Get outside this weekend with these 13 things to do in the Hamilton area

The sweetness in the air promises a whirlwind of wondrous things to do this weekend.

With one week out from Labour Day, you can expect the sunshine to be a constant companion the next few days.

Both Saturday and Sunday are expected to be sunny and clear, with a weekend high of 27 C.

Here are several ways to keep busy and enjoy the outdoors.

Winona Peach Festival

Sweet, syrupy peaches lovingly dolloped onto vanilla ice cream, pies galore, and bushels of the eponymous stone fruit. You can look forward to all this and more with the return of Winona's Peach Festival. It all starts Friday at 5 p.m. in Winona Park. Vendors, live entertainment, arts and crafts, a midway (free rides from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday) and enough food to stuff the city. The free festival, back from a two-year hiatus due to COVID, is run by volunteers, so remember to be kind.

For locals, there's a free shuttle from Winona Crossing shopping centre and a free HSR shuttle from Eastgate Square. Parking is also available at Puddicombe Farms for $10. Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1328 Barton St. E.

Sunflower maze

Get lost in the beauty of nature at Hanes Sunflower Maze. Learn about the stalky yellow plant and snap some memorable photos. Strike a pose then grab a sweet treat at the Tiny Shop Bakery on site.

The maze runs Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays to Thursdays 10 to 5 p.m. Kids under three are free, ages three to seven $8.40, ages eight to 12 $10.90, seniors (60-plus) $13.65, adults $13.65. 1001 Hwy. 5 W., Dundas.

Shakespeare in the park

The Bard is back in town. It's been two years since Tottering Biped Theatre put on its Summer Shakespeare Series and fans of the playwright will rejoice at its return. Midsummer Nights: A Dream," will be performed in Ancaster's Fieldcote Memorial Park, this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. And from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 at Dundurn Castle, 7 p.m. Be sure to bring a chair or blanket for comfort's sake; refreshments will be available. Tickets are pay what you can for the all-ages event.

Pier 8

If you haven't made it down to check out Pier 8's new look, Saturday provides a perfect opportunity.

• Down By the Bay is a free event that runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be local vendors, swag bags for early shoppers, a grand prize and a performance from COVID Elvis at 12 p.m. Enjoy the water and views in a family and dog friendly environment. Meet beside Williams Cafe and Theodore Too. 47 Discovery Dr.

• Just steps away, Pop-ups at the Pier continues with a vintage community market this Saturday at the Hamilton Waterfront Trust patio. There's a kids retro craft station from 1 to 4 p.m., while vendors will be around from 1 to 7 p.m. Shop for records, clothing, houseware and other vintage doodads.

905 Fest

Local hip-hop artist Ktriggs hosts this free event at Woodlands Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. There will be family friendly entertainment, games, prizes, vendors and food. Kids ages eight to 14 confident in their b-ball skills can sign up for the basketball competition, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m. There's also live music from 12:30 to 6 p.m. If you can, bring a non-perishable food item to donate to local non-profit Living Rock. 505 Barton St. E.

Beer tour

Craving a day full of hoppy suds and craft camaraderie? The Hamilton/Burlington beer tour visits three breweries and one cidery with tasting flights at each stop, the last Sunday of every month. There are pickup and drop-off locations in downtown Hamilton and Burlington. Tickets are $135-plus HST.

Pickup in Burlington at 11:30 a.m. on the north side of Aldershot GO station; downtown Hamilton 11:45 a.m. at Staybridge Suites on Caroline Street South. Stay hydrated.

Movie in the park

Enjoy the magic of Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens. Stroll the gardens, grab your popcorn and enjoy a movie in the great outdoors at Hendrie Park on Friday night. Advance tickets are required. This week, it's Encanto." rbg.ca

Chasing bees

No one knows bees like Jenna. Join entomologist and bee expert Jenna Braun on Saturday starting at 10 a.m., as she leads the final Butterfly and Nature Identification walk and tour at Hamilton's Urquhart Butterfly Garden. Learn more about the many bee species at Urquhart, and find out how you can help encourage bee preservation, even if you only have a balcony. The butterfly garden is located in Centennial Park at Cootes Drive and East Street in Dundas. Free parking is available at 128 King St. E. Bring a chair and wear a hat; the event will be cancelled if it rains. urquhartbutterfly.com

Walking tours

Join Bill King Sunday for a free 90-minute walking tour of downtown Hamilton. This weekend, step into the hidden world of the many alleys that snake through the downtown. Meet at King and John streets at 10 a.m.

Hamilton's Stories in the Stones, a free two-hour walking tour at Hamilton Cemetery, 777 York Blvd., runs most Saturdays. Join Robin McKee at 11 a.m. at the gatehouse. This week is Power of the City Tour. hamiltonhistory.ca

Eclectic Local

This free music series runs some Saturdays into September from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Gasworks Outdoor Stage (141 Park St. N.). Featured this Saturday is indie-rock singer-songwriter Dan Edmonds and friends.

Dinner theatre

Eat a meatball with Mr. Meatball. Saturday at the Innsville, it's an evening of some of the best of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin accompanied with a four-course meal. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $88.50 per person. Call 905-643-1244 to purchase your tickets. innsville.ca/

Circus

The circus has come to town. Royal Canadian International Circus is in Burlington this weekend. Acts include acrobatics, trapeze, daredevil stunts and more. It's all under the big top at Burlington Centre, 777 Guelph Line, Thursday to Sunday, tickets are selling out quick, so grab yours while you can.

Delaney Caulfield is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach her via email: dcaulfield@thespec.com