20 or more events and things to do Mother’s Day weekend around Hamilton
Food, flowers and festivals top this Mother's Day weekend around Hamilton.
Environment Canada says you won't see many clouds and the mercury is supposed to register around 20 C all weekend.
Think about Sew Hungry, Poutine Feast and Lucky Lion if you are looking for that food truck and community vibe. Here are almost two dozen events and things to do around Hamilton this weekend.
Lucky Lion Night Market
Celebrate Asian culture and cuisine with foods from over 100 food and drink vendors at Bayfront Park, 200 Harbour Front Dr., this weekend. In addition to fabulous street food, Lucky Lion Night Market will feature merchants, lion dancers, a bar with DJ, workshops and crafts, and family entertainment. The free festival runs Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight and Sunday 1 to 7 p.m. luckylionnightmarket.ca.
Poutine Feast
This travelling festival promises a feast and if you are into poutine, prepare to chow down. Hamilton Poutine Feast is in Gage Park from Thursday to Sunday. It's on from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., it closes at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Sew Hungry
Thirty-three food trucks and two dozen restaurants rally Saturday for this one-day food fest. Ottawa Street's Sew Hungry festival is back for the masses from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Hamilton's Ottawa Street North. Ottawa Street North will be closed between Barton and Main streets. sewhungry.com
- Branching Path Farm will be at the Ottawa Street Market near the Britannia entrance Saturday at 8 a.m. handing out free Monarch garden butterfly mix plants.
Lilacs
As if on cue for Mother's Day, lilacs have started blooming. Our Royal Botanical Gardens bloom watch says the flowers have begun opening on early lilac species. Check out the gardens and trails this Mother's Day. Visit rbg.ca for more details.
HPO
James Sommerville comes back to Hamilton to conduct Beethoven 5 on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra at FirstOntario Concert Hall, 1 Summers Ln. Tickets start at $23.50 plus fees. hpo.org
More music
The Spec's music writer Leonard Turnevicius wrote about the wealth of concerts happening this weekend in Hamilton. Read, Concerts, concerts and more concerts - so many to choose from for more information on concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Magic Men Australia
It's a girls' night out with Australia's most anticipated men heating up the town Saturday at 7 p.m. Magic Men's Feel the Magic" showcases a heart-stopping live performance in The Studio, 1 Summers Lane. Tickets are $59 to $99. coreentertainment.ca
Tree and compost giveaway
It's the final weekend for Hamilton's free tree and compost giveaway on Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon (while supplies last) at Turner Park, 344 Rymal Rd. E. No registration is required. Trees include ornamental or shade trees, including white oak, redbud and many others. Take your own shovel and pails for the compost event. Donations for the United Way will be accepted. Must present driver's licence or property tax bill. hamilton.ca/treegiveaway or hamilton.ca/compostgiveaway
Museum workshop
The Science of Time workshop for kids ages seven to 12 is on Saturday at Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology National Historic Site, 900 Woodward Ave., from 9:45 a.m. to noon. Includes several hands-on activities and experiments. Cost is $25 per child, $9 per adult supervisor (optional). Visit hamilton.ca
Roller derby
Hammer City Roller Derby opens its season Saturday at Eastwood Arena, 111 Burlington St. E. Doors open at 6 p.m. and first whistle is at 7. Bring your own lawn chair for trackside seating.
Mother's Day events
Mother's Day Health and Wellness Fair at Leander Boat Club, 50 Leander Dr. This free event includes a motivational speaker, nutritionist, oncologist, mental-health practitioner, food and prizes. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Take mom out to any State and Main until Sunday and $10 per reservation is donated to a local charity supporting women in your community.
Conservation Halton celebrates moms this Mother's Day weekend with the multi-park themed program offering Mother, Nature. Running Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some Halton parks will be offering extra special programs for the Mother's Day weekend. Register now to get a spot. conservationhalton.ca
Netherlands Friendship Day
The Burlington Mundialization Committee hosts Canada Netherlands Friendship Day in honour of Burlington's twin city, Apeldoorn on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St., Burlington.
Sakura Festival
A fun - and free - event is on this weekend celebrating the arrival of spring and another of Burlington's twin cities: Itabashi, Japan. Enjoy an afternoon of Japanese music, dance, and martial arts demonstrations on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St., Burlington.
Community plant sales
The Haldimand Horticultural Society hosts an annual plant and bake sale on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 27 Orkney St. E., Caledonia. Browse perennials, annuals, baked delights, tools and treasures.
West Flamboro Presbyterian Church, 262 Middletown Rd., is hosting an annual plant exchange, barbecue and cookie sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring a plant, take a plant, socialize and learn garden secrets. The barbecue begins at 11 a.m.
The Bellstone Christian School plant sale is Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6025 White Church Rd. E., Mount Hope. The sale continues during the same hours on May 20 and on Victoria Day, May 22. Perennials of all shapes, colours and sizes for all gardening conditions.
Taylor Knox
On at Mills Hardware, 95 King St. E., on Saturday with special guest Lenny Bull. Tickets are $26.40. Show runs 8 to 11 p.m.
Why Not Wine Festival
The Why Not Wine Festival is on at Bridgeworks, 200 Caroline St. N. (off Barton St. W.) from Friday to Sunday. This two-day event has wine sampling, local food vendors, and live entertainment. Tickets are $33.22 to $52.33. Headliners are Wannabe and House of Adam and Steve.
Hermitage Ruins
The Hermitage Ruins Ghost Walks have returned for the season. This classic one-of-a-kind tour into the haunted forest at night. It's all starts in the rarely opened gatehouse before abandoning light for darkness. Tickets are $13.50 to $15. Reservations required. ghostwalks.com
Free fishing weekend
To kickoff the spring fishing season, families, fishing enthusiasts and first-time anglers across Ontario can celebrate Mother's Day with free fishing this weekend. If you are fishing for free, be mindful that all conservation licence catch limits, size limits, sanctuaries and all other fishing regulations and rules still apply. For more information on fishing in Ontario visit ontario.ca/page/fishing.
Game day
Toronto Rock and the Buffalo Bandits give us double the fun this weekend. A back-to-back start to the East Conference Finals are Friday in Buffalo and Saturday in Hamilton. Game 1 is at 7 p.m. in KeyBank Center and Game 2 is in FirstOntario Centre on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. torontorock.com
Forge FC takes on Valour FC on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Tim Hortons Field. forgefc.canpl.ca
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator. jmoore@thespec.com