Seven local small businesses have received funds to create “highly shareable” displays and experiences during this winter’s Lights on Stratford Festival, tourism officials have announced.
Destination Stratford and RT04, the not-for-profit organization responsible for managing tourism in Perth, Huron, and Wellington counties, unveiled this week the recipients of their Shareable Moments Challenge. The annual challenge is how the pair of tourism promoters decide which bold ideas will receive a share of $25,000 and be brought to life during the annual Lights On Stratford festival.
“From restaurant windowfront tables lit from within to the Canadian premiere of a made-in-Stratford short film … this year’s (festival) truly celebrates our community’s creativity,” said Zac Gribble, Destination Stratford’s executive director. “We can’t wait to share these unique light displays and experiences this winter.”
One of this year’s winners is the Little Prince Micro Cinema and Lounge, a 13-seat downtown Stratford movie theater with the distinction of being the smallest of its kind in the world.
That’s where Wilfred – a short film written and produced by Stratford natives Samuel G. Davey and Sean P. Dolan – will make its Canadian premiere in December. After being shot in Stratford last year, the film – based on a best-selling Australian children’s book – was recently screened for the first time at the LA Shorts International Film Festival.
“It’s pretty powerful,” said Leigh Cooney, the theater’s founder. “It’s really, really well done.”
On top of free screenings of the movie, the Little Prince will also be setting up a projector that will display images on the sidewalk near its Market Square location for a few hours every night during the festival. The images will be “tied to things that would trigger memories,” a connection to the movie’s main theme, Cooney said.
Cooney was among the supporters who contributed to the filmmakers’ crowdfunding campaign before Wilfred was produced. He said he’s also been looking for the most creative way to participate in Stratford’s relatively new winter festival, now entering its third year.
“I really just like supporting things like that,” Cooney said. “I enjoy the Lights On thing every year. When this opportunity came along … I thought, ‘is there a way we could tie this all together?’ It just seemed like a natural thing to collaborate on.”
The six other Stratford businesses taking part this year include:
- Burnt Brydges Wood Co. for “Golden Hour Tables”
- El Cactus Taco Shop Inc. for “Dare, Dream, Do”
- Got it Made for “Don’t Quit Your Daydream”
- Local artists: Claire Scott, Amparo Villalobos, Kris von Kleist in collaboration with Revival House for “Love Wins Illuminated”
- Poppin Kettle Corn for “Happy Memories”
- revel coffee inc. for “Brewing Community”
“The festival has really made a name for itself and grown over the past couple years,” said Leigh Cove, RT04’s destination project manager. “It’s so positive that Lights On strives to be an event for the local community as well as visitors.”
The 3rd annual Lights On Stratford – with this year’s theme of REKINDLE – is set to launch on Dec. 16 and runs through to Jan. 27.