Open Air Weekends becomes a hot topic at EcDev meeting

Pot of Gold performs at Open Air Weekends in 2025. The Economic Development committee debated Open Air Weekends at the April 16 meeting.

A report on programming for the 2026 installment of Open Air Weekends turned into a debate on the event itself at the most recent economic development advisory committee meeting.

The committee met April 16 with Open Air programming on the agenda. Local resident Bill Petruniak was a delegate at the meeting, and outlined concerns he had with the current format.

Petruniak recalled in Nov. 2024, town council agreed to continue Open Air in its current format until 2027. Petruniak said he “took a stroll” the previous Tuesday morning speaking with businesses in the area of Dalhousie St. and Richmond St., though he noted not all were open at the time.

Of the businesses he spoke to, two said Open Air was a positive for their sales. Others said they lost business, some dropping by two-thirds and others having to lay off staff. Hair salons said their wedding business fell off.

“The most common comment was that Open Air should only be held once a month,” said Petruniak. “Three businesses wanted council to show them where the 200 parking spaces are.”

Chats with people on the street said they avoid downtown “due to a lack of parking,” said Petruniak. 

“Before this committee considers any overview or collaboration on Open Air, my brief census must be considered,” he said.

Further reports on attendance and costs must go before town council, he added. He wanted to know how much is spent on entertainment, set up, take down, staffing and all matters related to Open Air.

“The general consensus that during COVID, Open Air was a benefit. Now it has become a burden,” he told the committee.

Petruniak said he was told no one from council or administration went down and spoke with the business owners.

Councillor Diane Pouget said she was not surprised by Petruniak’s comments. She said she went to a meeting by the tourism department on the matter and “as soon as I walked in the door, I was literally swamped by people with the same concern.”

Pouget said banks have told her customers have difficulty getting there and there were concerns from people with disabilities about getting to banks and stores. She believed restaurants already do a good business on weekends and draw people themselves.

“They do not need Open Air,” she said.

Parking was another issue she outlined.

Petruniak suggested altering traffic flow and he proposed only the east half of Dalhousie St. closed and allow north-south traffic for the rest. He said he offered to pay for the required signage.

“I would make them, pay for them and put them up,” he said.

Toddy Jones Park and King’s Navy Yard Park could be used for events, he added.

Committee member Jack Edwards agreed there are  improvements that can be found Open Air. He recalled being involved with the International Freedom Festival in the past, and heard concerns from business in Windsor when he was involved there.

Edwards added there are more rented storefronts, but added he agreed the town could find improvements to enhance the event.

Vice chair Alan Buterbaugh said Petruniak’s input was appreciated and not falling on deaf ears.

Deputy CAO/director of development services Melissa Osborne outlined programming planned for Open Air Weekends. The 14-week program starts June 5.

Caesars Windsor will again offer concert tickets for 14 weeks with the raffle every weekend, said Osborne.

Open Air Weekends, as seen from the Windsor Aerial Drone Photography, in a photo from several years ago.

Twelve of the 14 weekends are “bundled in” with festival or events, some with partner organizations coming into the footprint and others presented by the town within the approved budget, she said.

Carousel of Nations is coming to downtown Amherstburg with the Brazil Carousel of Nations coming to the Open Air footprint. Osborne said the Fort Malden Medieval Festival is returning and she said the town is planning to tie-in with that event. She also noted Ribfest is returning, and that the TRUE Festival has been moved to the summer during Open Air.

The Amherstburg Horticultural Society’s Garden Tour returns this year and Osborne said although it’s not inside the footprint, “there is collaboration around it.” The Amherstburg Art Crawl is also back in 2026 and they plan on doing events in the footprint.

Latin Weekends return to Open Air Weekends in 2026.

Pro wrestling is coming in at no cost to the town this summer, she added. Theme weekends include heritage weekend, Latin Fest, Farm Fest and Cycle in the Burg, the latter being done by the Windsor-Essex Bike Community (WEBC) with the town’s portion covered by a grant.

Osborne said Farm Fest and Latin Fest will be funded by grant funding.

“Barrels and Brass” will be presented in partnership with the Marsh Historical Collection, she added.

“There’s a lot of really great partnerships associated with this,” said Osborne.

Buterbaugh was happy to see established events like Carousel of Nations come to town. He added Open Air is evolving and adjustments are being made accordingly.

“I’ve been on council 18 years and never before in the history of Amherstburg were we denied the right and indeed our obligation to speak on a budget for Open Air. We have no idea how much it’s going to cost and we can’t find out.”

Pouget said town council was “blocked” from voting on format and budget for Open Air two years.

Osborne said administration provided a presentation to council in March 2024 that identified costs associated with Open Air was around $30,000.

“That report articulated exactly what the costs are to tourism, what are staffing costs for the students, what our public works and staffing are as well as that associated with the opening and closing of the streets,” said Osborne. “I am very pleased to say Open Air has actually generated so much grant funding, this department has actually returned a surplus in the last two years as a result of the funding it has received, in large part due to Open Air.”

No extra funding has been spent or will be spent other than what was approved in the budget, she added, with additional items being volunteered by people or through grant funding.

Edwards believed the committee and council had a say over the Open Air program for two years, adding “there was no hidden agenda and it was the right thing to do.”

Pouget maintained her position that council and the committee could not discuss the budget. Buterbaugh said if council made the wrong decision on Open Air, there is an opportunity to address it in the 2026 election.

“That’s how democracy works. I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves over time,” said Buterbaugh.

Open Air Weekends becomes a hot topic at EcDev meeting

By Ron Giofu