Print Page Page Feedback Email Page
Share
Small Text Size Medium Text Size Large Text Size
You Are Here: Home>Tourism>Things to See>Festivals and Events
 
Doors Open
 

Festival & Events

As the weather heats up in Chatham-Kent so does the events and festivals calendar. So many weekends from early May to late autumn are filled with activities that highlight the region’s claims to fame including cars, black heritage, and food. Chatham-Kent is known for hosting some of the best-rated festivals in Ontario and even Canada.

Classic Car Festivals

In May Retrofest, a nostalgic celebration of the 1950s and ‘60s, begins the area’s event season with classic vehicles and themed activities that liven up the streets of Historic Downtown Chatham. Several automotive-themed festivals including Old Autos Bothwell Car Show and WAMBO that celebrate Chatham-Kent as Classic Car Capital are noted as some of the best in Canada.

Culinary Festivals

Mouthwatering ribs are the main attraction at the annual Chatham Sunrise Rotary Ribfest in July. This summer family picnic-style event offers attractions for all ages including children’s activities and live music. The Ridgetown Festival of Porches & Verandahs is also held in July and includes a town-wide yard sale, arts and crafts, downtown sidewalk sale, and concert in the park.

Historical Festivals

Chatham-Kent’s black heritage is celebrated with two major events, Emancipation Day at Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site in August, and the annual Buxton Homecoming at Buxton National Historic Site & Museum on Labour Day weekend.

History uniquely comes to life at The Selkirk History Faire and Fairfield Comes Alive, which both re-enact life from time periods of 1775 – 1840. Several themed activities occur at these two-day events in August.

Arts Festivals

Exciting new festivals are happening in 2010. The Wallaceburg Blues Jam and Glass Festival will pay tribute to the town’s glass heritage with a showcase of Ontario glassblowers and a display of rare glass pieces from private collections. This two-day event will also feature live blues and jazz acts. In July, CK on the Edge will showcase traditional and contemporary art in the form of music, theatre, dance, visual, literary, and film with venues throughout downtown Chatham.

For a complete list of these and other events in Chatham-Kent go to www.eventsck.com.

10/17/2011 12:00 AM  10/18/2020 12:00 AM  festivals, events, culinary, historical, classic cars, arts  cktourism@chatham-kent.ca  365 
 
 
 
<ContactInformation><ContactName>Chatham-Kent%20Tourism</ContactName><Street>445%20Grand%20Avenue%20W</Street><City>Chatham%2C%20ON%20N7M%205L3</City><Phone>519.351.7700%20%28p%29</Phone><TollFree>1.800.561.6125%20%28t%29</TollFree><Fax>519.351.7852%20%28f%29</Fax><Email>cktourism@chatham-kent.ca</Email><Map>http%3A//www.mapquest.com/maps%3Fcity%3DChatham%26state%3DON%26address%3D445+Grand+Avenue+W%26zipcode%3DN7L%26country%3DCA%26latitude%3D42.401062%26longitude%3D-82.205108%26geocode%3DADDRESS</Map></ContactInformation>
 
<div title="_schemaversion" id="_3">
  <div title="_links">
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_order">1</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">True</span>
      <span title="_isgroupheader">True</span>
      <span title="_groupstyle"></span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">Boothill Jamboree</span>
      <span title="_order">2</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://www.boothilljamboree.com/">http://www.boothilljamboree.com/</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">Bothwell Car Show</span>
      <span title="_order">3</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://www.oldautos.ca/">http://www.oldautos.ca/</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">Buxton Homecoming</span>
      <span title="_order">4</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://buxtonmuseum.com/hcoming/hc-schedule.html">http://buxtonmuseum.com/hcoming/hc-schedule.html</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">Emancipation Day</span>
      <span title="_order">5</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://www.uncletomscabin.org/christmas_at_the_cabin.htm">http://www.uncletomscabin.org/christmas_at_the_cabin.htm</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">Ribfest</span>
      <span title="_order">6</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://www.chathamribfest.com/">http://www.chathamribfest.com/</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">RetroFest</span>
      <span title="_order">7</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://www.retrofestchatham.com/">http://www.retrofestchatham.com/</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">Selkirk History Faire</span>
      <span title="_order">8</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://www.selkirkhistoryfaire.com/index.htm">http://www.selkirkhistoryfaire.com/index.htm</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">WAMBO</span>
      <span title="_order">9</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_group">UserfulLinks</span>
      <span title="_linkurl">
        <a href="http://www.kent.net/wambo/">http://www.kent.net/wambo/</a>
      </span>
    </div>
    <div title="_link">
      <span title="_title">ResourcesDownloads</span>
      <span title="_order">10</span>
      <span title="_begincolumn">False</span>
      <span title="_isgroupheader">True</span>
      <span title="_groupstyle"></span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div title="_view">
    <span title="_columns">1</span>
    <span title="_linkstyle"></span>
    <span title="_groupstyle"></span>
  </div>
</div>
d88b9833-fec0-4394-a93f-3e911522d47c  No targeting


Points of Interest
 
Name
 
 
Contact Information
Chatham-Kent Tourism
445 Grand Avenue W
Chatham, ON N7M 5L3
Phone:
519.351.7700 (p)
Toll Free:
1.800.561.6125 (t)
Fax:
519.351.7852 (f)
Contact Information
 
Chatham-Kent Tourism
445 Grand Avenue W
Chatham, ON N7M 5L3
Phone:
519.351.7700 (p)
Toll Free:
1.800.561.6125 (t)
Fax:
519.351.7852 (f)
Contact Information
Chatham-Kent Tourism
445 Grand Avenue W
Chatham, ON N7M 5L3
Phone:
519.351.7700 (p)
Toll Free:
1.800.561.6125 (t)
Fax:
519.351.7852 (f)
Contact Information
Chatham-Kent Tourism
445 Grand Avenue W
Chatham, ON N7M 5L3
Phone:
519.351.7700 (p)
Toll Free:
1.800.561.6125 (t)
Fax:
519.351.7852 (f)


Last updated:
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
Contact Us
Chatham-Kent Tourism
1.800.561.6125
GET A MAP
Skip navigation links
Home
Things to See
Things to Do
Places to Eat
Places to Stay
Travel Information
Promotional Packages
Groups
Media Writers
Travel Guide
© Copyright Chatham-Kent. All Rights Reserved.
Designed & Developed by Concept Interactive Inc.