Downtown Chatham, Ontario, is turning its streets into an outdoor museum this weekend as the Art Under the Stars event brings light displays and art installations to the community starting Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. The three-day weekend is a collaborative initiative organized by ARTspace (the downtown satellite of the Thames Art Gallery), the Thames Art Gallery (TAG), and the Historic Downtown Chatham BIA, and is intended to drive foot traffic to local shops and restaurants during the slow winter season.
Visitors can pick up a paper map — which acts as a self-guided ‘passport’ for the festival — at the Historic Downtown Chatham BIA office (237 King St. W.) or at ARTspace (165 1/2 King St. W.). The maps can be stamped at participating locations and used to claim special promotions, including a 10 per cent discount at participating boutiques for those presenting a stamped physical map, and special “Art-to-Table” menu offerings at select downtown restaurants such as the Chilled Cork and Mamma Maria’s Ristorante.
The installations will feature storefront and public-space displays, including work in and around the Chatham Cultural Centre, and the festival’s peak illumination hours are 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. nightly. Participating retailers have agreed to extended hours, with many staying open until 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday to welcome visitors.
The initiative is supported by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s arts programs and features work by roughly a dozen regional artists placed throughout King Street West and surrounding public spaces. The event builds on a pattern of seasonal arts and lighting projects in the municipality — for example, past Light Up CK displays and BIA-led winter activations — that aim to enliven the downtown core and support local commerce.
