PHOTOS: Ford City Arts And Heritage Festival

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The 5^th Annual Arts and Heritage Festival took place in Ford City today, joining forces with the second Open Streets event held by the City of Windsor.

This event usually takes place the during the last week of September, but this year the organizing committee decided to change things up in order to align with the city’s event.

“Working with Open Streets has been good,” says Gillian Benoit, chair of Ford City Residents in Action. “The cost of promotion and permits can really add up, so this way we got to take advantage [of the pre-existing event].”

Originally slated to take place over both Saturday and Sunday, the first installment of the Arts and Heritage Festival was cancelled yesterday due to inclement weather. But that didn’t stop residents or vendors from coming out for today’s activities.

Running from 9 am until 1 pm, the day featured activities like sumo wrestling and a jousting pit, as well as live music, art creation, and all sorts of vendors.

“Events like these are a great way to get people who wouldn’t otherwise come here out to the area,” says Benoit, pointing out t-shirts with slogans like Don’t be afraid of Drouillard.

“This area has a bad reputation, but that’s slowly changing,” she says, citing events like this as well as various businesses that are popping up in the district.

“Today really has something for everybody,” says Lori Kimmerly, treasurer for the For City Business Improvement Association, and owner of Standard Printing, a business which has been operating on Drouillard Road since 1968.

Lori Kimmerly poses with her husband in front of Standard Printing.

Gillian Benoit poses with her son.

Artist Jay Raven working on a mural.