Summer in the square

Courthouse Square in Goderich has always been a centre of activity for residents and visitors alike, but the Goderich Downtown BIA has come out swinging with a full schedule of events.

David MacKechnie, BIA Manager has brought fresh energy and a whole host of new ideas for bringing the community together in the unique park that sits right in the middle of the downtown core. “It’s a phenomenal space to host events, and I want to keep it busy all summer long”, he says.

The long-running Saturday Farmer’s Market is a staple of its programming. As the market continued to grow, MacKechnie saw the opportunity to add an Afternoon Concert Series that would be the perfect companion piece to the market, adding an entertainment component most Saturdays (unless the Courthouse Square was already booked, such as during Canada Day or the Celtic Festival).

The Sunday Open Air Market has returned, with a reinvigorated focus on artisans and local crafts. The BIA has added buskers to the mix, and will be hosting an eclectic mix of acts ranging from traditional singersongwriters to harpists to accordions.

Night Makers’ Markets are the latest addition after the first successful one was held in conjunction with Downtown Days a few years ago and was so popular that it was stretched to two events the next year, and will grow to four Wednesday nights this summer (June 21, July 19, August 23, Sept 20).

MacKechnie envisions a warm, relaxing atmosphere where the community can come together and visit with the artists and each other, while taking in the food trucks and buskers in an informal setting.

Thursday Evening Concerts have been a mid-week staple for many years, and 2023 will see the tradition continue with a full lineup of local musicians, and a couple of surprises coming in from further afield.

MacKechnie had put out a call for bands a couple of years ago, to make sure that he knew of all the local talent who may be interested in the BIA events. A couple of punk rock bands responded and giving them their own night just made sense and the Downtown Punk Show was born.

This year local musicians Animal Mother will be kicking it up a notch along with London punk bands Full Throttle and 63 Monroe on July 29. The night will be sure to be a high energy event for a fresh audience.

And last but not least, the full day Sunset Music Festival is set to take over the park from 11 am to 11 pm on August 19. The concert will be designed to focus on the music, with local and regional acts performing throughout the day. The headliner, Tell It To Sweeney, is a fun, fresh take on dance music with swing and funk influences. The eight-piece band features a brass section and will delight a crowd of all ages with their infectious brand of dance music mixed with retro nostalgia.

It is an ambitious summer of fun that is provided free of charge by the Downtown BIA so that everyone can enjoy all that the Town of Goderich has to offer.

For full information on each of the events, including dates, times and lineups, visit www.goderichbia.ca or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Courthouse Square, Goderich.