Culture Days festival returns to Oakville September 20 to October 13

Celebrate arts and culture with more than 150 local events

Get ready to immerse yourself in three weeks of local arts and culture events! Culture Days is returning to Oakville and communities across Canada from September 20 to October 13. Enjoy this unique opportunity to explore creativity, share artistic expression, and celebrate what makes Oakville such a vibrant and special community.

This year, the Town of Oakville is an official Ontario Culture Days Festival Hub. Local artists, creators, and community members are excited to offer free programs and activities to celebrate culture and creativity in Oakville.

Enjoy more than 150 local events, including:

• Exhibitions, workshops, and performances at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) on Saturday, September 21, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. including the Halton Municipalities Culture Days artist project Harmony in Culture.
• Workshops and performances at River Oaks Community Centre on Saturday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• The Crossing Community Heritage Day at Lions Valley Park on Saturday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Trafalgar Township Historical Society events at the Palermo School House on Saturday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tours and other hands-on activities at the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate on Saturday, October 5, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. 
• We Are Kerr public art and activities in Heritage Square on Saturday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Includes art-making workshops, a new ground mural, painted benches and banner art installations.
• Performances by the Oakville Symphony Orchestra and Music Without Borders, along with backstage theatre tours, will take place at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday, October 5. Visit the Oakville Centre website for complimentary tickets and times.
• Connextions 2024, featuring seven traffic signal cabinet box artist wraps.
• Enjoy fun, family-friendly activities with the Oakville Public Library during Culture Days. 

Last year, Oakville earned the top spot in Canada for Culture Days, ranking first overall among participating communities. The town was recognized for its vibrant and inclusive programming, which included nearly 100 local events. Additionally, Oakville's "World of Threads Festival" received the People's Choice spotlight recognition, and the "A Place I Call Home Halton" program was awarded for Best Collaborative Program, highlighting Oakville's commitment to fostering a strong and diverse cultural scene.

For a complete list of free programs and events, visit the town’s Culture Days page or search “Oakville” on the Culture Days website. 

Background

• Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture that invites the public to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes to experience the importance of arts and cultures in our communities for free. 
• For the past 12 years, Oakville’s Culture Days celebrations have ranked in the top 10 cities and towns in Ontario.
• The first Ontario Culture Days festival was in 2010, and for the first 10 years, the festival was held over one exciting weekend. 
• In 2023, Culture Days featured over 3,000 events across 300 communities in Canada, attracting a record-breaking 4.4 million participants. This represented approximately 12 per cent of the Canadian population.

Quote

“Oakville's vibrant arts and culture scene truly makes our town special. Being named an official Culture Days Hub highlights the unique contributions of our local artists, creators, and community groups. It's amazing to see how everyone rallied to present such dynamic and inclusive programs that make Oakville come alive during Culture Days.”

– Mayor Rob Burton