Eight things you can do this weekend in the Hamilton area
Celebrate the official start of autumn with some time honoured traditions. Pumpkin patches are open, the Ottawa Street sidewalk sale is on and the Forge FC are home.
True to season, you can expect a cooler weekend with showers likely both Saturday and Sunday. The daytime highs should be around 18 C with temperatures dropping as low as 11 at night. With a little luck we could see some sunshine on Saturday.
Note that provincial regulations require proof of double vaccination mostly for indoor public settings. Be prepared for these rules to apply to the following events.
Here are eight things to do this last weekend of September.
SIDEWALK SALE
The Ottawa Street BIA's annual sidewalk sale is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be music, a kids' zone and more to explore between Main and Barton streets.
FALL FUN
Corn maze and pumpkin patch! Yup, it's that time of year again. Here are some local farms stacked with fall fun:
Lindley's Farm and Market at 900 Fiddlers Green Rd. has hayrides and a corn maze from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Harvest Festival Weekends at Puddicombe Estate run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Puddicombe Farm is located at 1468 Highway 8 in Winona. Train rides, a campfire, live entertainment and more.
Merry Farms at 1974 Concession 2 Rd. W. in Lynden opens for pumpkin patch events this weekend until Oct. 31. Activities include wagon ride, a corn maze, kids activities, food trucks, pumpkin patch and more. Admission is $15, and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with no new admission after 4 p.m. No pets allowed.
Tickets are available for Pumpkins After Dark, an outdoor 2.5-kilometre drive-thru Halloween event in Milton. Country Heritage Park, 8560 Tremaine Rd. pumpkinsafterdark.com
Halloween Haunt returns to Canada's Wonderland on Friday transforming the theme park into a scream park filled with thrilling attractions, unspeakable horror and amazing night rides. Due to COVID-19, indoor mazes have been transformed into new outdoor experiences throughout the park. canadaswonderland.com
CULTURE DAYS
Canada's annual Culture Days are Sept. 24 to Oct. 24. A sample of local events this weekend include author talk, and Burlington Artists Tent Tour. For a full list, visit culturedays.ca.
- Enjoy a conversation with Ava Homa as she reads from her debut novel Daughters of Smoke and Fire," at a virtual author event through the Hamilton Public Library, Saturday, 2-3 p.m. Question period to follow. Visit the hlp.ca events page to stream.
- The 2021 Burlington Artists Tent Tour will feature 18 artists and artisans at eight locations in the city of Burlington showing their work outdoors in tents rather than in the studio with COVID protocols in place. It is a free, self-driving tour on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. artinaction.ca
WALKING TOURS
Stories in the Stones walking tour with Robin McKee is Saturday morning. This Hamilton cemetery free public tour looks at Hamilton's past mayors. Meet at the Gatehouse, 777 York Blvd., by 11 a.m. hamiltonhistory.ca
Tour downtown to see Hamilton's ugliest buildings. Join Bill King on Sunday for the free walking tour. Meet at the King and John streets in Gage Park at 10 a.m. for the 90-minute tour.
CHARITY WALKS/RUNS
Running for Rachael presented by the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton is Sunday at 9 a.m. This 5K run/walk is virtual this year in keeping with social distancing and health guidelines. Registration is free but a $10 donation is suggested. Visit raceroster.com/events
Kidney Walk continues as a virtual event on Sunday, 10 a.m. Participants chart their own path and the fundraiser's celebration is online using Facebook and YouTube. kidneywalk.ca
- Mudgirl run is Oct. 2-3 at Binbrook Conservation Area. Register now. mudgirlrun.ca
FALL FAIR
The Wainfleet Fall Fair has been modified to a one-day event on Sept. 25, held mostly virtually. Tickets are available to Wainfleet and Port Colborne residents only for the live Demolition Derby. wainfleetfallfair.com
- The Ancaster Fair was cancelled.
GAME DAY
Hamilton's Forge FC take on Pacific FC Saturday, 7 p.m. at Tim Hortons Field, 75 Balsam Ave. N. Call 905-527-3674 or tickets@forgefootball.club to purchase match tickets. forgefc.canpl.ca
HPO
They're back. A free community full-orchestra concert with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra at FirstOntario Concert Hall, 1 Summers Lane, is Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are sold out but you can register for livestream or on-demand to see this 45-minute concert. Visit hpo.ca
NOTES
Drivers should note that the QEW Toronto-bound ramp to the 403 near Ford Drive is fully closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. Detours will be marked.
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com