Open Air Weekends are back! Recently awarded “Best Street Festival“ at the Best of Windsor Essex Awards, and “The Most Wonderful Event of the Year” at the Biz X Awards.
Night Markets on Fridays, bagpipe parades on select Saturdays, free yoga in the park on Sundays, and of course our local shopping, restaurant patios, and live entertainment!
Great Communities Share the Best Practices!
Last summer, Richard Peddie spent time travelling through beautiful small towns to learn what they were doing well, and sharing ideas on how they could become even better. One of the things that really stood out to him was the benefit the Arts could bring to a community. His research identified five benefits:
- contribute to a strong economy.
- drive tourism.
- improve quality of life.
- foster creativity.
- enhance shared community identity and belonging.
The two towns that really stood out for him were Elora and Huntsville. They later inspired the first Amherstburg Art Crawl last September and motivated nine volunteers to create the Art Amherstburg Society, which just successfully executed Art Crawl 2024. Richard’s book has an entire chapter devoted to the Arts. There are so many good ideas for all communities to invest in. Four years ago Amherstburg had only one mural. Today it has 29 murals and art reproductions. The town is on a roll because of Open Air, many new shops, and the new art installations that are building upon the existing beauty of Amherstburg.
Check out Great Small Towns of Ontario at River Bookshop. Now on sale for $25 each, making it the perfect summer read!
This Sunday we are revving things up for Story Time. Lauren will be joining us as our Story Time reader at 11AM, and she will be reading books all about Cars!
Come and celebrate CARS GONE CRAZY with us! Story Time is an all ages event, so bring the whole family! See you Sunday!
River Bookshop is getting an exciting new neighbour!
Introducing the NEW Hole In The Wall! A cocktail lounge designed to accent and elevate Amherstburg’s downtown strip. Come join us for creatively crafted cocktails, an inspired wine & liquor list, and a tasty small bite menu.
COMING SOON: August 2024
Follow us on Instagram for updates @holeinthewall_amherstburg
The Bookshop Team will keep you up to date so you don’t miss this exciting addition to our neighbourhood. Stay tuned!
Amherstburg’s "Gone Car Crazy" show is back for its 18th event!
For one day only, hundreds of classic cars of all shapes and sizes, from all different towns and cities and years, descend upon the streets of downtown Amherstburg.
Street Rods, trucks, custom street machines, sport cars, and live entertainment. You won’t want to miss this free event! Sunday, July 28th, from 10AM to 4PM. For more info, click here.
The 2024 Art Crawl was a tremendous success!
- 3 guided art crawls
- 22 musical performances, concluding with the WSO Brass Quintet (record crowd of 455)
- 15 live artists including Stephen Gibb, Dennis White, and Dennis Smith
- participation by the Marsh Historical Collection, Christ Church, Amherstburg Freedom Museum, Horticultural Society, Gibson Gallery, Richmond Popcorn Co., Musicland, Evelyn’s Candy House, and River Bookshop
- children’s colouring, puzzle challenge, story telling, dance, and painting events
- 18 local authors
- officially unveiled 13 new arts installations, bringing the total of art murals and reproductions to 29 in Amherstburg!
Thanks to all the participants, volunteers, and sponsors…and of course everyone who came out to enjoy all the events.
SEE YOU IN 2025!
River Bookshop's Masterpieces of Art Colouring Contest was a huge success! Amherstburg is bursting with young talent. Maybe the next legendary artist is among us! Thanks to all who came out and challenged themselves this weekend. Calls to the winners are being made this afternoon. If you don't receive a call, just know that we appreciate every artwork and we had SO MANY entries! We wish we could reward them all.
And good luck to all playing in our Kids Summer Reading Challenge. It's not too late to join! Find out more on your next visit to River Bookshop.
So much to see and do in Amherstburg!
We hope to see you in the streets this weekend.
The River Bookshop Team