By Mike Baker
Guided tours will be offered free of charge at the Haliburton Sculpture Forest all summer long.
Every Tuesday in July and August, visitors will have the chance to learn about all that the Sculpture Forest offers on a two-hour complete tour of the site. Tours will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, and will begin at the kiosk in the Fleming College parking lot.
“Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather, as tours are held rain or shine,” said Youkie Stagg, Haliburton Sculpture Forest outreach coordinator. “Tours are free, but donations are greatly appreciated.”
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, the maximum number of visitors per tour will be 10 people, so Stagg advises those interested in participating should arrive early to reserve their spot.
The Haliburton Sculpture Forest is home to 38 outdoor sculptures and six unique sculptural benches created by Indigenous, international and Canadian artists.
As well as offering complete tours on Tuesdays, the Sculpture Forest will also be providing a curator’s selection tour every Wednesday, until Aug. 28.
“Join us for a 40-minute lunch hour tour, starting at 12:10 p.m. Tours will only cover a few sculptures selected by the curator [Jim Blake],” Stagg said.
The Sculpture Forest has a few COVID-19 safety guidelines in place that it asks all visitors to follow – if arriving by car, you are asked to park a few metres away from other vehicles. On the trails, keep two metres (six feet) apart from other visitors, and wear a mask in any situation where you are unable to stay two metres apart, or when passing other walkers. While dogs are welcome, they must be kept on a leash at all times.
Stagg noted that small group tours can be booked for any time over the summer and throughout the year at yoursoutdoors.ca.
More information on the Haliburton Sculpture Forest can be found at haliburtonsculptureforest.ca.