Society of Stitchers
An embroidery club gathering for community, craft and the love of stitching. Led by Nella Casson.
Join The Society of Stitchers! SOS is our annual winter embroidery club led by artist Nella Casson, where we open up our magical studio for the community to gather and get creative. No experience required and all are welcome; kids, too!
Our theme this year is THE FUTURE, and we’ll be working together to create a collaborative quilt exploring our hopes, ideas and tools to shape a softer future. We’ll also be hosting some guest speakers to spark our creativity!
DATES: January 26 to March 4, Mondays & Wednesdays from 5-7 PM
Your registration fee includes 12 sessions, all supplies & instruction, snacks & tea, and all the good vibes you can handle! Come to as many or as few sessions as you’d like.
PRICE: $45 + HST = $50.85 (that’s just $4.23 per session!) If this price is a hardship for you, please pay what you can. If you would like to “pay it forward” for another participant to take part at a reduced cost, please indicate at time of payment.
TO REGISTER: etransfer krista@deptofillumination.org
LOCATION: The Department of Illumination Studio: lower level of the Armoury, 206 Main St. Picton. Enter via rear doors on Mary St. near Luso Bites.
A special thank you to our Society of Stitchers Sponsors!
Springfest
Food, Games, Fun!
We had to cancel this year’s Winterfest due to icy conditions in the park, so we now present you with SPRINGFEST! This FREE afternoon of outdoor fun will take place at Macaulay Village Park on the Heights, and all are welcome at this all-ages community celebration. The afternoon will include free lunch with chili on the menu, plus hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows for sweet treats. County Kids Read will be distributing free books for children, there will be a performance from the ABC Choir, and an assortment of fun and games by The Department of Illumination and Baxter Arts Centre.
Macaulay Village Park, 26 London Avenue, Picton, Ontario
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Base31, Dunrose Distribution, Picton Recreation Committee, Wellington Home Hardware and the Prince Edward County Lions Club.
ABC Choir
A fun and casual choir for those who love singing. Choir director Sam Hirst.
You're invited to join the Aurora Borealis Community Choir!
Directed by Sam Hirst, we are a fun and casual choir that meets regularly for the love of singing together. Rehearsals take place at The Department of Illumination studio in Picton, and we perform throughout the year at community events. All are welcome, regardless of age or experience; you don't need to know how to read music and can join at any time.
Choir membership is $35 including HST for the year (September through spring).
If this price is a hardship for you, please pay what you can. If you would like to “pay it forward” for another participant to take part at a reduced cost, please indicate at time of payment.
To register, etransfer $35 to krista@deptofillumination.org
For more information contact abcchoir@deptofillumination.org
Mask Making
Learn how to make your very own mask with our Artistic Director Krista Dalby
This workshop has sold out, we hope to offer it again in the future, stay tuned!
Make your very own large-scale mask over the course of three workshops led by Artistic Director Krista Dalby. You'll be introduced to a variety of materials and techniques, and you'll create a dramatic mask of your own design. Think BIG! Think WEIRD! This workshop is for adults and youth aged 15+, no prior experience required. Workshops take place at the magical DOI studio in Picton.
You’ll walk away with a unique mask ready for parades, festivals, or display in your home. The techniques that you’ll learn are scalable to create everything from small sculptures to giant puppets. Krista has more than 20 years experience working with simple materials to create imaginative creatures large and small.
Saturday March 14 - 10 AM to 4 PM
Saturday March 21 - 10 AM to 4 PM
Saturday March 28 - 10 AM to 4 PM
Price: $150 + HST, includes all materials and instruction.
DAY 1: Introduction to various mask-making techniques. You’ll learn how to do a “quick sculpt” using cardboard and other recycled materials and found objects. You’ll be guided through a design process and launch into making!
DAY 2: Finish sculpting and papier mâché
DAY 3: Painting and finishing, then… PHOTO SHOOT!
Firelight Lantern Festival
A cherished Prince Edward County tradition since 2013. Two magical evenings of arts and music.
The Department of Illumination lights up the night with The Firelight Lantern Festival, a cherished Prince Edward County tradition since 2013. Two magical evenings of arts and music will unfold at the Crystal Palace in Picton, Ontario. November 6 & 7, 2026 Save the date!
The Firelight Lantern Festival draws inspiration from traditions of many lantern festivals throughout the world which use light as a symbol to bring people together. The timing of our festival in mid-November coincides with the European tradition of Martinmas which originated in France in honour of St. Martin, a friend of children and patron of the poor. Martinmas is celebrated throughout Europe, its signature being children’s lantern processions. As fall ends and the darkness of winter descends upon us it is easy to feel isolated, especially living in a rural community. Our festival acts as a beacon to encourage our residents, both adults and children, to conjure their own light, bringing it into their hearts and homes to sustain them through the darkness. Making a lantern is a literal application of this metaphor, but in gathering people together to make lanterns in town halls, schools and living rooms, our camaraderie grows and we feel the warm glow of making beautiful things with our hands alongside friends and neighbours.
2025 EDITION SUPPORTED BY
The Art Kitchen
A free weekly drop-in for artistic expression, healthy snacks and feel-good community vibes.
Macaulay Village Park
This program has concluded for 2025. The Art Kitchen is a free weekly drop-in artmaking group at Macaulay Village Park on London Avenue, Picton (The Heights). Creative expression, healthy snacks and feel-good community vibes. Plus free books from County Kids Read! Bring a creative project to work on or make use of our art supplies. Don’t know what to work on? Our team of artists are happy to help guide you through a project. This is an all-ages group, kids and teens most welcome!
