Happy Canada Day! Here's a few things to do around Hamilton today
It's virtually Canada Day, right smack dab in the middle of the week.
There will be no festivals, fireworks or great outdoor fair, but you can always soak up the Canadian summer sun. Environment Canada is calling for a 40 per cent chance of showers on Canada Day with a daytime high of 26 C. Watch out for those UV rays - they will top out at 9, which can leave you with a sunburn in 15 to 25 minutes.
Only in Canada eh? Here are some things to do, plus what's closed, on Wednesday, July 1, 2020.
- City of Hamilton
Get out your inner designer. Hamilton's Canada Day Door Decorating Challenge invites everyone to show Canadian spirit by decorating your front door on July 1. Submit a photo of your Canadian-decorated door on social media using #HamOntCanadaDay before 5 p.m., on July 1. Prizes can be won.
Weather permitting, the Lancaster will take to the air Wednesday, July 1, at 11 a.m., in a flight dedicated to the memory of Capt. Jenn Casey of the Snowbirds and for the 75th Anniversary of VE-Day. The Lancaster's route will be from Hamilton over Niagara Falls, across the lake to Toronto, around the CN Tower and back to Hamilton.
On July 1 at 7 p.m., there will be a one-hour broadcast on CHCH and chch.com presented by RBC that will showcase top Hamilton musical artists, including Juno-winning rock band The Dirty Nil, incomparable soul artist John Ellison (writer of the hit Some Kind of Wonderful"), international award-winning Hamilton Children's Choir, the world-renowned Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Brass Quintet, Juno Award-winning R&B/blues artist Harrison Kennedy, Juno- and Polaris-nominated singer-songwriter Terra Lightfoot, empowering R&B singer Queen Cee, plus local icon and Juno-winning roots songwriting legend Tom Wilson.
- City of Burlington
Celebrate the 153rd birthday of our wonderful country with the City of Burlington as they hosting a Virtual Canada Day Celebration with former TV host from MuchMusic and ET Canada, Rick Campanelli. Tune in to burlington.ca on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., for special events online, musical guests (by video) and interactive activities you can engage in while practising physical distancing.
Rotary Burlington-Lakeshore is hosting a socially distant drive-thru Ribfest on July 1, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., at 777 Guelph Line. Guests will pull into the Burlington Centre parking lot from the Guelph Line entrance, stay in their vehicles and have food vendors in gloves and masks take and deliver orders.
Toronto Zoo's Virtual Canada Day Party! is free and hosted by The Toronto Zoo. Visit torontozoo.com/virtualcanadaday.
FIREWORKS
Snap'd is planning an exciting and local augmented reality (AR) program for Canada Day! Virtual fireworks will be available for you to participate in on July 1, 2020 at 8 p.m. on the Snap'd Hub. The best time to view the virtual fireworks is after dark. How to download: Go to the app store and download the Snap'd Hub app on your device, confirm your location after opening the app, and click on your local event.
SAFE TO SWIM?
Who doesn't love the beach scene? Christie Conservation Area, Beach Boulevard, Van Wagner's, Confederation Park, Valens Conservation Area Beach and Binbrook Conservation Area beaches are all open after recent testing. Pier 4 and Bayfront Park beaches are closed. In Halton: Beachway, Coronation Park East and West are open for swimming. Brant Street, Kelso Conservation Area, Bronte Beach Park and Coronation Park West are closed. For more information, call 905-546-2189 for Hamilton and 1-866-442-5866 for Halton. Go to: hamilton.ca/beaches or halton.ca/beaches.
OPEN OR CLOSED WEDNESDAY
Most retailers, including grocery stores, banks, beer and liquor stores, will be closed Wednesday.
There is no Hamilton or Halton garbage collection on Wednesday. Pickup is one day later if your collection falls on the holiday.
For Hamilton emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewer systems, public health and safety issues, call 905-546-2489.
HSR will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule on Wednesday. Burlington Transit will run on a Sunday schedule on Wednesday.
DARTS is on holiday service hours on Wednesday. All subscription trips on DARTS, with the exception of dialysis, are cancelled.
The drive-thru COVID-19 testing centre at Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena is closed on Wednesday.
Hamilton libraries including takeout services are closed Wednesday.
Royal Botanical Gardens is open.
African Lion Safari is open. Advance tickets only.
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is open.
The Hamilton Farmers' Market is closed Wednesday. It is open Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com