Fall into autumn with these 10 things to do in the Hamilton area this weekend
Sweater weather is here and your weekend has never looked so full.
Environment Canada is calling for mostly sunny days and highs of around 15 C this weekend, but expect some clouds on Saturday. Keep a sweater handy for the overnights when temperatures are expected to dip to around 7 C.
Here are 10 things to do around Hamilton this weekend.
Truth and Reconciliation
The Hamilton Regional Indian Centre is at Gage Park Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residential school survivors and Indigenous elders are expected to speak.
Moviegoers are invited to wear orange shirts to the Westdale on Friday. The Hamilton theatre will present free screenings of We Were Children," which looks at residential schools, at 1:30 and 6 p.m. At 3:45 and 8 p.m., guests can watch nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up," a film about Colten Boushie, an Indigenous man whose shooting death in rural Saskatchewan in 2016 sparked nationwide condemnation.
City of Burlington invites residents and Indigenous people of Burlington and Halton to Spencer Smith Park on Friday between 4 and 7 p.m. to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The City will provide free space within the park for groups to set up their own displays, interactive events, or information booths.
On Saturday, families are welcome to a fun day at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre, 34 Ottawa St. N., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with entertainment, vendors and kids activities.
Niagara Parks is hosting two days of public events in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Friday and Saturday outside the Niagara Parks Power Station. Events kickoff Friday at 6 p.m. with the TREATY: A Reconciliation Revelry" concert.
Walking tours
Join Bill King Sunday for a free 90-minute walking tour of downtown Hamilton. This weekend's theme is Pub Crawl." Explore some of Hamilton's famous watering holes of the past and their legends. Meet at King and John streets at 10 a.m.
Chili fest
Flamborough's 10th annual Chili Fest runs Saturday and Sunday at 10 participating restaurants and food trucks. A pop-up event will also be held between noon and 6 p.m. both days at West Avenue Cider House, at 84 Concession Rd. 8 E. Area restaurants participating in the fundraiser for Flamborough Women's Resource Centre (FWRC) can be found on TheSpec.com.
Burlington Applefest
The Museums of Burlington Applefest Fall Fair is on at Ireland House Museum on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy the main stage entertainment, vendors, museum tours, farm animals, historic demonstrations and a mini local food market. Ireland House Museum, 2168 Guelph Line. Parking is available at MM Robinson High School with a 10-minute walk to the museum. Cost is $10 for adults, $8 for children. Pre-registration required. MuseumsOfBurlington.ca.
Art tour
Renewal is the theme for the Dundas Studio Tour this weekend. Work of 30 artists are featured over seven studio locations on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit DundasStudioTour.com for a map of all locations.
Halloween movie night
Saturday is Garden Movie Night: Halloween Edition at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Kick off the season with a spooktacular double feature of nostalgic Halloween movies. Hocus Pocus" starts at 7 p.m. and the original Ghostbusters" at 9 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair. Pre-registration is required. RBG.ca
Autumn fun
Corn maze and pumpkin patch! Yup, it's that time of year again. Here are some local farms stacked with fall fun:
Hanes Corn Maze is 20 acres of 12-foot tall walls of cornstalks and takes about two hours to complete. The maze and pumpkin patch are located at 1001 Highway 5 W., Dundas. Pumpkins are $5 each and maze admission is $18.50 for walk-in admission. Book online at TheHanesCornMaze.com. Tip: bring a flashlight if you are doing the maze after dark.
Lindley's Farm and Market pumpkin hayrides opens Saturday. Open weekends and holidays, $12 will get you a hayride and one pumpkin you pick from the patch. Zip-line and slingshot attractions are back too. 900 Fiddlers Green Rd. Leashed dogs are allowed.
Harvest Festival Weekends at Puddicombe Estate run weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in October. Puddicombe Farm is located at 1468 Highway 8 in Winona. Train rides, a campfire, live entertainment and more.
Merry Farms opens for pumpkin patch events Saturday. Open weekends until Oct. 23 with timed registration required, $17.99 gets you wagon ride, corn maze, kids activities, food trucks and more. Pumpkin prices are $2 to $20. Located at 1974 Concession 2 Rd. W., Lynden. No pets.
Tickets are available for Pumpkins After Dark, an outdoor 2.5-kilometre drive-thru Halloween event in Milton. Country Heritage Park, 8560 Tremaine Rd. PumpkinsAfterDark.com
Halloween Haunt has returned to Canada's Wonderland transforming the theme park into a scream park filled with thrilling attractions, unspeakable horror and amazing night rides. CanadasWonderland.com
OktoberWest
Hamilton's Westdale Village is hosting a weekend of live music, artisan market and more. OktoberWest is Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., on King Street West.
Caledonia fall fair
Caledonia Fair runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. It's the 150th celebration of local foods and agriculture at this year's Caledonia Fair. Don't miss the Battle of the Buttertart, meet your local farmers, midway, demolition derby, homecraft, livestock shows and more are happening at the fair. General admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $6 for children in elementary school. A weekend pass is $30. Limited parking on the grounds is $3. Gates are open from 4 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The fairgrounds are on Highway 54 in Caledonia. CaledoniaFair.ca
Game day
Hamilton Forge FC vs. York United FC is Saturday at Tim Hortons Field. Kickoff is 5 p.m. ticketmaster.ca
Looking ahead
Hamilton's Fall Garden and Mum Show runs Oct. 14 to 23.
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator. jmoore@thespec.com