A dozen things to do around Hamilton this weekend
Getting back out there has never felt so good in Hamilton.
There's no better way to reconnect after two years of event cancellations and closures then with a little bit of summer fun.
Friday's super sunny day will cloud over a little on Saturday and Sunday, bringing a chance of showers, so don't forget your umbrella.
Also, keep your mask handy, just in case you still need it. Ontario is lifting most mask mandates as of Saturday, but the government website also reminds people that organizations can implement their own policies.
Here are a dozen things to do around Hamilton this weekend.
Concession Streetfest
It's a Hamilton street party with musicians, dancers, DJ, chalk artists, stilt walkers, fire breathers, a car show, food trucks, Concession Street restaurants and more. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the road will be closed to traffic from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. between Upper Wentworth and Upper Sherman. concessionstreet.ca
Barton Village Festival
Live music, buskers, food, vendors, children's activities and more are waiting for you on Saturday on Hamilton's Barton Street. The Barton Village Festival will have the street closed to traffic on Saturday between Wentworth to Victoria streets between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Events start ramping up around 11 a.m. bartonvillage.ca
- On Sunday, expect more street closures on Barton Street East between Lottridge and Gage, Gage from Barton to Cannon, Cannon from Gage to Lottridge, and then Lottridge from Cannon to Barton for the St. Anthony's Feast Procession.
Ancaster Heritage Days
Ancaster Heritage Days event is Saturday and includes everything the community has come to love. Highlights include the parade, which starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of Wilson and Academy streets, soapbox derby, dog show, kids' world, live entertainment, street festival and fireworks. Parts of Wilson Street will be closed to traffic Saturday. See ancasterheritagedays.com.
Sound of Music Festival
Sound of Music Festival kicks off Sunday in Burlington with the Live on the Lake event at Spencer Smith Park. Hosted by Jeff Woods, general admission tickets are $80. The festival continues with a variety of activities with streetfest, midway and parade next weekend. soundofmusic.ca
Perfect peonies
The time is peak for peonies. They last but a few days so take time now to visit. Here are a couple of places to see this June flower.
- The herbaceous peony collection blooms from early to mid-June at the Royal Botanical Gardens. They have a major collection in Laking Garden, with plants also found at Rock Garden and in Hendrie Park. rbg.ca
- Whistling Gardens in Norfolk County. Enjoy the 1,300 varieties and species. It is the largest public collection in North America and certainly one of the largest in the world. Reporter J.P. Antonacci writes about this flowering gem in Saturday's Spectator. whistlinggardens.ca
Musical theatre
Ancaster high school students are back to the stage with a little musical theatre. Frozen Jr." continues on stage Saturday in the auditorium, 374 Jerseyville Rd. W. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Hamilton Arts Week
Arts Week is back with a lineup packed with local artists. Signature events, community activities, exhibits and more continue daily until June 17. The Signature Event PLAY THIS: Hamilton" is a series of audio plays created by local authors. They include augmented reality elements and each piece will take listeners on an immersive journey into the stories of Hamilton. Arts Week runs June 9 to 17. hamiltonartscouncil.ca
Art sale
St. Paul's United Church, 29 Park St. N., Dundas, is holding their Previously Loved Art Sale Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. Featuring watercolours, oils, prints and more.
AGH submissions
Time to submit your talent Hamilton. This September, the Art Gallery of Hamilton is producing a large exhibition featuring work created by Hamilton artists between 1950 and 2000. The exhibition, guest curated by Alexis Moline and curatorial consultant Bryce Kanbara, is to serve as an expansion of the Building Cultural Legacies project that celebrates Hamilton's rich and immersive visual arts history and communities. Artist are asked to submit artwork by July 7. Visit artgalleryofhamilton.com/cfs for more info.
It's Pride Month Hamilton
Want to know what's happening around Hamilton this weekend for Pride Month?
- Points of Pride virtual exhibit. Explore the sites of past and present 2SLGBTQ+ experiences in Hamilton that intersect across race, class, gender, age, and sexuality. Points of Pride aims to pay homage to the rich 2SLGBTQ+ heritage in the city, and creates a sense of continuity and connection among its many communities. Follow this link to find the tour: linktr.ee/hamilton_civicmuseums.
- Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, Pride Edition, is Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Enjoy banner painting, button making, music, and more. WAHC is located at 51 Stuart St. Proof of vaccination (for people 13 and over) and masks required.
- Collective Arts - Fruit Salad is Saturday from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. It's a Pride edition of happy hour for queer women, gender nonconforming folks and their friends inside the beer hall and on the outdoor garden patio, 207 Burlington St. E. Tickets are $27.54.
Walking tours
Join Bill King on Sunday for a free walking tour of downtown Hamilton. Explore the relics of the many railways that once blessed and plagued Hamilton. Meet at King and John streets at 10 a.m.
Hamilton's Stories in the Stones free two-hour walking tour at Hamilton Cemetery, 777 York Blvd., is Saturday. Join Robin McKee at 11 a.m. at the gatehouse. This week is the Art Crawl Tour. hamiltonhistory.ca.
A little ROM
Here's a nugget for our culture lovers out there. The first floor of the ROM gallery is free to wander through until Sept. 25, opening up 80,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Game day
Game 5 of the OHL championship series is Sunday at 2 p.m. in FirstOntario Centre. ticketmaster.ca
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator. jmoore@thespec.com