UNESCO Site Launches Season May 21 with 50% Off Admission

KINGSTON, Ontario – Kingston’s own and Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site (along with the Rideau Canal) is poised to open its gates this Saturday, May 21  at 10:00 a.m. with a full line up of programming and events for the 2011 season.

Kicking off the 73rd season will be the Tourism Marketplace featuring local tourism partners and the opening day special of 50% off admission (May 21 only).  The Tourism Marketplace takes place from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Don’t miss the Fort Henry Guard’s Garrison Parade in the Lower Fort at 3:00 p.m. daily.  Visitors can join the Officer of the Day to watch the Guard perform their daily spectacular show including a cannon firing.

Fort Henry also has an exciting schedule of special events planned for 2011 including:

World Heritage Sunset Ceremonies
Taking place on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. on June 29 and during July and August, the Sunset Ceremonies are an evening military show featuring the Fort Henry Guard and the performing sub-units including the Fife and Drum Corps, artillery and the squad firing 1860s rifles.  The Fort Henry Guard will muster children from the audience during the intermission. It’s military precision at its best with a fireworks finale!

Last Night at the Proms – Saturday, July 16
Join Fort Henry as they put together an unforgettable night of music and British fun featuring Brasswerks with members and friends of the Kingston Choral Society as they perform the sounds of British patriotic music in a sing-a-long pub environment.  Classics will include Rule Britannia, Amazing Grace, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance.  Pack your Union Jack and head to the hill!  Dinner and show packages are also available.

Fort Henry Tattoo – Saturday, July 23
This year the Tattoo honours the men and women of the Canadian Forces who so bravely fight to defend Canada, especially those soldiers from CFB Kingston.  Special musical guests will include the band of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, HMCS Ontario, The National Band of the Naval Reserve, The Pipes and Drums of the Lorne Scots and the Fort Henry Guard.  A fireworks finale orchestrated with live music from over 250 musicians is guaranteed to swell the heart with Canadian pride.

United States Marine Corps Joint Sunset Ceremonial – August 20, 21
The Battle Color Detachment of the United States Marine Corps, Washington, DC will perform beside the Fort Henry Guard in these world famous joint performances.  The tradition began in 1954 and continues today in one of this summer's highlight performance events. The evening features musical and drill performances and is finished off with a Fireworks finale.  Tickets are on sale now at FortHenry.com.

Fort Fright – (Wednesday through Saturday) September 21 to October 29
Join us for what has been described as Ontario's Best Haunted experience inside the walls of Fort Henry as it is once again transformed into the terrifying Fort Fright. The Fort comes to life each night with ghostly apparitions and spooky creatures that will scare you right out of our Citadel! New for 2011 is the introduction of two nightly performances by a hypnotist and a Fire Show.  Haunted tours take place nightly.  Private overnight rooms are also available.

Experience 1860s military life first hand!  Following the hugely successful launch of overnight stays during Fort Fright, Fort Henry is now offering overnight accommodations during special event programming.  These accommodations provide guests with a taste of what life was like at an 1860s military site.  In keeping with the time period, the rooms do not have modern hotel amenities and guests must bring their own sleeping bags, pillows, towels and toiletries.  Call the Customer Service Unit at 1-800-437-2233 for more information or to book your overnight.

Jessup Food and Heritage, Fort Henry hospitality partners are offering their popular Candlelight Dining options from July 1 to September 1 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. featuring à la carte menu selections served in the historic limestone casemates by Soldier servants. Jessup Foods also present the Bonnycastle Lunch and Tea Room, featuring traditional British lunches and traditional British tea served by soldier servants from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Reservations can be made at foodandheritage.com or by calling 613-530-2550.  Outdoor BBQ dinner options are also offered prior to Sunset Ceremony, Marines and Tattoo events.

The Garrison Stores have been merchandised with newly branded Fort Henry apparel, one of-a-kind gifts, books on the Rideau Canal and other historic sites, quality souvenirs, unique toys, DVDs and much more.  You can shop online for selected items at FortHenry.com.

Tickets for Sunset Ceremonies and most other events can be purchased directly on line by visiting FortHenry.com or ticketweb.ca.  For more program, event or site information, please call the Customer Service Unit at 800-437-2233 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or visit FortHenry.com.

QUOTES
Darren Dalgleish, General Manager and CEO of St. Lawrence Parks Commission - “Value and experience remain the two key words for this season and we plan to deliver on both.  We are quite positive about the prospects for this season based upon our line-up of special events, with the United States Marine Corps back to perform alongside the Fort Henry Guard along with the strength of our core day program.  The team is looking forward to hosting families and groups all season long.”

Bryan Mercer, Director of Marketing, Special Events for the St. Lawrence Parks Commission -  “No doubt everyone in the business of tourism will face some challenges this season, with a high Canadian dollar and inflated gas prices. However, Fort Henry and other Kingston attractions offer such unique and memorable experiences at a very reasonable prices, it becomes great value for our guests. Tourism industry experts say despite the economic, social or health issues of the day, rarely do families cancel a well-earned holiday.  Travel patterns may change and vacation planning lead times are definitely shorter, so many families stick closer to home, which have become branded ‘stay-cations’. Since over 10 million people live within a three hour drive of Kingston, there’s a great backyard market available to all of us.  We had outstanding success with events last year, so that will be our marketing focus again this year. We’re close to major centres, affordable, rich in heritage, exciting and beautiful – that’s one unbeatable combination for any vacation planning!’

QUICK FACTS
Located at the junction of Highways 2 and 15 (Exit 623 off Highway 401 then south on Highway 15), Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada is managed by The St. Lawrence Parks Commission, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
Fort Henry, along with the Rideau Canal is part of Ontario’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The St. Lawrence Park’s Commission is a key economic driver in Eastern Ontario:
Direct employment 500+;
Indirect employment of 1,000+;
Total expenditures of $14M+;
Economic impact estimated at $89M;
Fort Henry’s economic impact is estimated at $20 M annually.

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission operates facilities in 16 municipalities stretching from Kingston to the Quebec border, including Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada – now designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Crysler Park Marina, Upper Canada Golf Course, Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary and 12 campgrounds and day-use areas including the Long Sault and 1000 Islands Parkways.

LEARN MORE
Learn more about our attractions at:

www.FortHenry.com
www.UpperCanadaVillage.com
www.St.LawrenceParks.com
www.UpperCanadaGolf.com
www.CryslerParkMarina.com

Learn more about the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at  www.parks.on.ca.

CONTACT
Bryan Mercer
Director of Marketing
St. Lawrence Parks Commission
TEL.:  613-542-7388, ext. 202
CELL:  613-331-6574
EMAIL:  bryan.mercer@forthenry.com