A long-standing fundraiser in Chatham is set to make its in-person return after three years of pandemic-forced festivals.
Chatham-Kent's Festival of Giving will celebrate two decades of helping the community on June 3 at Sons of Kent Brewing Company.
The fundraiser, sponsored by TekSavvy, will have a "Retro Rewind!" theme this year.
The event took place virtually for three years during the pandemic, with last year’s festival and online auction raising $160,800.
Earlier this year, the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation of Chatham-Kent announced it would be rebranding its fundraising events and that the Festival of Giving would change hands.
TekSavvy's Chief Operating Officer Pierre Aube said his organization is pleased to be involved.
"TekSavvy believes in building and supporting healthy communities," Aube said in a release. "We’re proud to continue our partnership with Festival of Giving and all of the organizations that stand to benefit from this event."
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff originally came up with the idea for the festival, which started in a church basement.
Once it outgrew the church, it moved to the former Kinsmen Auditorium, then the John D. Bradley Convention Centre, before coming to Sons of Kent.
Past themes have included backyard bash, wide world of sports, and British invasion.
"We’re so excited to host the 20th annual Festival of Giving," said Tim Regan, who is the festival co-chair. "An event that started in a church basement grew to be one of the biggest yearly events in the municipality and is alive and well."
This year's entertainment and special guests will be announced in the near future. Tickets are expected to be available before the end of March.
Any interested sponsors can reach out to Regan, or other co-chair Chris McLeod, through email at tim@festivalofgiving.ca or chris@festivalofgiving.ca
For more information go to FestivalofGiving.ca