Local guide
Things to do in Chatham-Kent
Beaches on two Great Lakes, rare Carolinian forest, Underground Railroad history, and a downtown theatre that’s been hosting shows since 1930. Here’s where to start, whether you live here or you’re visiting.
Beaches
Chatham-Kent has shoreline on two Great Lakes. Lake Erie beaches run along the south; Lake St. Clair’s shallow, warm bay is to the west.
Rondeau Provincial Park beach
The longest beach in the region, a sandy Lake Erie shoreline inside Rondeau Provincial Park, with calmer water on the Rondeau Bay side.
Hours and details ↗Erieau Beach
A sandy public beach with some of Lake Erie’s warmest water, a playground, and a pier walk out toward the lighthouse.
Hours and details ↗Mitchell’s Bay
Warm, shallow Lake St. Clair water that suits young swimmers, with a splash pad nearby and some of the area’s best bass and pickerel fishing.
Hours and details ↗Wheatley Provincial Park
A day-use area with sandy Lake Erie beach, plus camping and walking trails through marsh and forest.
Hours and details ↗
Parks, nature and birding
The Lake Erie shore is on a major bird migration route, and Chatham-Kent protects some of Canada’s rarest Carolinian forest.
Rondeau Provincial Park
One of Ontario’s oldest provincial parks and one of the largest remaining stretches of Carolinian forest in Canada. Hiking, cycling, camping, and some of the best spring birding in the province.
Hours and details ↗Wheatley Provincial Park
Marshes, forest, and creeks on the Lake Erie shore, good for nature walks, wildlife watching, and camping.
Hours and details ↗Lake Erie Waterfront Trail
Chatham-Kent
Part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, following quiet roads along the Lake Erie shore. A favourite for road cycling.
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Black history and the Underground Railroad
Chatham-Kent was a destination on the Underground Railroad. By the 1850s Chatham was known as the “Black Mecca” of Canada, and several sites tell that story.
Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
The story of the Elgin Settlement, founded in 1849 as a home for freedom seekers, with a museum, a restored schoolhouse, and a cemetery.
Hours and details ↗Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History
Formerly Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site. It honours Josiah Henson’s life and the Black experience in Canada through exhibits, artifacts, and tours.
Hours and details ↗Black Mecca Museum
Run by the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society, sharing the history of Black settlers and settlements in the region.
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Museums, arts and theatre
From touring concerts to local history, most of it is within a few blocks of downtown Chatham.
Chatham Capitol Theatre
A 1,200-seat theatre that opened in 1930 and now hosts touring concerts, comedy, and big local productions.
Hours and details ↗Chatham-Kent Museum and Thames Art Gallery
Local history, hands-on exhibits, and contemporary Canadian art under one roof, alongside the Kiwanis Theatre.
Hours and details ↗Ridge House Museum
A restored 1875 Victorian home showing everyday life of the era. Open seasonally in summer.
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Family fun and entertainment
Rainy-day and weekend options for all ages.
Greenview Park & Zoo
Chatham-Kent
A family zoo and park, one of the attractions listed by Chatham-Kent tourism.
Hours and details ↗iMaze and seasonal farm attractions
Chatham-Kent
Corn mazes, fall fun, and Halloween attractions such as Tilbilly Halloween Adventure Farm each autumn.
Hours and details ↗Cascades Casino Chatham
Gaming, dining, and live entertainment for adults.
Hours and details ↗Farmers’ markets
Chatham-Kent
Seasonal markets across the municipality selling local produce from some of Ontario’s richest farmland.
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Happening this week
Concerts, markets, festivals, and fundraisers change every week. See the full list on our events page, or browse by town on our community pages.
Chatham-Kent visitor questions
What is there to do in Chatham-Kent?
Chatham-Kent has Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair beaches, Rondeau and Wheatley provincial parks, Underground Railroad history sites in North Buxton, Dresden, and Chatham, the Chatham Capitol Theatre, museums and galleries, cycling on the Lake Erie Waterfront Trail, and community events almost every weekend.
What are the best beaches in Chatham-Kent?
The best-known beaches are at Rondeau Provincial Park near Morpeth, Erieau on Lake Erie, Wheatley Provincial Park, and Mitchell’s Bay on Lake St. Clair, which has warm, shallow water that suits young children.
Where can I learn about Black history in Chatham-Kent?
Visit the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum in North Buxton, the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History in Dresden, and the Black Mecca Museum in Chatham, run by the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society.
What’s happening in Chatham-Kent this weekend?
CKNow’s events page lists upcoming concerts, markets, festivals, and fundraisers across Chatham-Kent, updated every hour from local calendars and our own weekly roundup.
Get the weekend lineup every Friday
CKNow’s free newsletter rounds up what’s on across Chatham-Kent, plus the local news in five minutes.
Details are drawn from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s tourism pages and Ontario Parks. Hours, prices, and seasons change, so check each official page before you go.