Tonight’s opening ceremonies for the 47th International Children’s Games is sold out, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on what is being billed as an artistic multi-faceted spectacle showcasing Windsor-Essex culture and talent.

The entire event will be broadcast live on TVCogeco, channel 11 on local cable, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 15, and repeated at 1 and 8 p.m. August 16, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. August 17, and 7 p.m. Monday, August 19.

The public is also invited to the Riverfront Festival Plaza on Friday, August 16, for Passport to the World—a free event to meet the athletes and share food and cultural performances. Food vendors will represent a number of world cuisines, including Mexican, Filipino, Croatian, Greek and Japanese. Hosted by the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County, it runs 6 to 11 p.m.

The Games’ closing ceremonies, also free to the public, will take place in the Festival Plaza on Sunday, August 18, starting at 7 p.m. Besides the ceremonial lowering of the flag and extinguishing of the Games flame, the evening will feature a fireworks show and entertainment by UWindsor grad, DJ Josh Karmin.

Finally, the competitions themselves are free and open to the public, including athletics events in the south campus stadium and basketball in the St. Denis fieldhouse. Find more information and a full timetable of all the sports on the International Children’s Games website.