More than 10 things to do in the Hamilton area this weekend and beyond
If you're not wasting your weekend away on a patio, you'll want to know what else is going on in the Hamilton area.
A taste of summer is upon us this weekend with the promise of sunshine and warm breezes. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures in the mid-20s with only a little cloud to shade your day and a 60 per cent chance of showers overnight Saturday to Sunday.
Step one of the Ontario-wide COVID-19 reopening starts Friday, allowing local patios to open, in-person shopping for non-essential items to begin and small outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people to occur. Indoor gatherings are still banned. You will still need to follow the provincial guidelines for Stage 1, but take some time to enjoy some of the following activities and events below. Don't forget you still need to wear mask.
PATIOS, OF COURSE
Patios are open now that Ontario is in step one of reopening. Read more from The Spectator's Fallon Hewitt on thespec.com. Cheers, Hamilton! Patios reopen Friday. Where can I go?
DRIVE IN
Yes! Just in time for warm summer evenings the Starlite Drive In in Stoney Creek is open as of Friday. On the bill this weekend are: Peter Rabbit 2 and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle; A Quiet Place Part 2 and Top Gun; Jurassic Park and Jaws. Visit premiertheatres.ca/starlite for ticket information and more.
THINK STRAWBERRY
Everyone's thinking strawberries and those jewels of early summer are starting to plump up as the season is about to kick off. Murphy's Country Produce, 2040 Guyatt Rd., Binbrook has pre-picked berries available and says the pick-your-own should start around June 14. Call their produce hotline at 905-692-5733 for up-to-date crop information. Another local Hamilton produce staple, Lindley's Farm & Market, 900 Fiddler's Green Rd., Ancaster, says strawberries are expected to be ready around June 16. Call their harvest hotline for daily updates at 905-648-4212.
Julia Lovett-Squires from The Flamborough Review set out a listing of six local farms where you can pick up produce. Read it on thespec.com: 6 freshly-picked Flamborough farm shops near you.
RELAY FOR LIFE
The Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life virtual event for Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville is Saturday from 8 to 9 p.m. The virtual experience will include all the things you love about Relay with inspirational opening ceremonies featuring impactful stories from Participants of Hope (cancer survivors), remarks from CCS, a luminary ceremony and more. Those who haven't previously committed to fundraise the minimum amount of $150 for adults or $60 for youth can choose to make a minimum donation of $45 instead. Visit support.cancer.ca/site/SPageServer/?s_qkey=www.google.com&pagename=RFL_NW_homepage for more information.
SUICIDE AWARENESS WALK
A community awareness campaign, SuiSTRIVE, hopes to help end the stigma and silence surrounding suicide. Walk on Saturday at 1 p.m. from Bayfront Park to Hamilton City Hall. All proceeds go toward SuiSTRIVE's event SuiSTRIDE and all remaining fundraising amounts will be donated to Mission Services. Masks and COVID protocols are required for participants. Donations of non-perishable food items are also being accepted. For more information, visit gofundme.com/f/suistrive.
THINK PINK
See flamingos around town? Area residents have been landing plastic flocks on lawns as a fundraising awareness campaign for BRIGHT Run 2021, which is live on Facebook Sept. 11. The BRIGHT Run raises money for breast cancer research at Hamilton's Juravinski Cancer Centre and McMaster University. Every dollar raised by participants goes to research. Visit brightrun.ca.
BIKE READY
Are your kids' bikes ready for summer? Join Neighbour 2 Neighbour on community day Saturday when New Hope Bikes will be at the Community Food Centre, 310 Limeridge Rd. W., Unit 10. They will be providing free tune-ups and small group cycling programs. Tune-ups are schedule from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Smart Ride group 1 is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and group 2 is from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Parent or guardian attendance is required. Don't forget to wear a mask.
BIKE MONTH
Hamilton's bike month contest doesn't end until June 30. If you want to enter to win one of three prize packs available, all you need to do is ride your bike during the month of June and you qualify. Visit hamilton.ca/streets-transportation/biking-cyclists/bike-month.
GOAT YOGA
Goat yoga is back at Triple C Farm animal sanctuary and petting farm, 500 Carluke Rd. W., Ancaster. It's $30 for a one-hour class. Book your reservation on their website: triplecfarm.ca.
DINOS AND FRIENDS TICKETS
Looking for some dramatic fun for the kids or grandkids? Dinos and Friends is a socially distanced, fully contactless, drive-thru event happening at Lime Ridge Mall from June 19 to July 4. The website says the tour lasts about 20 minutes. Tickets are $45 per vehicle. You can purchase tickets now at dinosandfriends.ca.
ADVENTURE GAMES
CluedUpp Games offers outdoor detective adventures and is in Hamilton on June 26. Can your team, two to 6 players, scramble across town solving the clues? The Hamilton Ripper team ticket is $63. cluedupp.com.
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com