TRUE Fest has moved from its winter roots to the summer, a change that organizers say is likely permanent and will become a fixture at the town's Open Air Weekends festival. The outdoor inclusive event, featuring music, dancing, and drag queens, took place Saturday on Murray Street in Amherstburg.
Weather challenges prompted the move
Sarah Van Grinsvan, tourism supervisor at the Town of Amherstburg, explained that last year's event was held on the coldest day of the year, making it difficult to manage. “It became too much of a struggle with the weather,” she said. “We were fighting so many elements, bringing out electrical and sound,” during winter storm season.
The festival remains popular with attendees. “The idea of TRUE Fest is to be who you truly are and to embrace who you truly are, and we will all accept all,” Van Grinsvan said. “We want everybody to feel welcome in Amherstburg, and that’s the vibe that we feel. We have everybody here, all walks of life, all ages, and people are just celebrating and enjoying it.”
Drag performances highlight the event
The event featured drag queens Zsa Zsa, Airress, and Aliya Holmes dancing to well-known disco songs while the crowd cheered and clapped. The performances were a central attraction, drawing enthusiastic responses from the audience.
Open Air Weekends offers themed weekends
Open Air Weekends, during which the downtown area is closed to traffic to allow pedestrians to enjoy displays and activities over 14 summer weekends, now features several themed weekends. The Brazilian village from the Carrousel of the Nations took place at Open Air, while others—such as an agricultural showcase, a Latin weekend, and a rum runner weekend—will take place later this year.
Upcoming themed weekends include:
- July 31-August 2: Heritage weekend featuring historical tours, the town crier, and a chess tournament by Latitude Chess.
- August 7-9: Farm Fest with hobby farm animals, clogging dancers, and a Garth Brooks tribute band.
- August 14-16: Windsor Essex Bike Community’s Cycle the Burg, Bagpipes in the ’Burg, BMX stunt shows, and group rides.
- August 21-23: Barrels and Brass, a rum runners weekend featuring jazz performances, speakeasy tours, and live actors.
- August 28-30: Latin Fest featuring performances by Art of Dance, Maxei Cultural Group, and the Sabor Latin Band.
The shift to summer aims to provide a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for both participants and organizers, ensuring the festival's continued success.
