Chapin Family Sets Ovens Park Weekend For Aug. 15-17, 2003

The Chapin Family Weekend kicks off on Friday, Aug. 15 at the Ovens Natural Park in Nova Scotia. The annual event features fun and music with the family and friends of Tom and Steve Chapin. Reservations for the park's cabins and campsites fill quickly so planning early is recommended.

For more information, visit www.ovenspark.com or call (902) 766-4621. Read Scott Sivakoff's short essay below about previous events.

Ovens Park: A Genuine Chapin Event

by Scott Sivakoff

Ovens Park is a magical place for everyone. Whether you are a musician, simply appreciate music, or just have a general interest in the park, the Chapin Family Weekend is one not to miss. I've been going for the past four years, and each year it gets better.

It is a rare opportunity to really get to know any of the Chapins. Everyone is very friendly and open.

There are no egos or competition. It's just good old plain fun. There are two nights of music in the park's cafŽ that lead up to the main Sunday afternoon concert outside on the big stage. And everyone has such a great time that the music often flows into the evening.

One of my favorite memories is from three years ago after the first night of music. The cafe had closed, but my friend Gabe and I noticed that the lights were still on inside. We wandered in and found Steve with some of his friends from the church choir in which they all sang as kids. They invited us in to hang out.

They were waiting for John Wallace to show up. As we waited, Steve and his friends started singing some of the old choir songs. I can't remember exactly which songs, but what I remember are the good vibes in the room. Everyone was truly happy there. Steve then grabbed some fresh smoked salmon and made a late night snack for everyone. Tom's daughters Abigail Chapin and Jessica Craven also found their way in to join the crowd. When John showed up around 11:30 p.m. or so, the stories all started coming out.

Obviously, Gabe and I were enjoying the old stories that were going back and forth. But the moment captured the feeling that makes the park, and that weekend, so magical.

Photo by Gabe Strojny

Photo by Gabe Strojny

Photo by Peter Blacksburg