downtown. Whew!, we need a nap.
stay Stone Maiden Inn go
The Inn’s name is derived from the sculpted maiden head appearing in the center of the entry arch. Look for it.
