The City invites everyone to participate in this year’s Ontario Culture Days, a festival that celebrates our community’s arts, culture, and creativity. The festival, running from Sept. 20 to Oct. 13, will kick off with a community event, Arts & Culture Under the Lights, at Marina Park from 6 to 9 pm. This event will be an evening of celebrating our shared cultural richness, featuring musical performances, dance, artisans, displays, and other activities that bring our community together. 

“The City of Thunder Bay is thrilled to partner with Ontario Culture Days as a Festival Hub” says Laurie Abthorpe, Cultural Development & Public Art Coordinator with the City of Thunder Bay.  “We are thrilled about the launch event and the fantastic collaboration with various groups throughout the city throughout the entire festival. With over fifty diverse events and activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and be inspired by.” 

For Friday’s Arts & Culture Under the Lights, attendees can expect to enjoy a cultural performance stage, street level performances, a literary stage hosted by the Thunder Bay Public Library, as well as artist demonstrations, an artisan market, and The Art of the Mushroom presented by the Community Arts & Heritage Education Program (CAHEP) and a community expo.  Food vendors will also be on site. 

Arts & Culture Under the Lights Event Schedule:

Cultural Performance Stage – Market Square Parking Lot, Prince Arthur’s Landing 

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Welcoming remarks by dignitaries at 6:00 PM

Emcee - Kerry Berlinquette

Featuring performances by:                                                                                                 

  • Naadmaagewin Miikaanhs Dancers                                                                                                                               
  • Thunder Bay Chinese Music and Dance Troupe                                                                                                                                                            
  • African Choir                                                                                                                                                               
  • World Cultural Dance 
  • Zhuravli Ukrainian Folk Ensemble         
  • Arabella Middle Eastern Dance Academy         
  • Thai Healing Centre Dance Troupe       
  • Thunder Bay World Dance Collective
  • Italian Touch Latin Dance School

                                                                                                                           

Artist Demonstrations - Market Square Parking Lot, Prince Arthur’s Landing

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

  • Nathan Cross (CAHEP) – Clay Mushrooms
  • Duncan Weller – Acrylic Painting and Literary Works
  • Hand Habit – Caricature Artist

 

Food Vendors - Market Square Parking Lot, Prince Arthur’s Landing

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

  • Superior Inn
  • BeaverTails

                                                                           

Community Expo – Along Sleeping Giant Parkway, Prince Arthur’s Landing

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

  • Magnus Theater
  • Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay
  • Thunder Bay Art Gallery
  • Confederation College
  • Ontario Native Women's Association
  • Fort William Historical Park
  • United Way of Thunder Bay
  • Cambrian Players
  • Eleanor Drury Children's Theatre
  • Thunder Bay Multicultural association
  • Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
  • Ontario Caregiver organization

                                                                       

Street Level Performances - Baggage Building Arts Centre outside entrance area

7:30 PM

  • Harpreet Kaur - Bhangra and Giddha
  • World Cultural Dance

 

Artisan Market - Baggage Building Arts Centre – Main Level

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

  • Caring Hands Uganda
  • CreAction Collective
  • Farhath Colour Art
  • Carousel Restoration Committee
  • Rockit Chocolate
  • Biljana Baker

 

Literary Stage hosted by Thunder Bay Public Library - Baggage Building Arts Centre – Mezzanine

6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Featuring performances by:

  • Alexander Kosoris
  • Ashleigh Meraki
  • Heather McLeod
  • Holly Haggarty
  • Marianne Jones

 

The Art of the Mushroom with CAHEP - Baggage Building Arts Centre - Gallery
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

  • The Art of The Mushroom with Community Arts & Heritage Education Project (CAHEP) brings together over a dozen local artists, each showcasing their unique interpretations of mushroom-inspired art.

Artists include:

  • Aklima Jubika
  • Alicia Brink
  • Angie Jensen
  • Ashlyn Chilson
  • Heather Peden
  • Judy Mayor 
  • Julia Mills
  • Julie Cosgrove
  • Kayeleigh Laroque
  • Kyle Lees
  • Lorraine Cull
  • Merk 
  • Nathan Cross
  • Valin
  • Enjoy the exhibition and even try your hand at creating your own mushroom print at the interactive station.
  • Boreal Museum will offer fascinating mushroom facts and engaging activities for all ages.
  • Join All the DAZE Productions as characters from Alice in Wonderland for a mad tea party.

 

The festival offers an incredible array of over 50 FREE or Pay-What-You-May events and activities taking place across the city, hosted by a wide range of local cultural groups and organizations including: City of Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Public Library, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Magnus Theatre, All the DAZE Productions, Thunder Bay Museum, Cambrian Players, Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Visual Ukrainian Artist Irene Warmenhoven, Anishnawbe Mushkiki, Fort William Historical Park, Roots Community Food Centre with Goods & Co. Market and the Waterfront District BIA, Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay.

 

For more information please visit Culture Days 2024.

 

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Contact:          Laurie Abthorpe, Cultural Development & Public Art Coordinator at 628-5250 or laurie.abthorpe@thunderbay.ca