Holiday spirit: Seven things to do this weekend in the Hamilton area
Oh how happy you've made some weekend plans!
It looks like we are expecting cloudy skies and temperatures above zero over the weekend so no outdoor skating or tobogganing but you can still enjoy the virtual CP holiday train or Handel's Messiah." Plus, for the couch potato in you, Hamilton's full of other things to do while you are waiting for an end to this great pandemic of 2020.
Here are seven things to do this weekend in the Hamilton area.
CP HOLIDAY TRAIN
CP Holiday Train has gone virtual and is putting in one stop on Saturday, at 8 p.m. The bright lights won't be steaming through the city this year but the spirit of the Holiday Train program and the Christmas spirit will carry on through virtual concert. In a press release, CP announced that while the train is cancelled, donations to local food banks will continue and CP will produce a benefit concert. Join the CP Holiday Train at Home Virtual Concert on Facebook live. cpr.ca/holiday-train/canada
HANDEL'S MESSIAH
The Bach Elgar Choir isn't letting the pandemic stop their hundred years tradition of presenting Handel's Messiah" for all Hamiltonians. This year, the choir is inviting the audience to join in on the Messiah" singalong LIVE virtual performance. The format for the live singalong will have the participating audience viewing the conductor, like a choir performer would, while hearing the accompaniment and a smaller chamber choir featuring soloists and members of the Bach Elgar Choir. World-class choral music performed live, a holiday tradition, from the comfort of home - the evening is sure to be meaningful and memorable. Register now for the free livestream on Saturday, 7:30 p.m. bachelgar.ca
- Brott to you: Messiah" Livestream event is Monday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. at Brott Music Festival Online. Tickets are $25.
- Bacchus Theatre's radio play of Dicken's A Christmas Carol." Premiere Dec. 18, on demand Dec. 19-25. Presented by: Theatre Bacchus and Villa Bacchus Winery. Tickets: $10 theatrebacchus.com
WINTER ACTIVE
The City of Hamilton has put together some safety tips and ways you can keep active as we head into winter during the pandemic. Here are some fun facts to help you keep busy but safe.
In a press release, the city gives these tips for outdoor activity. Maintain two metres of physical distance from others outside your household, wear a face mask, if you have any COVID-19 symptoms or are not feeling well, stay isolated at home and get tested for COVID-19, if it's crowded, come back later or choose a different activity/location, bring hand sanitizer to clean hands frequently, especially after touching rental equipment, commonly touched surfaces, and before/after eating.
Outdoor skating
Limit to 25 skaters at a time (some rinks have lower limits based on their size). Hamilton's outdoor rinks are open for the season, weather permitting, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Staff are on site to maintain the ice and monitor COVID-19 safety measures. Outdoor rinks are: Waterdown Ice Loop, 200 Hamilton St. N., Waterdown; Freelton Outdoor Rink, 170 Freelton Rd.; Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre Ice Loop, 876 Cannon St. E.; and Dundas Driving Park Outdoor Rink, 71 Cross St., Dundas. Keep in mind that some or all of these may not currently be open as the city puts ice in.
Indoor public skating is cancelled at least until January.
Tobogganing
There are four permitted tobogganing hills in Hamilton. Chedoke Golf Course - Martin Course, Garth and Stonechurch Reservoir, King's Forest Golf Course, and Waterdown Memorial Park.
Hamilton stairs
There are five sets of stairs that connect the lower city with the Mountain. Although the stairs aren't maintained in the winter, they are made of metal grates and are often quite beautiful during the winter season. Do you know the number of steps on each staircase? Chedoke stairs has 289, Dundurn 326 steps, James Street 227, Wentworth 498, and Kenilworth 228. Remember to wear a mask and keep your distance if using any of the 1568 Hamilton escarpment stairs.
Winter golf
Chedoke's Martin course is open for winter golf again this season. Open daily, weather restrictions apply, until March 21. Golfers can tee off between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Daily green fees are $20 per player, walking only. Contact the Chedoke Pro Shop at 905-521-3970. There is no online registration. hamilton.ca/golf-hamilton/winter-golf
- Frozen Fairways in the parking lot at CF Limeridge from Dec. 18 to 23 is currently full.
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com