We may still be in the middle of winter in Chatham-Kent, but summer event planning is well underway, especially for the Historic Downtown Chatham Business Improvement Area (BIA).
The first big event of 2017 for the BIA will be the annual RetroFest, May 26 and 27.
BIA co-chair Paul Shettel said the BIA is still looking for support sponsorship for the event.
He and BIA administrator Connie Beneteau are pleased the Classic Car Cruise will again take place on the Friday night, as hundreds of vintage automobiles will parade through town and into the downtown. The route includes the Fifth Street Bridge, which will likely be closed for reconstruction right after RetroFest.
Beneteau hopes for a better turnout this year compared to last, which suffered through some spring showers, something that traditionally hasn’t happened during RetroFest in the past.
“Close to 600 cars came last year. We knew the weather was going to be bad and some of the guys just didn’t come out,” she said.
The ones who did brought their polishing kits and shammies, wiping away the rain soon after the brief downpour, which participants wouldn’t let dampen the event.
Also back this year for the BIA are its monthly special events taking place on the third Friday of each month. Beneteau said the events in 2016 were well attended during the warmer months, so they will run these starting in June.
Last year, they were known as Downtown in the City events, but Beneteau said that has caused some confusion, given the success of one celebration in particular, Downtown in the City Extravaganza, which takes place the third Friday in September. The other special evenings taking place on the third Fridays of the warmer months are simply to be known as Third Friday events.
As for the fashion extravaganza, mark Sept. 15 down on your calendars for this year’s version.
A week later, the downtown will again be bustling with activity, as FireFest returns for another year, on Sept. 23.
The Santa Clause parade is slated to return in November. Beneteau said the Downtown Chatham Centre, which has overseen the event in recent years, is looking for a group or organization to step up and take over.
Beneteau said this comes on the heels of one of the most successful Santa Claus parades in Chatham in recent memory. Unseasonably mild weather had people turn out in droves, and thousands lined the parade route to enjoy the event.
