Harrow Open Streets event welcomes fall

by Essex Free Press Staff

Photos from Car Show, submitted

There was plenty to see, do, and many businesses to support during the fall edition of the Harrow Open Streets event, which was hosted along King Street last Friday evening.

The Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce hosts the Harrow Open Streets twice annually – once at the start of summer and the other towards the end – to bring people to the downtown area, and bring awareness to the businesses. Those are the businesses that are located in the downtown area, in addition to those home-based and vendor businesses that set-up booths to connect with the community.

With the street closed to vehicular traffic, visitors shopped at around 40 vendor booths or in the existing brick-and-mortar shops, while they were able to appreciate live acoustic rock music and a magician, who entertained right in the street.

The Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce is always pleased to host the event, and bring attention to downtown Harrow. Members are happy to welcome the many visitors who come out to show their support.

During the spring Harrow Open Streets, the very first car show hosted in memory of Harrow resident Jake Bezaire took place. He had a passion for classic cars, and thoroughly looked forward to attending car shows.

His mom, Dawn Bezaire, noted then she wanted a way to remember her son and spread the joy he had for car shows, while also raising funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association, after his passing last September at the age of 21. In total, the car show last June raised $1200 for the Canadian Mental Health Association. She also hoped to use the event to raise awareness that June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Friday night’s event included the Harrow Open Streets 2026 Car Show, which presented memorial awards in Bezaire’s honour. Last Friday’s car show was held to bring awareness to September as Suicide Prevention Month.

Bob Myers of Gesto showed off his ‘56 Crown Victoria in the car show. He bought it when it was two-years-old. At the time, he had just started with the Essex Farmers and needed a set of wheels to call his own. When this car was presented to him as an option, he jumped at the opportunity.

He has owned the first car he ever bought ever since, around 67-years.

The Crown Victoria came off the road in 1966 and remained untouched until he began to restore it with his daughter in 2004. Four-years later, the car was road ready once again, and has been ever since.

This car has a lot of sentimental value for Myers. Not only did he restore it with the help of his daughter, he started dating his wife when he drove the vehicle in those early years. He even asked her to marry him in that car, and she said “yes.”

After its restoration, Myers was able to take his wife for rides in the car before her passing. Her nickname was “Miss Fille” and it is adorned across the dashboard in her honour.