Discovering what the promenade has to offer

George Le Gresley

Paris Independent Contributor 

I'll admit it — I never really felt motivated to visit the Promenade.

Like many people, I've driven past it countless times on my way out of town but my concentration is always on keeping pace with the car in front of me.

That changed last Monday.

I attended one of the "Concerts on the Promenade," featuring singer and harpist Lisa Warren of Stoney Creek. My motivation? Lisa happens to be my goddaughter.

Years ago, Lisa decided she wanted to learn the harp. With surprisingly few formal lessons, she developed into an accomplished musician, eventually recording original meditative music that can now be found on YouTube and Spotify. 

If you've ever relaxed to calming harp music at a spa, there's a good chance you've heard something similar to Lisa's work. Today, she performs at weddings, private events and public concerts, blending new age, pop, adult contemporary, children's music and her own original compositions into performances that are both relaxing and engaging.

If you're curious, search "Lisa Warren Music" on your favourite streaming platform.

But the concert also introduced me to something else — the Promenade itself.

I realized the concerts are only one part of a much larger lineup of activities taking place throughout the summer. Music Mondays bring live entertainment downtown, while Wellness Wednesdays feature yoga and Zumba. There's line dancing, and even "Adult Recess," designed to remind us that having fun isn't something we should leave behind with childhood.

Whether you're looking for live music, a little exercise, or simply an excuse to spend some time downtown, there really is something for everyone.

Sometimes it takes a personal reason to discover what's been happening in your own backyard. To learn more about upcoming Promenade activities, visit https://www.brant.ca/news-and-project-updates/the-downtown-dig/downtown-paris-promenade/