A street festival to mark the start of Juno weekend in London next month will be the first event ever to take place on Dundas Place.
Fanshawe College announced on Friday it has partnered with the city's first flexible street to host Fanshawe Live: Dundas Place, a celebration of Canadian music on March 15. The street festival will see the completed portion of Dundas Street, between Ridout and Richmond streets, closed to vehicle traffic from noon to 6 p.m. that day.
Billed as a family-friendly celebration, the event will include live performances by Fanshawe Music Industry Arts students and graduates and Juno inspired culinary dishes crafted at The Chef’s Table, the college’s teaching restaurant.
Featured appetizers prepared by the culinary program's students will be available for a $2 donation to MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
“We are excited to showcase Fanshawe’s new downtown campus and our talented students, staff and alumni,” Fanshawe Executive Director of Reputation and Brand Management Dave Schwartz said in a statement. “Hosting the JUNO Awards in London is an incredible opportunity for our city and Fanshawe is going to welcome all attendees in style.”
The six-hour event is free for everyone to attend. It begins with a performance by Juno award-winning children's act, Splash'N Boots. It is among several events throughout the city that will lead up to the Juno Awards, which will be handed out at Budweiser Gardens on March 17.
Construction on the first phase of Dundas Place, a curbless, flex-street that can be closed to vehicle traffic throughout the year for festivals and special events, was completed last year. The second phase of the $16 million project will begin later this year.
“Working with Fanshawe on this event is just the beginning of what we can do on Dundas Place. Having the students and staff in our neighbourhood add such vibrancy and Fanshawe Live: Dundas Place will really showcase that,” said Savanah Sewell, manager of Dundas Place.