The Shaw Festival… Part Two

Here she unloaded the truck of the car with chairs, a folding table, glasses, cutlery and a picnic basket! She had packed everything before we left without my knowledge (very sneaky!!). She laid the whole picnic out and we sat in our chairs quietly eating our lunch. It was the perfect start for what was to come next! After packing our picnic essentials back into the car, Judi instructed me to drive to the main street and head away from the downtown. She told me to stop and park at the Royal Park Hotel (now the Shaw Club Hotel). Our accommodations had already been reserved and we settled into the hotel to relax for a few hours. Then it was downstairs to the hotel’s restaurant, the Zees Patio and Grill. To say we had a fabulous meal would be an understatement! During the meal I wondered how much better the day could be. I was in for another surprise! I would get better! Right across from out the Royal Park Hotel was the Shaw Festival Theatre. Judi had purchased tickets to the evening performance! Judi told me to follow her. We crossed the road to the theatre and she presented our tickets! What a wonderful day and a fantastic surprise! Our anniversary extravaganza was topped off the next morning with a gourmet breakfast at the Charles Inn!

The whole experience was choreographed by the Shaw Festival and the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Working together, along with local businesses, they put together excellent “Getaway Packages”. Ours suited us to a “T”! The Shaw Festival has been an artistic force in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Canada since 1962. The Shaw Festival Foundation, established a year later in 1963, as ensured the Festivals continuation. The Festival was originally set up to as a salute to playwright George Bernard Shaw but now features plays each season by many notable authors. From small beginnings the Shaw Festival is internationally recognized and attended by people from all over the world! The strength of the Shaw Festival is the Shaw Festival Foundation and its members! The membership, through their generous donations, helps the Theatre’s creative team, directors, actors, writers, designers and artisans, sustain their work and their vision. There are several types of memberships available for all budgets.