Things to do this weekend in the Hamilton area
Hamilton has game days, pop up events, concerts, walking tours and more waiting for you this weekend.
It's not hard to find fun with these perfect summer days stretching out before you. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain around 28 C over the weekend even if there is a chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday.
GAME DAY
Hamilton Honey Badgers are home Friday night vs. Niagara at FirstOntario Centre, 1 York Blvd. Tip off is 7 p.m. For tickets visit honeybadgers.ca
Hamilton's Forge FC take on the Atletico Ottawa Sunday, 1 p.m., at Tim Hortons Field. For tickets visit forgefc.canpl.ca
Hamilton Bengals lacrosse club hosts the London Blue Devils for two games of Jr. B action on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is free but bring a non-perishable food item for donation. Inch Park Arena, 400 Queensdale Ave. E.
PIER 8 POP UP
Pop-Ups at Pier 8, 47 Discovery Drive, include Seniors Day activities from 9 a.m. to noon and at Kids Workshop from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. And, music is live for another Sous Bay Sunday - from 2 to 9 p.m. at the old Sarcoa patio at Pier 8. pier8popups.ca
OPEN STREETS
Barton Street is open for pedestrians and closed to traffic this Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can safely dine, shop, and play on the street between Victoria and Wentworth on Saturdays, Aug. 7 and Sept. 10. The Barton Street BIA has planned outdoor dining and shopping areas open around 11 a.m. and some live music and other on-street activities to begin around 11:30 a.m. The event ends at 8 p.m. and the street reopens to traffic at 9 p.m. bartonvillage.ca
- Indwell is holding a Brick & Bottles" event on Saturday as part of Open Streets on Barton. They are giving away bricks from the old Royal Oak Dairy building and asking people who'd like to to donate their memorabilia toward the project.
Locke Street is also open to pedestrians and cyclists between Herkimer and Hunter every Saturday until September. Traffic is blocked between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. for Saturday Unlocked. You can check out store vendors and eat on expanded patios.
WALKING TOUR
Explore the area around Hamilton's St. Mary's Cathedral. Join Bill King for a free walking tour on Sunday for Bishops and Gasworks." Meet at King and John streets in Gore Park at 10 a.m. Tours are about 90 minutes and everyone is welcome. Pandemic regulations observed.
GHOST WALKS
Tickets are still available for Saturday's Ghost Walks of Downtown Hamilton, The Haunted Core at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $14.16 for adults and $12.39 for children plus tax. ghostwalks.com
HARBOUR TOUR
Take a 50 minute tour of Hamilton Harbour aboard the Hamiltonian this weekend. The captain narrates interesting stories and the history of one of North America's most noteworthy harbours. The tour provides unique views of the natural, recreational and industrial faces of Hamilton. Tours depart from Pier 7 Docks near Williams Fresh Cafe, daily (except Wednesdays) at 12, 1, 2, 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Cost is $19.40 for adults. No reservation are required. All patrons must wear a mask while on board the Hamiltonian.
THEODORE TUGBOAT
Unless he's gone to visit another port, you can catch Theodore TOO the Tugboat at his home dock in Hamilton, Pier 8 in the Hamilton Harbour, 47 Discovery Road. Watch his social media accounts for updates on his whereabouts.
PIZZA RUN
The Martello Pizza Run is just as it sounds. Meet, run and eat. Martello Restaurant is located at 298 James St. N. The run is Sunday, 3:15 p.m. There is room for 16 participants, you should be comfortable running a 5K. Register at eventbrite.ca
HAIDA
Discover Canada's Fightingest Ship" and the last remaining Tribal-class destroyer in the world, HMCS Haida, at Hamilton's waterfront. HMCS Haida National Historic Site is open with restrictions 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday to Sunday, until September. The lower indoor deck remains closed and all indoor programming has been moved outdoors.
THURSDAYS
Make a note that Hamilton's 2021 Music In The City Series is back. Every Thursday evening until Sept. 2, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Hamilton Waterfront's Pier 8 Stage, 47 Discovery Dr. hamiltonwaterfront.com
DON'T MISS THIS
Supercrawl has tickets available now for the free livestream series taking place at Hamilton's Bridgeworks in August and September. The series starts on Aug. 20. Series concerts are limited to 50 attendees per event, selected by lottery, in a physically distanced seating plan inside the new Bridgeworks event space, 200 Caroline St. N. These events will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend, and available to watch on-demand for 48 hours after the concert has concluded, with lottery drawn from livestream ticket holders. supercrawl.ca
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com