Downtown Sarnia Saturday felt like a flashback to five years ago for Shawn McKnight.
“It’s like early Artwalk,” said McKnight, who was one of about 60 vendors offering things like clothing, paintings, jewelry and other wares to people at Art Crawl.
“It feels exactly the same as I’d say Artwalk maybe four or five,” said McKnight, co-founder of the arts festival that ran 16 years, until going on hiatus in 2019.
Art Crawl was the second in a trio of monthly Weekend Walkabout and First Friday events downtown, that welcome people to closed-to-car-traffic Christina Street for themed weekends.
Similar to a Dog Days of Summer-themed pedestrian walkabout in July, about 2,000 people turned out, said chamber of commerce boss Carrie McEacrhan, one of the organizers along with a committee of downtown businesses and organizations.
The weekends also include downtown venues hosting entertainment Friday nights, and car shows on the street Sundays.
Musical performances and activities for kids like face painting were among the attractions Saturday, McEachran said.
“We’re really pleased with the success,” she said. “People seem to be really happy.”
McKnight, who had a kiosk with native plants set up Saturday, consulted with organizers to help with planning.
“Really taught us what worked and what didn’t during Artwalk, so he’s been a great resource for us,” McEachran said.
That included providing some contacts, said McKnight, adding he was “really bummed when Artwalk petered out.”
It’s “fantastic” to see something like it return, he said.
“I think it’s actually going to build really fast,” he said about Art Crawl.
Theresa Stoesser was there with her daughter Rosemary, 6.
“Just wanted to check it out,” said Stoesser, adding plans were to check out live music and maybe get a drink on a patio. Her daughter said she wanted to see balloons.
Emilie Jagt and Kelly Wilks with Fairytale Face Painting said the scorching day, amid a public health heat warning, was slower than what they’ve been used to at other festivals, where lineups sometime stretch for an hour.
Instead they focused on detail, Jagt said.
“That’s been really nice – being able to chat to the parents,” she said, noting they also booked work for later in the month.
Nearby businesses were accommodating with allowing people to use their washrooms, and for water refills, Wilks said.
And festival organizers brought around freezies for the vendors, said Jagt.
“It was just the nicest thought.”
Artist and tarot reader Taryn Elizabeth said she was selling out of many of the things she brought.
“I think it’s been great,” she said.
The final Weekend Walkabout and First Friday weekend planned for 2022 is Sept. 2-4, when the Taste of Sarnia food festival is the theme.