Arts and Culture

The department of recreation, culture, and wellness develops vibrant and dynamic cultural projects and programs. With our partners, our goal is to develop a creative community and a place of discovery, learning and exploration for all residents and visitors. Learn more by viewing our Cultural Master Plan and our many Festivals and Events.

Culture Programs

The next Ballroom Dance Social is planned for Saturday February 14th, 2026. 

Doors open at 6:30pm. Dance to begin at 7:00pm.

Date: Thursday, March 12th, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Old Pelham Town Hall, 491 Canboro Rd W, Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0
Free to attend. Registration is highly recommended. 
Register Here

Lights, Camera, Community!

Join us for a community engagement evening with the Niagara College Acting Program. Experience live performances as acting students bring iconic television scenes to life, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their training, creativity, and collaborative process.

This event is an opportunity to connect with Niagara College students, learn about the film and digital media program, and engage in cultural activities in Pelham!

Step into Niagara’s living heritage at the 2nd annual Niagara GeoClub Culture Crawl—an immersive day of interactive exhibits, local artifacts, community heritage projects, museums, authors, and storytellers. Explore the layers of Niagara’s past and present, and connect with the people who are preserving and sharing the stories that shape our region.

Hosts and Partners

The Culture Crawl is hosted by Niagara Geopark GeoClub, The Brown Homestead, and The Town of Pelham—working together to bring Niagara’s cultural heritage stewards into one shared space for discovery, connection, and community storytelling.

Event Details 

  • Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026

  • Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  • Location: Meridian Community Centre (Town of Pelham)

  • Event Format: Drop-in, open-house style; explore at your own pace

  • Who It’s For: Families, history enthusiasts, educators, and curious explorers

  • More Information: Details and updates posted here as they are confirmed

 Check back regularly—new booths and features will be added as they’re confirmed.

What to Expect

Culture Crawl invites visitors to explore Niagara’s rich tapestry of culture, community, and heritage through engaging, hands-on experiences. Spend the day moving between booths and exhibits, discovering local collections, and meeting the people behind Niagara’s museums, archives, community history projects, and cultural organizations.

Bullet list:

  • Interactive booths hosted by cultural heritage organizations, museums, community groups, and authors

  • Local artifacts and exhibit displays that bring Niagara’s history to life

  • Conversations with storytellers and heritage stewards

  • Family-friendly learning and discovery for all ages

Featured at Culture Crawl: Niagara in Focus

Developed, facilitated, and hosted by The Brown Homestead—in partnership with Niagara Geopark—Niagara in Focus is a community place-making project that invites residents to share one photograph capturing their relationship with Niagara.

Collected images will be curated by decade and displayed at Culture Crawl before moving to the Brown Homestead for ongoing community connection and reflection. Families are encouraged to explore their photo albums and bring forward the moments that reflect their Niagara roots—whether those roots are newly planted or generations deep.

A Carousel Players Production 
Like It Or Not 
by Katey Hoffman

Saturday March 28, 2026 at 1:00pm
Meridian Community Centre
For Ages 8-12
Running Time: ~50 minutes
$10 Tickets
Purchase Ticket Here
Or at the Information Desk at the Meridian Community Centre (100 Meridian Way, Fonthill, ON)

Zoey and Leah have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They still wear the friendship bracelets they made together at summer camp when they were seven! Now that they’re in grade six, things are beginning to change between them. Zoey is an athlete who loves soccer more than anything. “Life is a soccer field”, she says. Meanwhile, Leah is drawn to art, and especially to fashion, as her mom teaches her how to sew. Added to this mix, there’s a new very cool kid at school, Makayla, who is also into fashion, and who Leah wants to be like. As Leah begins to spend more time with Makayla and her popular crowd, Zoey feels like she’s losing her friend. And maybe Leah is losing herself, too, when she is given a smartphone, and starts to focus more and more on how many likes she is getting on social media.
Helping Zoey and Leah to navigate through these challenges are: Coach Dana, who has lots of inspirational advice about soccer and life; Madame LaGrange, their enthusiastic French teacher (who also sees herself as an artist!); and Zoey’s frazzled Mom who is trying to stay on top of everything while taking care of newborn twins.
Can Zoey and Leah still be best friends, even if they like different things?
Recommended age for family performances: Ages 8 to 12
Recommended School classes: Grades 3 - 6

The next Comedy Night in Pelham - Saturday, February 28, 2026!
Meridian Community Centre - 100 Meridian Way, Fonthill.

Time & Location

February 28, 2025, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Pelham, 100 Meridian Way, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6, Canada

Don't miss the return of Comedy Night in Pelham! Starring a stellar lineup of 3 of Canada's top headliners on one great show!

This laugh packed evening will showcase the hilarious Simon Rakoff (JFL/CBC), Rebecca Reeds (Winnipeg Comedy Festival/ The Debaters), Gerry Hall (JFL42/Sirius XM) and hosted by Niagara's own David Green (JFL Toronto/Canada's Got Talent).

MEET THE COMICS!

SIMON RAKOFF: Simon Rakoff has made audiences laugh across Canada from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island. A top headliner, Simon’s quick mind and engaging personality also make him a popular MC at clubs, corporate, and charity events. A favourite at comedy festivals, Simon has performed at Montreal’s Just For Laughs, Halifax Ha!, The Winnipeg Comedy Festival and many others. On television, Simon has appeared on innumerable Canadian shows and had his own special on CBC.

REBECCA REEDS: Rebecca Reeds is a Toronto-based standup comedian, writer and podcaster. She can be heard on Sirius XM, The Debaters, and CBC's LOL. Past festival appearances include Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, JFL42 and Hubcap Comedy Festival. You can listen to her debut album Buddy on all major streaming platforms.

GERRY HALL: Gerry Hall is a stand-up comedian from Hamilton, Ontario – and he brings that Steeltown brashness to the stage. After winning a comedy contest with his first ever stand-up set in 2008, Gerry has since developed a reputation for shrewd writing, rapid fire joke telling, and almost always paying his bar tab. 

DAVID GREEN: Known as “The Punniest Comic in Canada”, David Green's infectious energy and witty wordplay have been featured on City TV’s Canada’s Got Talent, at Just For Laughs Toronto and as the headlining act on The Circuit, Canada's first clean comedy tour. 

Reserve your table today and treat yourself to a great night of laughs!

This is a 19+ event and there will be a licensed bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.

Tickets are $25 or reserve a table of 8 for $150.

Doors open at 7pm. Show at 8pm

For more info and details please call 289-668-3425 
Purchase Tickets Here

Join us for another memorable evening of laughs!

Visit www.gardencitycomedyfestival.com  

The Town of Pelham have prepared to provide a safe, yet interactive experiences taking place during Culture Days this year. Culture Days is a Canada-wide celebration that is the largest-ever public participation campaign undertaken by the arts and cultural community in this country. Culture Days features FREE activities that invite the public to participate in interactive arts and culture experiences.

The next national Culture Days will be taking place September 19 through October 12, 2025.
There will be an exhibit highlighting immigration to Niagara pre 1930s from the Welland Museum Exhibit in the Atrium of the Community Centre from Sept 19th to October 13th. 

Mixed Media Magic - Art Workshop
Saturday September 20th from 2pm - 5pm
Kinsmen Room - Meridian Community Centre

Led by Sherry Wilkinson
Workshop is currently full.
Join the Waitlist here
Space is limited.

Let’s create art just for fun and let any stress exit our minds and body! This therapeutic workshop focuses on exploring colour, textures and layering of materials to create an expressive abstract painting in mixed media. The facilitator will gently guide you and offer prompts but ultimately you will follow your own heart in creating a work of art that is yours!

Materials provided will be a stretched canvas, acrylic paints, various drawing pencils and upcycled printed papers.

Whimsical Woven Wall Hanging Workshop
Monday September 22nd from 6pm - 9pm 
Kinsmen Room - Meridian Community Centre
Led by Sherry Wilkinson
Workshop is currently full.
Join the Waitlist here
Space is limited.
Free to attend.

Make your very own organic wall tapestry inspired by and using elements from nature. This fun project speaks to the Bohemian soul in each of us. You will learn how to create your own simple frame loom and plain weave along with some knots. You will explore textures of fabric, twine, sea shells and driftwood to create a beautiful and unique wall hanging that you will be delighted to take home!

Sherry Wilkinson is a multi-disciplinary visual artist. She graduated from Brock University and York University with an Honours Degree in Visual Arts. She taught Fine Arts for 30 years as a District School Board of Niagara secondary school teacher and facilitated workshops for teachers as well as private art lessons throughout Ontario and in Yokohama-Shi Japan. Her artwork exudes a love of colour, textures, expressivity and a mindfulness that upcycled materials not only combat consumerism but can be truly beautiful.

 

The Town of Pelham is hosting activities to recognize the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. For activity schedule and more information, please visit the Day for Truth & Reconciliation webpage.

Writing Workshop
October 1st, 2025 from 7pm-9pm.
Accursi Room - Meridian Community Centre

Led by Yvonne Van Lankveld

Register here
Space is limited.
Free to attend.

Thinking about writing? Maybe a journal, a memoir, some poetry or the next great novel? Come meet a published author who will help you learn the basics of writing and why it makes your brain happy, common mistakes even good writers make and what it takes to get your work published.

In her first career as a Registered Nurse, Yvonne’s writing skills earned her acclaim in many clinical settings and professional journals; however, she never lost her passion for writing fiction. Her two previous novels, The Road to Alright and The Park Street Secrets, focus on human behaviour in the face of adversity.

She has earned two diplomas from Mohawk College, a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Sciences from Brock University, complemented with a Creative Writing certificate.

Yvonne is a past member of the Canadian Authors Association and a four-time reviewer for the Whistler Independent Book Awards. She facilitates programs for both aspiring and seasoned writers. Her favourite role is interviewing best-selling authors for the Lincoln Pelham Public Library’s Books on the Bench events. In 2024, she was honoured with the Library’s Volunteer Peer Award. She also promotes literacy as a member of the Town of Pelham’s Pelham Cultural Advisory Committee.

Yvonne lives in Ridgeville, Ontario, with her husband John.

Painting Workshop
Thursday October 2nd from 5pm - 8pm 
Peace Park (20 Pelham Town Square) - Outside

Led by Danielle Greenwood

Workshop is Full.
Join the waiting list here
Space is limited.

Join Danielle as she guides you step-by-step in painting a landscape on a 16x20 canvas! No experience needed. All supplies provided.

Please note this workshop is outside. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Rain date will be held on Thursday October 9th from 5PM to 8PM.

Drop-in Family Music Time

Thursday October 9th from 10-11am
Kinsmen Room - Meridian Community Centre

Free to attend.

Sing, move and play! Children are introduced to music and movement concepts through songs and games. Together we will explore pitch, tempo, and timbre, learn respect for instruments and each other, and of course, get up and move, move, move. Classes will always have an emphasis on movement and play and have age-appropriate expectations for all children.

This class has a primary focus on ages 3 -6, however younger siblings, from birth, are welcome.

The Jimmy Marando Swing Band was formed in 1965 in Welland, Ontario by Jimmy Marando.
The band is still in 'full swing', bringing the best hits of the 30's through 70's to audiences throughout Niagara and beyond.
They continue to bring back musical memories of days when audiences danced to swing, jazz and classic (ballroom) standards. These include the best of Glen Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Broadway, Latin, and much more. Featuring guest vocalists.

Pelham Big Band Dance Night Featuring the Jimmy Marando Swing Band runs the third* Tuesday of every month in the Accursi Room at the Meridian Community Centre. 

2026 Event Schedule:
January 20
February 17
March 10* (Note the change to the 2nd week of the Month due to March Break)
April 21
May 19
June 16
July 21
August 18
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 15

Free admission

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the band plays from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Donations are welcome for the band.

This event continues to offer free admission with food and beverage available for purchase.

 

Learn more about the band here.

We invite artists of all backgrounds and styles to exhibit their masterpieces and connect with a diverse community of art enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting on your creative journey, our platform welcomes the unique stories and perspectives that each piece of art brings. Share your passion, engage with fellow artists, and let your creativity shine on our welcoming platform. If you would like to display your artwork here at the Meridian Community Centre. Please apply below!

MCC Hallway Application

MCC Atrium Application

Artist Directory

The Town of Pelham has a vast variety of Artist living and working within its borders.

Call for Local Arts Professionals and Facilitators:

The Town of Pelham is creating a local online artist directory. The directory will be utilized for any future opportunities for artists in Pelham.  

In addition, the online directory may be available to the general public to discover local artisans, performers, teachers, art, music, photography, etc.

Artists of all mediums are encouraged to apply to the online directory.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be 18 years or older or have parent/guardian consent.
  • Persons with disabilities, visible minorities and Indigenous artists are encouraged to apply.
  • Applicants must reside in Pelham or have a Pelham based business.
  • All levels of experience and mediums are encouraged to submit an application. 

Terms and Conditions

  • The Town of Pelham is not responsible for any damages that may occur.
  • Information provided will be accessible by the general public.
  • Information provided from this application may be used as part of an online directory.
  • At any point you may request to be removed from the directory.
  • Completion of an annual participant form will be required to maintain up to date information.  

Art & You Inc Arts Centre
Contact: Shauna Daley
809 Poth Street
Fenwick, ON
artandyou1@gmail.com 

Workshops, Lessons, Children/Youth Classes, Open Houses/Tours, Exhibits/Performances 

 

Beverly Sneath
Ridgeville, ON
info@beverlysneath.com 

Paint Nights, Private Group bookings for businesses, families, community groups, Studio viewing by appointments 

Caitlin Miller Music
Fonthill, ON
caitlinmillermusic@gmail.com 

Workshops, Lessons, Children/Youth Classes, Exhibits/Performances

Christina Drummond 
Fonthill, ON
Christinadrummond@me.com

Studio visits, Participation in local shows and exhibitions

Distracted Art Club
Contact: Agata Mancini
Fonthill, ON
agata@assembledlight.com
Distractedartclub.ca
IG: @picturemedistracted, @colourmedistracted

Artist. Photographer. Architect gone rogue.

 

Hungry Hearts Band
Contact: Joseph Minicucci
Fonthill, ON
HungryHeartsBand@gmail.com 

Exhibits/Performances 
Available for festivals, concerts, private and corporate functions.

 

MCLOUDZ LLP
Contact: MC 333
Fonthill, ON
starwalkerrecords@gmail.com 

Musical performances in the area of conscious Hip-hop

Metal Mud Studio
Contact: Ruth Pallek
Fenwick, ON
ruthpallek@gmail.com 

 

Minicucci + Associates Advertising Inc.
Joseph Minicucci
Fonthill, ON
905-401-2998
info@minicucci.ca

Advertising, marketing and graphic design services for printing, signage, outdoor advertising, magazine and newspaper, web design, digital platforms and video production.

Neva Greig
Fenwick, ON
nevagreig@gmail.com

Abstract and nature themed multi media artist.
Open Houses/Tours

Nimea Ariana
Ridgeville, ON
hello@nimeaariana.com 

Visual Art & Design
Painting, Writing, Drawing, Sculpture and Textiles

Pelham Art Association
Meridian Community Centre
100 Meridian Way, Fonthill
Contact: Lynette Sanders
pelhamartassociation@gmail.com

Monthly painting classes and workshops: Watercolour and Acrylic, beginner to advanced.

Workshops, Lessons, Open Houses/Tours, Exhibits/Performances

Pelham Street Combo
Contact: Mason De Fazio
Fonthill, ON
mason.defazio@cogeco.ca

Live Music. From smooth swing to toe-tapping funk, their music will create an unforgettable experience for any atmosphere!

Stubborn Skull Fantastical Art
Contact: Kelly Yatulis
Fonthill, ON
kmyatulis@gmail.com 

Open Houses/Tours, Exhibits/Performances

Sue Swartzenburg
Fenwick, ON
sue.swartzenburg@gmail.com 

 

Vinyl Flux
Contact: Joseph Minicucci
Fonthill, ON
info@vinylflux.ca 

Exhibits/Performances 
Available for an outstanding classic rock musical and audience experience for festivals, concerts, private and corporate functions.

Past Programming with SAY IT! on Stage.

SAY IT! on Stage - Seniors and Youth Intergenerational Theatre On Stage

SAY IT! On Stage 
Seniors and Youth Intergenerational Theatre
www.sayitonstage.com

2019-2023

 

SAY IT! On Stage. “SAY IT” stands for “Seniors and Youth Intergenerational Theatre”.

It is a program designed to strengthen connections and encourage collaboration between teens and their elders. The Town of Pelham, students from E.L. Crossley High School, and community volunteers will be apart of this exciting creative process that will finish in the performance of an original dramatic production. Performance Dates and delivery change with each production. 

Through intergenerational conversation circles, senior participants will have the opportunity to share anecdotes and experiences from their lives; these stories will provide the foundation for a play that will be produced and performed by both youth and senior participants.

This initiative also seeks to showcase the broad range of talents and passions individuals bring to the project – music, dance, visual arts, crafts, trades. Our aim is to involve the community of Pelham in all of its diversity, including Indigenous presence and storytelling approaches.

We hope you will join us in this artistic endeavour.

  Goals of the Project: 

  • To provide opportunities for seniors to share their life stories
  • To validate and celebrate the life experiences of seniors within our community
  • To foster connections between seniors and youth through storytelling and drama activities
  • To encourage collaboration between high school students and seniors as they create, rehearse, and perform community theatre
  • To offer co-op placement and community involvement opportunities for high school students
  • To enrich cultural life for all residents of Pelham with a new performance arts initiative

2023 Project - Roundabout Now

Discover the live-on-stage community theatre performance of "Roundabout Now". Free to attend, limited seating available.

Imagine if you could meet your younger self. Would you still be able to relate to how you saw the world then, and what you hoped for your future? Come share in our magical mystery tour of a show. We'll take you to the past and to the future. But, don't worry. We'll bring you back to the present day before our carnival draws to a close. Or, at least you'll end up somewhere Roundabout Now.

The Roundabout Now performance is made possible through the generous support of Help Age Canada. 

A special thank you to the team of students from Niagara College who assisted in capturing the performance. 

2022 Performance - Stories Found

Live On-stage Performance - Nov 5 & 6, 2022

Meridian Community Centre (MCC)

Link to the Live Recording of Stories Found - November 5 2022 

SAY IT! On Stage. “SAY IT” stands for Seniors and Youth Intergenerational Theatre. The program creates connections and encourages collaboration between people of all ages and circumstances. Through intergenerational conversation circles, participants share experiences from their lives; these stories provide the foundation for the live on-stage performance of "Stories Found." 

"A little antique and curiosity shop in a small town holds a multitude of memories. Step through the door with us. Precious moments from people’s lives will be experienced anew, rediscovered through objects that call them to mind. The value of material possessions cannot always be measured in dollars and cents. What really counts is the richness of the experiences that they represent. Stuff is the stories that we are made of."
"Unearthed" An Original Radio Play (2020-2021 Project)
The second season of SAY IT! On Stage had us exploring new ways to be creative and stay connected. No longer able to meet in person, we have congregated in Zoom rooms, experimenting with a hybrid theatre art: old-time radio plays performed on a videoconferencing app of our own technological age. The project is as intergenerational as the participants!
After months of meeting weekly to read through vintage scripts, we set to work creating a radio play of our own. Rehearsing from a living document in a virtual venue had its challenges, but neither unstable internet connections nor endless electronic versions of a monster draft document could deter us. 

With all the safety precautions, and when restrictions allowed, the group was able to record all of the performers' voices. When all the scenes had been read through and each sound effect included, the editing began! The final result is the radio play..."Unearthed"

Contact Us

Town of Pelham
20 Pelham Town Square
P.O. Box 400
Fonthill ON L0S 1E0

905-892-2607 

Email Us

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