HOLIDAYING AT HOME
Windsor-Essex things to do
Planning your summer and don’t want to break the bank on travel? Try a ‘staycation,’ suggests Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island. The tourism bureau teamed with local municipalities for a promotional event at the Devonshire Mall on Saturday meant to encourage area residents to check out the attractions and festivals offered within the region. “A ‘staycation’ is a getaway where you live,” said Nelson Silveira, economic development officer for the Town of Essex. “The county is within a 15- or 20-minute drive of where people in Windsor live.” “We have the bounty of the county: Wineries, waterfronts, cycling, trails, heritage events — so much to enjoy.”
The Town of Essex’s mascot Bloomer was on hand with Silveira to promote the municipality ’s upcoming features such as the Serenity Lavender Festival (June 30 to July 1) and Essex Fun Fest (July 5 to 8)
Other exhibitors promoted events such as Windsor ComiCon (Sept. 29 to 30 at Caesars Windsor), Explore the Shore (July 28 to 29 on County Road 50) and the new Amherstburg Uncommon Festival (Aug. 3 to 5 at Navy Yard Park in Amherstburg). Town of Amherstburg special events co-ordinator Anna Cabrera said the Uncommon Festival will offer performances, activities, and family fun with a ‘steampunk’ theme — as well as elements of the Harry Potter universe.
“We will have wand-making, potion-making, fire-breathing,” Cabrera said. “A maze with a wizard inside, a Quidditch ball throw game. It’ll be all over downtown Amherstburg. It’s going to be amazing.” Cabrera pointed out that the Uncommon Festival takes place on the same dates that the giant rubber duck visited Amherstburg last summer — an event that drew thousands of people. College students Brenna Barrette and Jenna Lenders, both 19, were among the mall-goers who stopped by the ‘staycation’ expo on Saturday.
Lenders admits she probably hasn’t experienced everything the region has to offer — even though she’s lived in St. Joachim most of her life. “I know there’s lots to see.” Barrette said her last vacation was to Texas. But as a Harry Potter fan, she’s looking forward to checking out the Amherstburg Uncommon Festival, now that she’s learned about it. “We want to do this one. That’s cool,” she declared. Find out more about Windsor-Essex ‘staycations’ at visitwindsoressex.com.