There’ll be no shortage of things to see and do at this year’s Rotary Art in the Park, says one of the organizers.
“(Vendors) were signing up in January,” said Peter Fitzsimons of the Sept. 9 Rotary Club of Sarnia Bluewaterland-hosted annual attraction in Mike Weir Park.
“We have 115 exhibitors and we’re full up,” he said. “That’s our max at this point and we have a waiting list of about 25.”
As to what drives the popularity of the 41-year-old tradition, this year expected to draw more than 5,000 people for shopping, food vendors and children’s activities — the time of year plays a role, said Fitzsimons, event co-chair.
“It’s just after Labor Day and I think people are looking for something different,” he said.
“A lot of people buy stuff for Christmas, believe it or not, and I think it’s just people like to go to a show like this.”
Admission is free.
The 25-member service club, all of whom will be on hand for the 9 am to 5 pm event, along with another 30 or so volunteers, Fitzsimons said, made $30,000 last year — in the event’s return after a two-year COVID-19-related hiatus — through a combination of vendor fees, donations and sponsorships.
“We had very, very large crowds,” Fitzsimons said.
Money goes to community agencies for various projectshe said, noting he thinks more than $50,000 was given after 2022 events raised record sums.
Another flagship fundraiser for the club, it’s annual used book sale, was canceled this year after a venue couldn’t be secured.
But plans are for its return in January or February, Fitzsimons said.
“John DeGroot has given us permission to use (DeGroot’s Nurseries),” he said, noting people are eager for the sale’s return. “In the past it’s been very successful.”
Construction planned for Lakeshore Road meanwhile is a worry for Art in the Park, he said.
“There’s going to be contractors out there resurfacing the road, but we’ve been assured . . . that access to Mike Weir Park will be OK,” he said.
Last year’s event was on a hot day and went “extremely well,” Fitzsimons said.
“We’re just hoping for the weather as usual and we hope to see as many people as possible come out there on the day and have a good time,” he said.