The Orangemen's annual picnic site is located on le Rang 8-9 of Inverness on the last section of road before reaching Craig Road. Four posts mark the entrance of the site.
The Orange Order, with its annual parade and picnic has, since the establishment of the first lodge in 1832, had a significant impact on the social, cultural and political life of the Anglophones in Megantic County. Their presence may seem like an anachronism to the French Canadians. But their continued existence in the area shows that this organisation has become a fixating point that assures the descendants of the first immigrants throughout America a link with their spiritual origins.
During the 19th century, more than 12 lodges of the Orange Order paraded during the 12th of July picnic to commemorate the victory of king William III of Orange over the Irish Catholics during the famous Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Each Lodge would hold its banners while the members walked around the villages of Inverness, Kinnear's Mills, and Leeds, all the while playing drums and flute and proceeding towards the picnic site.
Today, this annual homecoming is a celebration and a reunion day for all the locals and takes place the Saturday closest to the 12th of July. This tradition remains to this day the most significant gathering of the descendants of the Protestant settlers to this day.
