The City of Thunder Bay proudly launches Ontario Culture Days on Friday, September 19th 2025, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, at Prince Arthur’s Landing in Marina Park with an evening of creativity, connection, and community celebration — culminating with a Drone Light Show at 9:30 pm! 

Arts & Culture Under the Lights is back and brighter than ever! This free, family-friendly event showcases Thunder Bay’s vibrant arts and cultural community with an evening of live dance and musical performances, artist demonstrations, interactive activities, artisan vendors, and more. 

Highlights include:

  • A dynamic main stage with cultural, dance & music performances
  • Dance Lessons by Italian Touch Latin Dance School
  • Street-level pop-up acts and live music
  • A Literary Stage hosted by the Thunder Bay Public Library
  • The return of Art of the Mushroom, presented by the Community Arts & Heritage Education Project (CAHEP)
  • Interactive and wearable light-up art by Michel Dumont
  • Artisan Market, Community Expo, and food vendors
  • Spectacular Drone Light Show at 9:30 pm

“We’re thrilled to partner once again with Ontario Culture Days as an official Provincial Launch event,” says Caitlyn McMillan, Cultural Development & Public Art Coordinator. “This is a time to come together as a community to celebrate creativity in all its forms. We invite everyone to explore, engage, and be inspired.”

Ontario Culture Days continues across Thunder Bay through October 12, featuring a variety of free or Pay-What-You-May events and experiences hosted by local cultural organizations, including:

City of Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, All the DAZE Productions, Thunder Bay Museum, Anishnawbe Mushkiki, Fort William Historical Park, Co.lab Art Gallery, Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay, and more! 

Discover what makes our city’s arts and culture scene so special.

For full event listings and updates, visit: www.thunderbay.ca/culturedays 

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Contact: Caitlyn McMillan, Cultural Development & Public Art Coordinator, Tel: 807-625-2357 | Email: caitlyn.mcmillan@thunderbay.ca

Arts & Culture Under the Lights – Event Schedule

 

Cultural Dance & Musical Performance Stage
Market Square Parking Lot, Prince Arthur’s Landing | 6:00 – 9:00 pm

  • Welcoming remarks by dignitaries at 7:00 pm
  • Dance Lessons by Italian Touch Latin Dance School at 8:30
  • Performances by:
    • Italian Touch Latin Dance School
    • World Cultural Dance
    • Thai Healing Center
    • Chinese Music & Dance
    • Arabella Middle Eastern Dance Academy
    • Tarang Dance Academy
    • Zorya Ukrainian Dancers
    • OgechidaaKwe (g) zhii baa shka’igan magood nanaadawi shimowag 

Artist Demonstrations
Market Square Parking Lot | 6:00 – 9:00 pm

  • Valin Sacchetti
  • Erika Niva
  • Taylor Anderson
  • Katie Lemieux 

Food Vendors
Market Square Parking Lot | 6:00 – 9:00 pm

  • Thunder Bay African Restaurant 

Interactive Art & Light Up Installations
Market Square Parking Lot | 6:00 – 9:00 pm

  • Artist Michel Dumont 

Community Expo
Along Sleeping Giant Parkway | 6:00 – 9:00 pm

  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Thunder Bay Art Gallery
  • Let’s Talk Science – Confederation College
  • Canadian Blood Services
  • Thunder Bay 55+
  • Matawa Education
  • TBDHU – Tobacco Control
  • Thunder Bay Museum
  • Association des francophones du Nord-Ouest de l’Ontario
  • Cambrian Players
  • Applauz Performing Arts 

Street-Level Performances
Outside Water Garden Pavilion Splash Pad

  • Ivan Love
  • Badanai Theatre Co.
  • All the DAZE Productions
  • Jessica Hayes 

Artisan Market
Along Sleeping Giant Parkway | 6:00 – 9:00 pm

  • Gene Boshkaykin
  • Caring Hands Uganda
  • Katie Lemieux
  • Erika Niva
  • Covah
  • Ruby Moon Mehndi
  • Manpreet Kaur
  • Creaction Collective
  • Kreation by Kim
  • Mother & Young Sweets
  • Feral Frog Crafts
  • Barbara Dlugosz
  • Prouse Pottery and Soap
  • Biljana Baker 

Literary Stage – Hosted by Thunder Bay Public Library
Mariners Hall | 6:30 – 9:00 pm

  • Marianne Jones
  • Tessa Hargreaves
  • Taina Chahal
  • John Forget
  • Holly Haggarty 

The Art of the Mushroom – Community Arts & Heritage Education Program (CAHEP)
Baggage Building Arts Centre | 6:00 – 9:00 pm 

Drone Light Show
Festival Area, Marina Park | 9:30 pm

  • Look up as drones light up the sky with images celebrating Thunder Bay pride. Best viewed from the Festival Area.