An annual event celebrating Chatham-Kent’s most infamous blackbird is returning to downtown Chatham a little early this year.
The third annual Crowfest will take place from September 18-21 on and around King Street, featuring multiple days of activities and fun events for all ages.
Typically the event is held in mid-October, but organizers felt that holding this year’s Crowfest earlier would be advantageous for everyone.
“We moved up the dates a little bit, trying to avoid the colder wet weather,” said organizing committee member Andrew Thiel.
The festival will kick off on September 18 with The Olde Crows Tea luncheon at Links of Kent Golf Course, followed by CK’s Got Talent in the evening at the Garden on King/River Rock.
The Crowfest Gala will then return for another year on September 19 at the Everest Entertainment Centre with a “MasCROWade Ball” theme.
On September 20, King Street in downtown Chatham will come alive with more than 100 vendors, activities, musical entertainment, and busker performers such as the Catwall Acrobats.
“Those guys have been to over 30 countries, they’ve opened up for major [events] like the Olympics. They’re setting up a 25-foot wall with two trampolines on either side… it’s absolutely mind-blowing,” said Thiel. “That’s just one of around 20 buskers we have coming from all over the world.”
The festival entertainment continues on September 21 with the vendors and buskers returning to King Street, along with a costume contest and the annual after party at Sons of Kent Brewing Co. entitled Busk After Dusk.
Crowest has continued to grow in popularity each year, with the inaugural event in 2022 being named the Best New Festival with a budget of $100,000-$500,000 by Festivals and Events Ontario.
For more information on this year’s Crowfest, including a full schedule, click here.
