Weclome to Shelbyville

Ok so it is actually called Shelburne, but due to the proximity to Orangeville and the uncanny similarity with a fictional cartoon town, my family and I affectionately refer to it at Shelbyville.  With a population of 5,500, 5,502 after Jamil and I moved in, it turns out there is a lot to discover here!
In Dufferin county, we are in an area that is known as the Hills of Headwaters. As the name suggests there are hills, and waters to discover.
Chatting with the locals, I have learnt there are waterfalls, hikes and parks to discover. And thats just in the summer! In the winter we are an hour from Bluemountain (the ski hills), which I am sure my skiing husband will make sure we see quite a bit this winter. Not to mention snow shoeing, cross country skiing and a curling club! (Believe it or not curling is actually quite a bit of fun to play!)
Over the next year Jamil and I shall try and take in what we can of our new rural life. A taste of what's to come:

• Magnetic hill... a spot in Caledon where you feel like you are on a slope going uphill, yet if you put your car in neutral it will climb up the hill by itself! (like it's going downhill!)
• Fiddle festival & potato festival... I am a sucker for potatoes in any form...so im looking forward to this one!
• Waterfall hikes... there are a series of waterfalls that can be discovered through hikes throughout the area. We shall try and hit up all of them.

Now this is what I call a staycation!

Fiddles, Potatoes & Fireworks!

Apparently, Shelburne is known for its yearly fiddle festival. Every August the city is host to a national fiddling competition which becomes a weekend long jam session. There is an open air market, a parade and concerts throughout the weekend. That's a lot of action for population 5,500!
http://www.shelburnefiddlecontest.on.ca/

Some samples of the parade going by our place.

 

At the same time neighboring town Alliston, which happens to be surrounded by potato farms, hosts their yearly potato festival. This entails a carnival, open air market, a parade and concerts... I feel like there is a pattern here for festivals in rural Ontario...
http://www.allistonpotatofestival.com/

On the way to Alliston

Yes those are real goldfish in bowls. If you get a ping pong ball in a bowl you win a prize!

The eats.

A few weeks ago there was a fireworks festival in neighbouring town Mount Forrest. This was also, you guessed it, a carnival and open air market. All followed by a spectacular fireworks display set to music. Apparently this is put on by award winning fireworks specialists. Jamil and I made it to the fireworks display this year and it was pretty cool. A lot like something Toronto would put on for Canada Day, without the craziness of all those crowds and traffic. Definitely a must see if you want to experience the typical country fair type atmosphere.
http://www.mountforest.ca/fireworks/index.php

We managed to get a taste of all three this year. Truly this is country life at its best. Greasy, sugary carnival food and all!