Open Air Weekends underway for the 2026 season

The first bagpipe parade, led by the Scottish Society of Windsor pipe band, was held last Friday night with students from local elementary schools following along.

Amherstburg’s Open Air weekends are officially underway.

Friday night the downtown area, centering around the clock tower was closed off beginning at 3 p.m. to allow visitors the opportunity to dine, shop, play some games, and as always listen to some great music.

“This is a free event for the whole family. It promotes a lot of small businesses and showcases some of Windsor-Essex’s great musical talent,” said the town’s manager of economic development and tourism Jennifer Ibrahim.

It’s the seventh year for the event which attracted 70,000 last year and was named the Best Street Festival in the Best of Windsor-Essex Awards.

All ages enjoyed Open Air including young Logan Fregoe who came with his dad, Jeremy.

Logan Fregoe enjoys one of the games that were set out.

“It’s nice. We play games and see the pipers,” said Jeremy who along with his son were part of the parade behind the pipers.

Music was definitely the  highlight of the kickoff weekend.

Friday started with the Silver Ambassadors, a stage band which played a lot of favourites and had some people dancing in the streets. That was followed by the pipe band which made its way along the river front and down Dalhouise St. before playing at the clock. The entertainment continued with local band Compass Rose.

Members of the Silver Ambassadors play during Open Air Weekends June 5.

Ibrahim explained that Friday night was also a chance for young entrepreneurs to sell their wares under a tent sponsored by the Libro Credit Union.

“We let them come for a very discounted rate. We want to promote the young entrepreneurs in our area.”

Saturday’s activities included yoga/pilates, a historic tour, Beaver Tails Eating Contest and live music by 107.9. Yoga in the park, more tours and coffee and culture were planned for Sunday with live music featuring Haruya Calla.

Leading into the summer, next weekend will, for the first time feature Carousel of Nations’s Brazilian Village.

“That is a group that came to us and saw the benefit of partnering with the town,” said Ibrahim.

Pride Weekend is June 26-28 including the TRUE Festival June 27, Heritage Weekend is July 31-Aug. 2, Cycle the Burg is Aug. 14-16 and Barrels & Brass, a unique jazz and history-themed weekend in collaboration with the Marsh Historical Collection, is Aug. 21-23.

In the past, some local businesses were reluctant to have the streets shut down for such a long period of time.

“I believe there is pushback but as a tourism department we are directed by council and our job is to do our best to promote Amherstburg," she said.

Open Air Weekends underway for the 2026 season

By Fred Groves