Your quick-hit look at what's going on around town today.

A couple of ways to enjoy the summer evening around Chatham-Kent:

🧘 SUP Yoga — 6:00 PM. Stand-up paddleboard yoga on the water — a calm, all-levels way to unwind as the sun goes down. Bring a towel and a sense of balance.

🎶 Ridgetown Summer Concert Series — this evening. Free outdoor live music in Ridgetown — just bring a lawn chair and settle in.

🪵 Thamesville Carving Club — 5:00–7:00 PM. Meets every Wednesday at 96 London Road, Thamesville (inside The Happy Club). Drop in and watch the woodcarvers at work.

🍽️ Dining with Ontario Veal at Casa Bella — with John Catucci. The “You Gotta Eat Here!” host is in town for a special dining event at Casa Bella Restaurant. A treat for local foodies.

🌻 Alzheimer Sunflower Fundraiser (Aug 1–4). Puddleford Tree Farm in Kent Bridge opens its sunflower fields — walk the rows, take photos, and cut your own, all in support of the CK Alzheimer Society Day Program. $5/vehicle, $1 per stem. Full story in Friday's briefing.

🎨 Erieau – Art on the Boulevard (Sat, Aug 1). Local artists and makers line the boulevard in the lakeside village of Erieau.

🛒 Grand Ave Market – Grand Opening (Sat, Aug 1). A new local market opens its doors in Chatham — worth a look if you like supporting new small businesses.

🏁 Buxton Speedway Double-Header Weekend (Aug 1–2). Late Model Shoot-Out racing across the weekend.

🐷 Hogs for Hospice – Wheatley (July 31 - Aug 1). A community fundraiser event in Wheatley.

Emancipation Day (Sat, Aug 1). A meaningful weekend in Chatham-Kent's calendar — see the history note below for why this region's connection runs so deep.

With Emancipation Day arriving Saturday, it's worth remembering: in 1854, Frederick Douglass visited Chatham to take part in local Emancipation Day celebrations, back when the city was known across North America as the "Black Mecca" — the northern terminus of the Underground Railroad. Explore CK's Underground Railroad history →

Check the Municipality's full events calendar for everything happening across Chatham-Kent — markets, festivals, and community events by area.

Want Chatham-Kent's full week ahead every Friday?