A few weeks ago, Joni and I happened to be in Dresden on a Thursday night in December. We had a Chatham-Kent Arts and Culture Network board meeting and social at Pam Smith’s Studio Art Gallery in the small town to the east of Wallaceburg. As we drove into the community, we were impressed with the abundance of seasonal lights that covered much of the path into town and absolutely floored with the downtown area.
Pam informed us that Thursdays in Dresden during December have become known as Merry and Bright Thursday Night. The town gets together and creates this fantastic collaborative weekly event that celebrates the season.
I was aware of the summer and Christmas Night Markets but not the Thursday event. It seems Joni and I have some commitment every time the Christmas Market happens in Dresden. We have made it to a summer market and can only imagine how magical the Christmas Market must be. As Joni and I left town we talked about what a fabulous thing it is that Dresden can pull together to create these community wide events.
A few days after this trip, the Wallaceburg Concert Band performed in Dresden and the house was packed. The collaboration and coordination, support of established events and folding of them into ever growing new events is awesome.
I decided then that a column about this community would be my last of 2023. Joni suggested I talk to Dresden resident and long-time advocate for the community, Stuart Kiar. Pardon the pun, but it is great to have someone in your community that truly does Kiar about it and works to........