Around the Bay and so much more to do in Hamilton this weekend

Spring is here and the weekend is surrounded in sound and flight. Take some time to cheer on your favourite runner or the crowd at Hamilton's Around the Bay Road Race or be transported to Paris with our Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Environment Canada is calling for periods of rain or snow and daytime highs around 7 C over the weekend.

Here are eight things and more to do this weekend around Hamilton.

Head of the Lake

Paul Grimwood, a respected pipe organist and choir director in Hamilton who also writes about local history, is speaking at the Head of the Lake Historical Society on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Coach House at Dundurn Castle, 610 York Blvd. The topic is Life and Times of W.E. Sanford. Doors open at 7 p.m., public welcome.

Around the Bay Road Race

The race that's been around since 1894 is back on Hamilton streets this weekend and here is what you need to know.

Find out where to cheer, or where to avoid, by checking out the race route via Steve Milton's article, The thick fabric of North America's oldest road race."

Events and registrations are Saturday with races on Sunday. Visit bayrace.com.

There's a full-on expo this year at FirstOntario Centre, 101 York Blvd. Hours Friday from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is the time you pick up your race kit. If you aren't a runner, come check out the excitement with vendors and more.

The pre-race buffet pasta dinner is Saturday, 4:30 to 8 p.m., at Chagall's Restaurant. Call 905-317-4501 to make a reservation.

Want to know the best spots to watch? Visit bayrace.com/spectators.

Race start times on Sunday are 9:30 a.m. for the 30K and relays that begin at York Boulevard and Bay Street; and 9:45 a.m. for the 5K at Bay Street in front of FirstOntario Centre. All routes end in FirstOntario Centre.

Expect rolling street closures along the race routes in Hamilton and Burlington. Bay Street between Main and York will be close from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and York Boulevard will be either closed or restricted between the 403 and FirstOntario Centre most of the day.

The following HSR bus routes are also affected: 2 Barton, 3 Cannon, 4 Bayfront, 6 Aberdeen, 7 Locke, 8 York, 11 Parkdale and 41 Mohawk will detour on Sunday, beginning at approximately 5:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. hamilton.ca/HSRdetours.

The Westdale

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them."

The Lord of the Rings" trilogy got the big-screen treatment in March, and Oscar winner Colin Doncaster tops it off Saturday with a Q&A at 12 p.m., just before the final film screening in the series The Return of the King." Doncaster's formative years were spent at Peter Jackson's Weta Digital working on The Lord of the Rings" trilogy - since then, he's had the pleasure of working on many popular productions before starting his creative studio in Dundas. thewestdale.ca

Hamilton Philharmonic

Take a musical journey with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra to Paris. The HPO performance, Mozart in Paris," at FirstOntario Concert Hall, 1 Summers Lane, is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Pierre Simard, conductor, Leslie Newman, flute. Tickets start at $23.50 plus fees. hpo.org

Youth mental health awareness

A mental wellness fundraising event, Hope Rising for Youth Mental Health Action, is a free community event with a film screening, panel discussion and fair that is being held Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. at The Westdale, 1014 King St. W. Acclaimed feature documentary The S Word" will open a door on the taboo subject of suicide through the eyes of those affected by it. The film features a suicide attempt survivor on a mission to find fellow survivors and document their stories of courage, insight, and humour. Along the way, she discovers a rising movement transforming personal struggles into action. Tickets are free, available at the door or online. thewestdale.ca

Models show

HeritageCon XV is billed as Canada's largest plastic scale model show and contest. It's happening Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Rd., Mount Hope. Admission is $16 for adults, $12 for children and $3 per model entry. Contest categories include: aircraft, armour, automotive, shops, figures, space and collections. Vendors and more. heritagecon.com

Jazz band

Join the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band for an afternoon of big band favourites by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and more on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $27.90 for this performance at the Old Firehall, 334 Wilson St. E., Ancaster. hamiltonallstarjazz.org

Easter Bunny

Hurry and sign up for a spot at Joseph Brant Museum this weekend to see the Easter Bunny. Tickets are $50 and include museum admission, a visit with the Easter Bunny, a take-home craft, and a bag of Easter popcorn. museumsofburlington.ca/events/

Looking ahead

Join the lecture Canada's 2030 greenhouse gas emission target is unachievable: What should civil society do about it?" with Danny Harvey on March 29, 7 p.m., at McMaster Innovation Park. Register for this free event available in person or online alumni.mcmaster.ca/Climate2023.

There's a home and garden show March 27 to April 5 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

Game day

The Rock are in Albany on Saturday for a 7 p.m. draw. torontorock.com

Bulldogs playoff games start March 30. hamiltonbulldogs.com

Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator. jmoore@thespec.com