Find your comfort zone this weekend with this list of events and attractions in the Hamilton area

by
Jennifer Moore - The Hamilton Spectator
from on (#5M98B)
downtown.jpg

COVID isn't over yet but it's time to find our comfort zone.

Hamilton and the province are moving to Step 3 as of Friday. This means nightclubs, concerts, buffets, movie theatres, gyms and more can all open.

We have limits of 100 people for an outdoor private gathering and 25 indoors. Masks are still required.

The weekend weather is looking to be a little grey with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of rain on Saturday. Temperatures will be around 23 C and not falling below 18 overnight.

Here's a look at events in Hamilton with some ideas for how you can spend this midsummer weekend. You can also find a list of what local attractions are open and when.

TUGBOAT ARRIVES

Everyone's been waiting for the arrival of Theodore Too. This famous tugboat is expected to arrive at his new home in Hamilton Harbour on Sunday afternoon. Theodore, the 65-foot working replica of Canada's famous red-capped tug from the children's television series, left his spot in Halifax earlier this summer on a journey to his new home in Hamilton. Theodore is scheduled to arrive in Hamilton waters around noon where he will be joined by other tugs. They will make their way to the port where a water show is expected around 2 p.m.

Want to see what vessels are in port? Visit vesselfinder.com/.

BROTT MUSIC FESTIVAL

The 34th annual Brott Music Festival summer edition is largely a drive-in bubble concert at the Ancaster Fairgrounds, 630 Trinity Rd. S., Jerseyville. Three drive-in concerts are featured: July 15, Cosi fan tutte"; July 22, Broadway Heroes"; and July 30, Bohemian Rhapsody." Start time for all three is 7:30 p.m., and the cost is $34. brottmusic.com

DUCK DASH

The ducks are out of the water again this year for the annual Duck Dash fundraiser hosted by the Carlisle Optimist Club. The virtual event (ducks will float in bins instead of racing in the river at Courtcliffe Park) happens Saturday. And, according to a post on the Carlisle Optimist Club's Facebook page on July 10, tickets for the event - which sold for $5 per duck - are sold out. If you have a duck, you can watch the club's Facebook page (facebook.com/CarlisleOptimistClub) at 11 a.m.

HAMILTON FRINGE

The Hamilton Fringe Festival 2021 runs daily until July 25. Have your digital Fringe backer button ready! The festival shares the biggest offering of unabashed and unjuried theatre produced right here in Hamilton. Choose online or live-at-a-distance, there's something for everyone at any age. There's an unjuried performance series: Theatre On Demand as well as full-length Fringe plays performed and recorded live on stage. Family Fringe On Demand is also recorded live on stage for streaming. Digital Exclusives include 40-minute online Fringe offerings. This series also includes Bring Your Own Virtual Venue offerings. There's also Skip The Glitches - 20-minute theatrical curbside delivery series performed in your own backyard.

Visit boxoffice.hamiltonfringe.ca/ for tickets, schedule and more.

AREA CLEANUPS

Help clean up Hamilton's great outdoors. If you'd like to don some gloves, here are a pair of cleanup events you can join.

  • Birge Alley Cleanup - Meet at Birge and Emerald by the pedestrian bridge by 9 a.m. Saturday. No need to preregister but you require close-toed shoes and long pants and sleeves are recommended. Email hamiltonalleys@gmail.com for more information. PPE, bags, gloves and garbage pickers are provided.

DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR

Famous fires of the 19th century is the theme for Bill King's free walking tour of downtown Hamilton on Sunday. Meet at John and King streets at 10 a.m. The tour is about 90 minutes. Participants are reminded to observe pandemic restrictions and will require a mask if you aren't more than two metres apart.

LIBRARY POWER

Hamilton Public Library (HPL) and Burlington Public Library (BPL) cardholders can now add to their borrowing power. If you sign up for it, members can enjoy borrowing power at either HPL or BPL branches. Borrow books, DVDs/Blu-ray, CDs, audiobooks, magazines, video games and more at the other system's branches in this newly launched Borrow Around the Bay partnership. hpl.ca or bpl.on.ca

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Here are a few local attractions and their expected reopening dates:

  • City of Hamilton had no details on museum openings at time of publishing. Details will be updated for Dundurn Historic Site, Whitehern, Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology National Historic Site, etc. as soon as they are available.

HMCS Haida National Historic Site is open with restrictions 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday to Sunday, until September.

Royal Botanical Gardens is open. rbg.ca

Hamilton Farmer's Market is open. Masks are required for this indoor space.

Starlite Drive In is open. Gates open at 7:15 p.m. daily.

  • The Canadian Warplane Heritage is expected to open on July 21. warplane.com

  • Most but not all Niagara Falls attractions are open July 16. You can visit Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, Movieland Wax Museum (newly renovated), Old Fort Erie (visitor centre and access to museum and indoor spaces), Ripley's Believe It or Not, Ripley's Moving Theatre, Skylon Tower Observation Decks and Skylon Tower Revolving Dining Room, for example. For full details visit niagarafallstourism.com.

Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com

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