Culture Days

In 2023, the annual Culture Days celebration in Oakville was ranked first overall in the Culture Days 2023 Top Participating Communities Listing! 

Featuring nearly 100 local events as part of the Halton Festival Hub, the town was also the top mid-size city for the second year in a row.

In addition, there are four categories in the festival’s 2023 Spotlight Recognition Program. 

• The World of Threads Festival at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Culture Centre, received the People’s Choice award. 
• A Place I Call Home Halton, organized by artist Faisal Anwar with the Town of Oakville, Town of Halton Hills, Town of Milton, Museums of Burlington, and Halton Region, was recognized as the Best Collaborative Program.

Over the past 12 years, Oakville has placed among the top 10 cities and towns in Ontario offering Culture Days activities. Rankings are based on the number of programs, tours, performances and demonstrations held in each community. 

Celebrations and events in 2023 included:

• Art Swap: Portraits for Community Love workshop with youth mural Artist Yen Linh Thai
• a watercolour workshop at QEPCCC, hosted by Maryna Salagab
• musical performances all day on October 14 at QEPCCC by High Rendition Jazz, Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton, Kerr Street Big Band, Oakville Wind Orchestra, Intrada Brass and Oakville Symphony Orchestra
• hands-on workshops by Oakville Suzuki Association, the Oakville Woodcarvers and Sculptors Guild, the Oakville Sewers Forum, and the Wearable Art Show
• Theatresports with Oakville Improv Theatre Company at QEPCCC
• town-led drop-ins at QEPCCC for hands-on fibre-based and Digital Maker Space activities all day long, plus All Ages Clay (Parented for 6+) in the afternoon
• a Seniors Art Show and Sale at Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors
• the return of the World of Threads Festival
• Oakville Museum tours, including Oakville's First Post Office, and a Mindful Breathing workshop
• Meditation & Mindfulness, Parent & Child Yoga, and Taekwondo activities at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre
• The Crossing: Community Heritage Day – Exploring the history of Lions Valley Park and enjoy children's games and activities.
• a printable Culture Days Animal Critters foldable activity (pdf).
• From Flute to Tuba: An Interactive Exploration of Music Instruments and Music Connect with Yuan Yin Group took place at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.

Open our Culture Days schedules (pdf).

Celebrating Indigenous Culture

Complimentary tickets were available to watch singer/songwriter and inspirational speaker Lacey Hill and special guests at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30. Lacey Hill is a member of the Oneida/Mohawk of Six Nations, Wolf Clan.

As a visual reminder to recognize and honour the original caretakers of these lands, a Moccasin Identifier activity was available at Centennial Square (120 Navy Street). Visitors to The Crossing event at Knox Presbyterian Church Sixteen on September 23, also took part in the Moccasin Identifier activity.

Orange Shirt Day Art Project

Orange Shirt Day honours Indigenous children and families affected by Canada's residential schools. As part of Oakville's Orange Shirt Day display, we created installations at town community centres to demonstrate our commitment to awareness and reconciliation.

Visiting any community centre, many picked up an orange paper shirt and shared their message about Orange Shirt Day's importance, the value of every child, or a message of hope and reconciliation. Paper shirts were added to our temporary display.

Learn more about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events in Oakville.

Exploring public art

• Connextions is an exhibition showcasing temporary public artworks on prominent windows at recreation facilities in each ward to build community spirit and celebrate community.
• A new mural has been installed at Glen Abbey Oakville Public Library by artist Caroline MacFarlane.
• New mural at River Oaks Community Centre has been installed by artist Ning Yang, an illustrator and designer participating in the CreateSpace Public Art Residency in partnership with the Town of Oakville this year. Workshops will also be offered at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre, Oakville Museum, and QEPCCC.
• We are launching the new youth mural project with workshops led by artist Linh Thai.

What home means to you!

New to Culture Days in Oakville this year is #APlaceICallHomeHalton, a participatory community art project was led by hybrid media artist Faisal Anwar.

Residents were invited to think about what home means to them and share an image by tagging @aplaceicallhomeproject on Instagram, using the hashtag #APlaceICallHomeHalton or sending visuals to the @townofoakville Instagram account through in a direct message.

Images were reposted as part of a growing archive that will form a collective memory of what home means to Halton residents. The visual content was also be added to a large-scale installation of photographs in motion, projected in various locations in Oakville and Halton during Culture Days.

The following local artists and creative groups participated in Oakville's Culture Days celebrations this year.

• Alex Neumann
• April Hickox
• Artsy Crafts
• Artworks Oakville Association
• Asli Alin
• Bandology
• Brian Groberman
• Bronte Historical Society
• Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton
• Caroline Macfarlane
• Circle of Harmony
• CM Duffy
• Conservation Halton
• D&D Music School
• Danny Custodio
• Darren Rigo
• Emily Coe
• Emily May Rose
• Erin McGean
• Fall Celtic Festival
• Grandmother's Voice
• Halton Black Voices
• Halton Heritage Services - Halton Region
• High Rendition Jazz
• Historical Harmonies
• Howard Iron Works Printing Museum and Restoration
• Intrada Brass of Oakville
• Iroquois Ridge Community Centre
• John Fletcher
• Kayla Whitney
• Kerr Street Big Band
• Kim-Lee Kho
• Knox Presbyterian Church Sixteen
• Lacy Hill
• Leah Kwak
• Lucas DeClavasio
• Madeline Benevides
• Maria Won
• Maryna Salagub Goodfairyart
• Maureen O'Connor
• Merriam Music
• Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
• Moccasin Identifier Project
• Music Without Borders
• Natalie Very B
• Ning Yang
• Oakville Camera Club 
• Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
• Oakville Chinese Network Society
• Oakville Community Foundation
• Oakville Galleries
• Oakville Historical Society
• Oakville Improv Theatre Company
• Oakville Museum
• Oakville Oriental Arts Club
• Oakville Public Library
• Oakville Sculptor and Wood Carvers Guild
• Oakville Sewers Forum
• Oakville Suzuki Association
• Oakville Symphony (Orchestra)
• Oakville Wind Orchestra
• Oriental Arts Club
• Paul Dias
• Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre
• Shay Conroy
• Sir John Colborne Centre
• Sweet Grass Collective
• The Wearable Art Show
• World of Threads Festival
• Yen Linh Thai
• Yuan Yin Group