Kids' Fashion Workshop
Where young designers bring their wildest costume ideas to life!
This Kids' Fashion Workshop, where young designers bring their wildest costume ideas to life, took place for the second year as part of Picton Fashion Week 2026!
Sunday, June 1, 1–4 PM
DOI Studio, lower level of the Armoury, Picton
FREE! No registration needed, kids under 12 must bring an adult
Sponsored by Experience Picton and Picton Fashion Week
Safer Spaces with Myles Sexton
Learn how to build more inclusive spaces. May 20th, 2026.
Learn how to build safer, more inclusive spaces for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In this training, Myles will guide everyone through diversity and inclusion training covering topics like pronoun use, and the difference between gender identity and sexuality as well as breaking down the meaning and history of what 2SLGBTQIA+ means. We will also go through easy ways you can make changes within your business or organization to make it a safer environment for everyone!
Myles does all this through storytelling, creating a safe space for everyone to ask uncomfortable questions and teaching from their lived experience as a sober HIV-positive non-binary person.
Wednesday, May 20, 6 PM - 7:30 PM
DOI Studio, Lower level of the Armoury, Picton
FREE! Register HERE.
Society of Stitchers 2026
An embroidery club gathering for community, craft and the love of stitching. Led by Nella Casson.
A galaxy of patches! Thank you for all these small but mighty contributions to @societyofstitcherspec this year! I can’t wait to add these to the quilt!
This program has concluded for 2026. Watch out for it again in the winter months of 2027. 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. We’ll also be hosting some guest speakers to spark our creativity! No experience required and all are welcome; kids, too!
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. This program has concluded for 2026
A special thank you to our Society of Stitchers Sponsors!
Delhi Then & Now
Learn about Picton’s oldest neighbourhood & how a new vision for Delhi Park will shape its future
You are invited “over Delhi” (as the saying goes) on Saturday, February 21 at 2 pm, to learn about the origins and development of Picton’s oldest neighbourhood, and how a new vision for Delhi Park will shape the future of Picton. First, we’ll gather in the old church at Macaulay Heritage Park for presentations and refreshments. Then join with The Department of Illumination and The Aurora Borealis Community Choir in a procession to Delhi Park, to light up the park with sound and colour!
$15 + fees in advance through Ticketscene or $20 cash at the door or PWYC.
This event is part of Flashback February presented by PEC Heritage Conservancy and Friends of Delhi Park and made possible thanks to funding from The Picton BIA.
Mask Making
Learn how to make your very own mask with our Artistic Director Krista Dalby
This workshop has concluded, 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.
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!
Annual Tree Lighting
Bring your festive cheer!
An tradition we look forward to every year! Decorating the tree and celebrating its lighting at the Picton cenotaph. We sing carols with the ABC Choir, enjoy be free cookies and hot chocolate, and facilitate the sharing of free books from County Kids Read!
Wear a Santa hat and bring your festive cheer!
Tree lighting at 5 PM sharp!
Thank you to the Picton BIA and Dan Claxton Electric for supporting us in this annual tradition!
Firelight Lantern Festival 2025
A cherished Prince Edward County tradition. Two magical evenings of arts and music, November 7 & 8, 2025.
13th annual Firelight Lantern Festival
November 7 & 8, 2025 ~ Crystal Palace, Picton
Wow! Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our 13th Firelight Lantern festival!
Those who volunteered, attended lantern workshops, came out in their PLAYful looks and our incredible sponsors! Thank you all for your contributions and support.
This weekend was perfect! From the breathtaking performances in Benson Park with the Aurora Borealis Community Choir to the mesmerizing fire show by @northfirecircus , and the electric vibes on the dance floor in harmony with the incredible @mysonthehurricane … every moment was filled with wonder and warmth.
Watching the lanterns light up the night alongside incredible music and fiery artistry was unforgettable.
Here’s to a weekend that brought our community together in a celebration of creativity, light, and connection.
We can’t wait for the next one!
Video by @storiedmarketing
The Department of Illumination lit up the night with The Firelight Lantern Festival, a cherished Prince Edward County tradition since 2013. Two magical evenings of arts and music unfolded at the Crystal Palace in Picton, Ontario. November 7 & 8, 2025. Friday night’s musical headliner was DJ LeeLee Mishi and Saturday night’s headliner was My Son The Hurricane!
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
10x10 Show
The biggest show of small art!
It's the biggest show of small art in the County! The fourth annual 10 x 10 art show and fundraiser took place at the County Arts Lab in the Armoury, from Thursday November 13 and ran until November 22. All works were for sale for $110 plus HST. Sales are divided between the DOI ($60), County Arts ($20) and artists may receive $30 or donate their portion to the DOI.
Lit Up: Oeno after Dark
An illuminated wonderland with over 40 sculptures lit against the night sky!
This Thanksgiving weekend, join us for LIT UP: Oeno After Dark On October 11th, Oeno Gallery’s Sculpture Garden transforms into a 3-acre illuminated wonderland with over 40 sculptures lit against the night sky Wander winding paths as firecones blaze, sculptures shine, and performances fill the air with sound and magic Powered by The Department of Illumination, we’re deLIGHTed to present our ABC Choir, and you can also take in performances from North Fire Circus, interactive percussion by Jesse Stewart, and pioneering electric violinist Dr. Draw. Tickets on sale now!
Play Dolls With Us
Help us stitch doll clothes for an installation at The Firelight Lantern Festival
Like playing with dolls? Join The Department of Illumination at the Picton Town Hall Farmers Market on Sunday October 19 from 9 AM to 2 PM and help us stitch doll clothes for an installation at The Firelight Lantern Festival. Doll hair stylists also welcome! This is part of Common Grounds PEC, a pop-up residency program that invites artists, performers, writers, and cultural workers to engage with our community at the Picton Farmers Market.
Houndoween
Dogs and their humans are invited to dress in costume and join us for an adorable mini-parade!
You all loved our weird & wonderful Houndoween event last year, so we're bringing it back! Dogs and their humans are invited to dress in costume and join us on Saturday October 25. Gather at the Giant Tiger parking lot in Picton at 3:45; at 4 PM we will have an adorable mini-parade on Main Street to Benson Park, where the Picton Recreation Committee is having a costume celebration and a pre-carved pumpkin contest. And yes, there will be prizes for canines and their humans.
Photo: Logan Somers
Boxtopia at The Picton Fair
Join us for another edition of Boxtopia (our creative cardboard kingdom for kids) at the Picton Fair! We'll be there Saturday September 6 from 10-5, and Sunday September 7 from 10-3. Stop in for a while and get creative with us as we build our own cardboard fair within the Picton Fair! Free! Thank you to Base31 and Chestnut Park for sponsoring Boxtopia.
WHEN: Saturday September 6 from 10-5, and Sunday September 7 from 10-3
WHERE:The Picton Fairgrounds
Zucchini 500
Make a zucchini race car and challenge your friends to a race!
Our inaugural Zucchini 500 races took place in September 2025 Taste! Community Grown. Participants made zucchini race cars and challenged their friends to a race down the track!
We'd love to bring the Zucchini 500 to your special event - get in touch for more information.
Quilting the Progression of Queer Rights in Canada
Join exceptional artist and activist Bill Stearman for a talk about this incredible project!
We're so honoured to have exceptional artist and activist Bill Stearman on our Board of Directors. Bill recently spent ten weeks travelling Canada speaking with quilt groups and Queer groups about 'quiltivism,' teaching workshops and interviewing Queer seniors about their lives during decades of significant change in Queer rights. On September 14 at 7 PM Bill will be giving a talk at The Andrew about this incredible project, with admission by donation to The Department of Illumination. This is bound to be a fascinating presentation, please join us! We'll be accepting donations by cash, cheque, debit or credit.
WHEN: September 14 at 7 PM
WHERE: The Andrew, Picton
The Delhi Park Pageant 2025
An original pageant written, scored and performed by our local creative community. A smashing success!
The Delhi Park Pageant was the culmination of our residency in the park in the Summer of 2025. Together, our cast and crew of 50+ people told the story of the park through story and song. It was a magical love letter to Picton’s green gem and was presented on August 23, 2025, to a crowd of upwards of 400 people. Due to enthusiastic demand, we will be remounting the pageant in 2026!
WRITER, DIRECTOR, DESIGNER Krista Dalby
STAGE MANAGER Carla McCormick
PROJECT COORDINATOR Hri Neil
Kanyen’kehá:ka perspective Erica Gray
CHOREOGRAPHER Allison Nichol
CHOREOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT Jocelyn Wattam
COMPOSERS & MUSICIANS Lisa Bozikovic & Annelise Noronha
CHOIR DIRECTOR & MUSICIAN Sam Hirst
DRUMS Heather Kirby
PRE-SHOW MUSIC Matthew Doc Dunn
PROPS & COSTUMES
Nella Casson
Tomas Del Balso
Bear Epp
Susanne Larner
Andrea Piller
Tim Snyder
Jan Swaren
WARDEN OF THE WILDS Stephanie Rose
KEEPERS
Eloise Bergeron
Frank Hannan
Sharon Hart
Ryan Henderson
Catalin Ivan
Angela Lavender
Sarah Selecky
Emmylou Warner
CHOIR
Andrea Dawes
Janet Jephcott
John Lai
Sally McCubbin
Stacey Michener
Keri Nelson
Galen Newman
Jessica Pelchat
Jess Posgate
Lois Russell
Melissa Warren
THE RACCOONS Pierre Bouchard, Kat Burns
THE DOGS Lenny Epstein & Gavin North
THE SQUIRRELS Emberly Doherty, Beth Easton, Artemus Emu, Barbara Leitermanar
THE DEAD Thom Harrison & Nancy Kish
DRAGONFLIES
Elora Faircloth
Hazel Faircloth
Joni Greig
Alice Hanmer
Rumi Hobbs
River Keast
Eden Vreugdenhil
THANK YOU
Christine Renaud
County of Prince Edward
Feral Folc
PECIsh
Picton Home Hardware
PEC Field Naturalists
South Shore Joint Initiative
All our volunteers
Photos by Michelle Beaudette
The Delhi Park Pageant is SUPPORTED BY
Be a Swiftie
Join us for a free presentation from Prince Edward County Field Naturalists about the fascinating chimney swift.
Attention nature lovers! Join us in Picton's Benson Park Sunday July 27 at 7 PM for a presentation from Prince Edward County Field Naturalists about the fascinating chimney swift. Learn why they fly from the moment they wake up until they go to sleep, why they roost in chimneys, and what conservation efforts are being made to save this species-at-risk. Following the short presentation, we'll take a walk to look at some nearby chimneys to see if we can observe some swifts in flight. This is a free all-ages event presented by PECFN and The Department of Illumination.
MDD & TDB Performance with Community Picnic
Experience a special improvised performance by these two independent County musicians!
Attention live music lovers! Join us in Delhi Park Saturday August 2 from 4:30 - 6:30 for a special improvised performance by local independent musicians Matt Doc Dunn and Tomas Del Balso, as well as a community picnic with free food provided by Greater Than County Youth Collective. All are welcome!
WHEN: Saturday August 2, 4:30-6:30pm
WHERE: Delhi Park, Picton - across from the community gardens; if driving, use Lalor St entrance.
Sandwich Spirits and Community Picnic
Get your jam on with these exceptional local musicians!
Attention jam band lovers! Join us in Delhi Park Saturday August 9 from 4:30 - 6:30 for a live performance by Sandwich Spirits, featuring: Alexandra Bell, Nathan Mahaffy, and Ian McKendry, as well as a community picnic with free food provided by Greater Than County Youth Collective. All are welcome!
WHEN: Saturday August 9, 4:30-6:30pm
WHERE: Delhi Park, Picton - across from the community gardens; if driving, use Lalor St entrance.
The Delhi Park Project
A weekly art activation in Delhi Park with a community pageant finale.
This project took place from May 17 to August 9, 2025, we set up our mobile studio in Picton’s Delhi Park three days a week, offering free drop-in workshops centered on collaborative art-making and nature appreciation, with a community picnic every Saturday from 4:30-6:30
Delhi Park is a 31-acre green space in the heart of Picton, and a stone’s throw from The Department of Illumination studio. Starting in the spring of 2025 the DOI began our self-appointed artist residency in the park, inviting the community to join us as we explored the flora and fauna, as well as the natural and human history of this place, seeking to deepen our knowledge and find its hidden magic. From May 17 through August, we spent three days a week in the park, offering a mix of free drop-in workshops centered on collaborative art-making. The art we created was inspired by the place itself and shaped by the participants and the professional artists leading the process. We wove these elements together to create a large-scale community pageant that tells the story of this beautiful public space. The Delhi Pageant was presented for free on August 23, 2025 and will be remounted in August of 2026. Watch this space for updates, or sign up for our newsletter.
SUPPORTED BY:
John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation
THE ELDERBERRY FUND
PEC Field Naturalists Visit and Community Picnic with DJ Avery Hone
Saturday June 21st, 11:30am-6:30pm
Join The Department of Illumination from 11:30-4:30 PM as we work on crafting elements for the Delhi Park Project. PEC Field Naturalists will be joining us at 3pm to do their nature grid check-in with us. Bring some snacks and stay for our community picnic with a live performance by DJ Avery Hone from 4:30-6:30; we've got plenty of picnic blankets as well as chairs and tables - let's hang out! All are Welcome!
WHEN: Saturday July 19, 11:30-6:30 (picnic: 4:30-6:30pm)
WHERE: Delhi Park, Picton - across from the community gardens; if driving, use Lalor St entrance.