The doors will be open for Doors Open in Owen Sound.
The annual event will go ahead this year after City Council overturned a decision to hold Doors Open in 2013 and continue every two years.
Council initially accepted a report by the Community Planning and Heritage Advisory committee that pointed to declining numbers and a lack of volunteers.
But councillors changed their minds after hearing on Monday night from the operators of two longtime participating sites — Central Westside United Church and the Highland Manor Bed and Breakfast.
Reverend David Shearman says Doors Open is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Owen Sound to itself as well as to visitors from out of town and outside the area.
Paul Neville of the Highland Manor B&B says the audience for Doors Open is constantly evolving as more and more people take an interest in the history of the community.
He also says there are opportunities to combine this event with a more assertive economic development push that could end up bringing entrepreneurs to Owen Sound.
Visitors this past year came from as far away as the United Kingdom and Germany.
Council heard the cost for Owen Sound to participate is minimal — less than 3 thousand dollars — including a 17 hundred dollar provincial registration fee.
And that fee covers a one page listing in a guide that was distributed to visitors centres across Ontario and inserted in the Globe and Mail.
Sponsorships worth 18 hundred dollars also helped offset much of that expense.
The lower attendance numbers this year may have been skewed due to a number of factors — including the economy, heavy rain and a power outage.
As for volunteers, the proponents suggested asking high school students who need to complete community service hours.
