Things to do in the Hamilton area this Father’s Day weekend
To help you get your Father's Day weekend lined up, here are 11 things to know about events in the Hamilton area.
It looks like it might rain on Friday and Monday but Environment Canada is calling for mostly sunny skies and daytime highs of around 27 C.
RIBFEST
Haven't figured out a Father's Day treat? Zip on through the Hamilton Mountain Rotary Club's drive-thru ribfest this weekend. It's at Lime Ridge Mall for the 2021 version of this annual summer chow down. Stay in your car, and pick a lane for your favourite rib and food vendors. Brought to you by Northern Heat Rib Series, you can expect vendors such as Kentucky Smokehouse and Louisiana Bar-B-Que. Hours are Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday noon to 7 p.m. The mall is located at 999 Upper Wentworth St. Expect to pay anywhere around $20 for a half rack dinner to $150 for a family feast. A pulled pork sandwich will run you about $17. northernheatribseries.ca
FOOD DRIVE
Give a helping hand. Good Shepherd is hosting a food drive at Lime Ridge Mall, 999 Upper Wentworth St. You will find them at the upper east side of the mall on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Non-perishables such as pasta, canned goods and peanut butter are in demand.
BURLINGTON FLIES KITES
A reinvented Kite Festival is now the Let's Fly a Kite event. In lieu of the in-person festival, Burlington is offering a limited supply of free kite kits to residents as part of Get Outside and Play this June. Kits are only available for Burlington residents with pre-registration and while quantities last. burlington.ca
BURLINGTON SWIMS
Nelson Pool and Splash Park have reopened for lap swim and drop-in recreational swim. Register online: burlington.ca/swimming
HAMILTON SPLASH PADS
Hamilton's splash pads are open. You are asked to remain two metres apart from those not in your household and if the area is too crowded, try a different location. Visit hamilton.ca/recreation/spray-pads for locations of all 66 open pads.
Outdoor pools and Dundas Driving Park wading pool are scheduled to reopen June 28. All other wading pools are scheduled to open July 5.
RBG SUMMER
Royal Botanical Gardens has opened all outdoor garden areas. Experience 300 acres of cultivated gardens and natural lands, featuring 27 kilometres of scenic nature trails. Garden hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. RBG Centre and the Rock Garden Visitor Centre will be open only as a throughway for access to outdoor garden areas. Indoor building amenities and areas such as the Mediterranean Garden and the Greenhouse Cafe remain temporarily closed to the public. rbg.ca
- Current highlights throughout RBG's four outdoor garden areas include Hendrie Park's Rose Garden nearing peak bloom and the historic David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden boasting its signature perennials, gorgeous water features and prodigious pathways. The Laking Garden, Arboretum and RBG's nature trails remain open to the public, offering stunning blooms, hiking adventures and connections to wildlife.
FREE FISHING
It's free fishing this Father's Day weekend in Ontario. This is a provincewide opportunity for residents to fish Ontario waters without the otherwise mandatory fishing version outdoors card. The province is also offering free day-use permits at more than 100 Ontario parks on Sunday. To guarantee access to 17 select popular provincial parks, book a daily vehicle permit in advance of your visit. Please visit ontarioparks.com/dayuse for more information and a list of participating parks. ontariofamilyfishing.com
PRIDE MONTH
It's Pride Month and Hamilton Public Library has curated a list of 79 Pride-themed books to add to your summer reading list. Visit the library's collections page for easy borrowing. hpl.ca
DRIVE IN
Pull up to the Starlite Drive In in Stoney Creek for an evening out of the house. Box office opens at 7:15 p.m. daily. On the bill this weekend are: Friday triple-headers - The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, Wrath of Man and Bill and Ted Face the Music; A Quiet Place Part II, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and Mortal Kombat; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, Godzilla vs. Kong and Talladega Nights. Saturday is Bon Jovi Concert First Show and Second Show; A Quiet Place Part II and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It; The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, Wrath of Man and Bill and Ted Face the Music. Sunday is The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard and Wrath of Man; A Quiet Place Part II and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and Godzilla vs. Kong. Visit premiertheatres.ca/starlite for ticket information and more.
STRAWBERRY PICKING
Time is here for the sweet thrill of early summer. Pick-your-own strawberry season has kicked off at most local farms. Some spots to check out include: Lindley's Farm, 900 Fiddler's Green Rd., Ancaster, hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with no reservation required; G and C Produce, 451 Book Rd. E. Ancaster, hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tigchelaar Berry Farms, 4161 Jordan Rd., Jordan Station, 905-658-2265; Murphy's Country Produce, 2040 Guyatt Rd., Binbrook, hours are Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., on weekends they close at 5.
WARPLANE HERITAGE
We know Hamiltonians all think to look high in the sky on Father's Day weekend as we traditionally have had air shows or flypast events to enjoy, even if we didn't head to the airport. The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum wants you to know that in alignment with Ontario's reopening plan, museums will be allowed to open in Stage 3 which could possibly be by July 3. warplane.com
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com