Earth Day cleanups and other things to do around Hamilton this weekend

This weekend is for markets, cherry blossoms, Monster Jam, Allan Cup, music, theatre, soccer and more.

It'll be easy to celebrate Earth Day in Hamilton with more than a few community cleanups organized, rain or shine.

Environment Canada is calling for a good chance of showers over the next four days as daytime highs start out at a promising 22 C on Friday, but drop to just below seasonal at 7 C on Sunday.

Here are more than a dozen things to do around Hamilton this weekend.

Monster Jam

Motorsport in Hamilton is here for an action-packed weekend. Monster Jam is at FirstOntario Centre with four shows. Families will experience world-class athletes locked into intense competition of speed and skill. Tickets start at $20. Showtimes are 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, 101 York Blvd. monsterjam.com

Bloom watch

All flowering cherries have hit peak bloom and likely won't last long, says the Royal Botanical Gardens. If you find a window of sunshine or just no rain this weekend, you'll want to get out and visit the magnolias and cherry blossoms. You can find them at the Arboretum and the Rock Garden sites. rbg.ca

Eco Hamilton market

Eco Hamilton's second annual market features more than 20 vendors, food pop-ups, kids' crafts, a repair cafe, free workshops and more. It's in Gage Park, 1000 Main St. E., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vintage Marketplace

Antiques, retro, night markets, entertainment and more. Vintage Marketplace runs in Westinghouse HQ, 286 Sanford Ave. N., Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. with The Vaudevillian and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $8, kids under 12 are free. thevintagemarketplace.ca

Earth Day tree planting

Join the tree planting and a guided walk at Chiefswood Park on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Guests will plant a tree in the park and receive one to take home. Learn the importance of maple and oak trees and walk through the park with Kayanase, as they discuss ephemeral plant identification. Chiefswood Park is located at 1037 Brant County Hwy. 54, Ohsweken. This event will run rain or shine. Dress according to the weather and remember long pants and long-sleeved shirts are advised. Try to bring: gloves, closed-toe sturdy footwear (boots are highly recommended), reusable water bottle, shovel (limited shovels will be available).

Wetlands walk

The Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club is hosting a free educational Wetlands in Focus walk led by bird expert Chris Motherwell at Windermere Basin Park, 105 Eastport Dr., from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Sunday. Motherwell will discuss the restored wetland's importance as a stopover for migratory birds and the range of species it attracts, including snowy owls. Advanced registration is required. Visit hikes.brucetrail.org or email brontreg@cogeco.ca for more details.

Earth Day spring cleanup

• Beautiful Alleys cleanups help clear away the mess and make Hamilton shine on Earth Day. Cleanup events are Saturday and you can join in these organized purges. Meet at these command centres: Powell Park Clubhouse, 53 Birch Ave.; Hamilton Mountain, CAP parking lot, 555 Concession St., and Crown Point at Memorial School, 1175 Main St. E., between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Or, take on an alley or green space near you. There will be a volunteer celebration at Powell Park from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, email hamiltonalleys@gmail.com or visit beautifulalleys.ca.

• Ottawa Street BIA is also partnering up with Beautiful Alleys to keep Ottawa Street North green and clean. Music, swag and refreshments for all our volunteers. Meet at 3 Britannia Ave. at 11 a.m.

• Ward 10 litter cleanups have been cancelled due to rain forecast.

• Mount Hope community cleanup Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. Participants can pick up bags and gloves at the bus shelter located at Airport Road and Homestead Drive. From there, you and your team can decide where you're going to work: parks, around your neighbourhood, empty lots, etc.

• Fifty Creek Earth Day cleanup. Do your part to help clean up Fifty Creek on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pick up at kit from Fifty United Church, 1455 Hwy. 8, Stoney Creek on the day of the event.

• Clean up at Mountview Park, 115 San Antonio Dr., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. All are welcome.

Chorus

A spring concert with the Halton Regional Police Chorus and Enchorus Children's Choir on Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church, 526 Concession St., Burlington. Tickets are $20.

Jazzbah

Get out those jazz hands for jazz night at The Casbah on Saturday. It's in the lounge on the fourth Saturday of every month. No cover. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Casbah, 306 King St. W. casbahlounge.ca

Chamber Music Hamilton

Chamber Music Hamilton performs Sunday, 2 p.m., at the Art Galley of Hamilton, 123 King St. W. Michael Schulte and Friends perform Hungarian classics and masterpieces. Performance in honour of Hamilton's late, great Marta Hidy. Tickets are $35, or $15 for students, available through chambermusichamilton.com or at the door.

Theatre

Village Theatre Waterdown presents Girl in the Goldfish Bowl," Friday to May 7. A curious comedy by Morris Panych. Tickets are $25. Village Theatre, 317 Dundas St., Waterdown. burlingtonpac.ca

Theatre Aquarius' new musical, Maggie," is on stage until May 6. Tickets start at $40. Theatre Aquarius, 190 King William St. Maggie" tells the inspirational tale of a fiery school cleaner living in the mining town of Lanarkshire, Scotland. theatreaquarius.org

Dundas Museum

The Dundas Museum & Archives, 139 Park St. W., presents Two Stacks: An Honouring of Sophia Burthen (Pooley)," an art exhibition facilitated by Andrew Hunter, in co-operation with the Slavery North Initiative at University Massachusetts Amherst. The exhibition runs to May 13. dundasmuseum.ca

Tree giveaway and Earth Day events in Burlington

The City of Burlington and BurlingtonGreen are hosting Earth Day activities at various locations throughout the city this weekend.

Earth Day Tree Planting Event - In partnership with BurlingtonGreen, this tree-planting event will take place at Millcroft Park on Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m., rain or shine. Advanced registration at burlingtongreen.org is required. Space is limited.

Celebrate Earth Day with BurlingtonGreen - Residents can visit the BurlingtonGreen Eco-Hub at Burlington Beach Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. where a variety of fun and family-friendly eco-activities will be taking place: pollinator seed ball making, cycling resources and giveaways, a guided tree walk, shoreline cleanup, a repair cafe, e-bike raffle opportunity, and more.

More information about Earth Day, tree planting and the Community Clean Up Green Up can be found at burlingtongreen.org.

Game day

Allan Cup, the national amateur men's hockey championship, final is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in J.L. Grightmire Arena, 35 Market St. S., Dundas. Tickets are $10, free for children under 12.

Forge FC take on the HFX Wanderers FC at Tim Hortons Field, 64 Melrose Ave. N., on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $25. forgefc.canpl.ca

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