Water bowls, foam machines, pools with toys, and pet-friendly vendors lined Christina Street in Sarnia Saturday, as dogs and their owners converged for the first of three Weekend Walkabout street closures this summer.
The kickoff Dog Days of Summer-themed pedestrian street between Davis and George streets downtown had musical performances, a kids zone, agility courses and a dog kissing booth, and proceeds from raffles were going to the Sarnia and District Humane Society, said Anthony Wing, co-chair of a First Friday and Weekend Walkabout committee involving the local chamber of commerce and the downtown business community.
“It’s going so well at this stage, we were hoping it could be an annual thing,” Wing said.
“Really this is a day for the humane society and the people who support animal control and animal love in Sarnia.”
Dana Kenedy and Matt Finbow brought their six-month-old rescue from the humane society, Parker, to help him get more used to crowds.
“He’s having the time of his life, really enjoying it,” said Finbow, adding the street closure seems like a good thing for the community.
“If there’s more in the future, we’ll definitely come out again,” he said.
More regular weekend street closures, with no themes, in 2020 and 2021 irked some downtown business owners who saw their businesses suffer with less parking for their customers, and not enough foot traffic.
But the new format is sitting well, said Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce CEO Carrie McEachran.
“The feedback has been great from all the downtown businesses,” she said.
“It’s been wonderful. They’re happy to see families down here and lots of stuff happening this summer.”
An Art Crawl tribute to the former Artwalk festival happens Aug. 5-7, and a Taste of Sarnia food festival is planned Sept. 2-4, Wing said.
The crowds were also impressive Friday, when downtown venues hosted entertainment for the return of community First Fridays, he said.
“It’s really well-synced,” he said about event coordination, noting a number of venues are on the planning committee.
“Downtown is working together really well.”
Car shows on the street are featured on the Sundays.
Dogs from the humane society were also being walked in the crowds Saturday, letting people meet them and giving them another shot at adoption, said executive director Donna Pyette.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said. “Lots of dogs coming in.”