Kingston is preparing to host a Dry Stone Wall Festival this weekend.
The two-day event not only promotes the craft of building dry stone walls but will also leave behind a lasting legacy. A new wall will be built at the entrance to St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Barriefield village.
The Frontenac Heritage Foundation is hosting the event. Shirley Bailey is the Foundation’s President.
“When Dry Stone Canada came to us this year and said where can we do a festival in the Kingston region, I immediately thought of Barriefield because there’s such a concentration of stone walls here,” Bailey said.
In the end, St Mark’s will get a totally refurbished front entrance wall thanks to those involved this weekend, including dry stone waller Doug Bell.
“A brick or a block is pretty much the same as the next brick or block but every single stone is different, as an individual,” Bell said. “And there’s something real satisfying about finding ways to put them together that looks good and lasts a long time that a lot of people are starting to rediscover and either want to do it or pay someone to do it for them on their property or on their building.”
Along with wall building, the festival also features demonstrations and tours of Barriefield village.