Preparing for a ‘great weekend’ of cultural activities

Cultural Ramblings – By Glen Turner

Look at the title for this column.

It’s called “Cultural Ramblings”.

But what, exactly, does that mean?

I certainly am the walking definition of “rambling” (verbally that is, just ask anyone who knows me), but my bet is that asking five different people to define “Cultural” or “Culture” would produce five different answers, and none of them would be particularly, clear, precise or complete.

So… (as I reach for the trusty ol’ Webster’s Dictionary.)

“Culture” is defined as – “state of manners, taste and intellectual development at a time or place”.

Hmm… doesn’t help much, but hey, don’t blame me, blame Webster’s!

OK, a different tack is required.

The layman’s definition of “culture” or “cultural activities” seems to be the many things associated with what we call “The Arts”. Those include theatre, visual art, dance, music, film, literature and so on.

I can live with that for the purposes of this column.

Especially, since “The Arts” is the 5th largest industry in Canada. Seriously. It’s true.

So, what relevance has this for Chatham-Kent? Are you ready for the segue?

Well, Wallaceburg just happens to have one of the five new Cultural Action Teams in Chatham-Kent, established through the “Create CK” initiative this past winter/spring.

Known as the Sydenham Cultural Action Team, the committee has organized what is known as the “Cultural Crawl”, or “Fourth Friday”.

Every fourth Friday of each month, musicians, artists, photographers, artisans and so on, cover downtown Wallaceburg with their wares, sounds and images, and the public simply wanders the main drag, enjoying this new “cultural” element – of course, the businesses are all open, too.

The next Fourth Friday, which just happens to be this Friday, August 28, is scheduled as the next-to-last “Crawl” for the season, with one more coming up on the “Fourth Friday” of September, the 25.

If you haven’t been to one, you should go!

It’s awesome.

Don’t forget, the biggest and most frequent complaint you hear around this area is… “There is nothing to do!”

Now there is.

I’d also be remiss in my duties if I didn’t mention the other big event this weekend.

Get out to McDonald Park, on the old Highway 40 to Sarnia (or the St. Clair Parkway, as it’s now known), and check out the re-enactors at “The Selkirk History Faire” – food, fun, history, and a great day in the park along the river.

The event runs Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

I’ve been there as a visitor, and as a participant (Town Crier) – and it is a hoot!

Enjoy a great weekend of, “cultural” activities.