City of Windsor Annual Birthday Celebration

Each year, we celebrate the City of Windsor's birthday with an exciting party! This is an opportunity to join in some free family fun and celebrate Windsor alongside citizens from all across the city. 

The City of Windsor marks its 132nd anniversary of incorporation in 2024, and everyone is invited to celebrate at a free community event packed with fun for the entire family. This year, we’re inviting you to Explore Your City with a day of family-friendly fun all across Windsor! Join us as we explore, discover and celebrate our incredible community!

The City of Windsor’s 132nd Birthday Party will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in a new venue alongside Meet-A-Machine outside of the WFCU Centre (8787 McHugh Street)! Other opportunities to Explore Your City include free admission to Art Windsor-Essex and Museum Windsor, fun and free activities at City of Windsor community centres, and so much more!

Windsor 132nd Birthday Celebration 

10:30 a.m. outside the WFCU Centre, in partnership with Meet-A-Machine

Mayor Drew Dilkens will welcome the community to the annual birthday party in its new location alongside Meet-A-Machine. The party will include free birthday cupcakes (while supplies last), entertainment on the ShowMobile outdoor stage, family-friendly activities, and much more!

Entertainment and Other Information (times are approximate):

• 9 a.m. Meet-A-Machine Sensory-Friendly Hour (registration required for Sensory-Friendly Hour only)
• 10 a.m. Meet-A-Machine and Birthday Celebration open
• 10:30 a.m. Birthday Celebration on-stage entertainment begins with welcome and introductions on stage
• 10:40 a.m. Welcome remarks from Mayor Drew Dilkens
• 10:45 a.m. Special presentations and performances
• 11:00 a.m. Singing of Happy Birthday; Mayor Drew Dilkens cuts the City of Windsor's 132nd Birthday Cake
• 11:05 a.m. Mayor Drew Dilkens helps hand out free cupcakes (while supplies last)
• 11:10 a.m. Performances from local musicians, cultural groups and entertainers
• 1:45 p.m. Closing remarks and end of Birthday Celebration
• 2 p.m. Meet-A-Machine closes

Other Activities:

• Explore Your City Scavenger Hunt
• Free cupcakes from Sweet Revenge Bakery
• Spin Art Bike
• Special appearance fromOptimus Robot
• Opportunities to “meet” an amazing array of machines and their operators at Meet-A-Machine, from firetrucks to Grand Prix race cars to buses and beyond! Learn more about Meet-a-Machine. 
• Literacy activities and free activity books
• KidZone with games and activities just for the little ones
• Free children's train rides
• AM800 CKLW
• Hot dogs served up by Optimist Club in support of Optimist international
• And much more!

Explore Your City: A Community-Wide Celebration

Opportunities to explore various landmarks and attractions across the city and downtown include:

Free Admission at Chimczuk Museum and Art Windsor-Essex (AWE)

Both Museum Windsor's Chimczuk Museum and the Art Windsor-Essex (AWE) gallery spaces offer free admission on June 8, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Browse the permanent exhibitions, children's gallery and learning space, and visit the gift shop packed with locally made goods!

Free Activities at City of Windsor Community Centres

Explore Your City coincides with Recreation & Parks Month at the City of Windsor! Our community centres are celebrating throughout June, with daily activities to be enjoyed by all. Learn more about Recreation & Parks Month

WIFF Under the Stars

Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) Under the Stars will be returning to Downtown Windsor for a weekend of free outdoor community screenings. Hosted at a green space outside of the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre Presented by WFCU Credit Union and Art Windsor-Essex (401 Riverside Drive West), WIFF will be screening a variety of family classics, blockbuster hits and new Canadian titles. The event will run from June 7 to 9, 2024. WIFF Under the Stars 2024 is proudly supported by the University of Windsor Graduate Student Society and the Odette-Kaye Family Foundation.

Explore Your City Passport

There is so much to celebrate in the city of Windsor! Download a Print-at-Home Explore Your City Passport or pick one up at the City of Windsor Birthday Celebration or a City of Windsor community centre and keep track of all there is to explore!

Explorers who visit at least two of the listed activities and submit their Explore Your City Passport at any City of Windsor community centre by July 1, 2024, will be entered into a draw to win a Celebration Prize Basket!

Previous City of Windsor Birthday Celebrations

• 2023 - City of Windsor's 131st Birthday Celebration. Sunday, June 11, 2023
• 2022 - City of Windsor's 130th Birthday Celebration. Saturday, May 21, 2022. 
• 2018 - City of Windsor's 126th Birthday Celebration. Saturday. May 26, 2018. 12th Annual Mayor's Walk
• 2017 - City of Windsor 125th Birthday Celebration. Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20, 2017. 11th Annual Mayor's Walk 
• 2016 - City of Windsor 124th Birthday Celebration. Monday, May 23, 2016. 10th Annual Mayor's Walk
• 2015 - City of Windsor 123rd Birthday Celebration. Monday, May 18, 2015. 9th Annual Mayor's Walk