When it comes to how to spend a summer weekend in Chatham-Kent, the most difficult part of the decision is deciding what not to do.
We’re a fest-obsessed locally with Retro Fest, RibFest, a bicycle fest, the Thamesville Threshing Fest, the Blenheim Cherry Fest, blues fests, Fire Fest and some others.
Chatham Mazda from Chatham Voice on Vimeo.
Do you like cars? In addition to Retrofest we have classic car shows in Blenheim, Wallaceburg, Mitchell’s Bay and the granddaddy of them all, the Bothwell Old Autos car show with more than 1,100 vehicles last year.
If it’s music you want, the Boot Hill Jamboree near Bothwell, or the Shrewsbury Ribs and Blues Fest are the places to be, and the summer concert series in Wheatley is always a hit.
For a different experience, Ridgetown is hosting Art in the Park and Erieau holds Art on the Boulevard.
To learn more about native culture, visit the Walpole Island or Moraviantown Pow Wows.
Antique boats galore ring the downtown-mooring basin in Wallaceburg for WAMBO.
Want to show off your pet? The annual Pet and Hobby Parade in Dresden is the place to be. Is zipping around a midway ride your thing? The Kinsmen Fair was the place to be.
Canada Day skies were lit up over Blenheim, Erieau, Wallaceburg and Tilbury and are planned to return to Chatham next year.
To revisit our agricultural heritage, there is no finer way to spend a day than at the 140th annual Dresden Exhibition, complete with horse racing.
Want to learn more about the area’s rich black heritage? Visit the north Buxton Homecoming.
These events all have a few things in common. They’re almost all volunteer-driven activities with scores of community-minded individuals who make them work.
Many of them help local community groups such as those in Mitchell’s Bay and Shrewsbury, service clubs such as the Optimists in Blenheim, The Knights of Columbus and others in Wallaceburg, The Kinsmen in Dresden and so on.
Those groups in turn help many more activities. That’s the way we do things around here and we should be proud of it.
