It’s going to be a mostly sunny weekend in Hamilton — and there are a lot of events happening around the city, both the free and ticketed variety.
From ghost walks to book markets to celebrating the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s 110th birthday, here are some things to do this weekend.
Hamilton Fringe Festival
Hamilton Fringe Festival is back for its 20th year. This year, 12 venues around the city are hosting a total of 43 indoor shows and 17 free outdoor events over 12 days.
There are also six free shows as part of Fringe on the Streets, a new initiative which will see a show start at Ferguson Station, with different performances along a 90-minute route that goes right through downtown Hamilton.
The full program is available on the festival website.
Birding for intermediate and beginners at Royal Botanical Gardens
Anyone curious to learn about Ontario bird species can check out the Royal Botanical Gardens’s birding courses this weekend.
The gardens runs a beginners, on Sunday, and intermediate-level program, on Saturday, both of which are taught by former teacher and a birding enthusiast Catherine Manschot. The beginner level will look at bird species and how to identify them in the field, whereas the intermediate course is for anyone looking to learn more about the identification nuances between similar species or delving deeper into understanding bird behaviour.
Admission is $20.
Dances at the Bay
HCA Dance and Theatre is bringing back Dusk Dances in the form of Dances at the Bay, a celebration of community and dance in Hamilton! The event features several dance performances and workshops and runs from July 19 to 21 at Bayfront Park.
Burlington Food Truck Festival
Burlington Food Truck Festival is back from July 19 to 21. Thirty Food Trucks will be gathered at the Burloak Waterfront Park for the weekend. Some of the bands performing there over the weekend include Crooked Zebras and Monkey Wrench.
Brott on the Waterfront
Brott Music Festival is doing a one-hour musical getaway on Saturday set against the backdrop of Hamilton’s picturesque waterfront. National Academy Orchestra of Canada musicians will be there to serenade people as they relax on fold-out lawn chairs and picnic blankets and soak in the tranquil atmosphere. The event is free to attend.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will face off against the Toronto Argonauts at Tim Hortons Field. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Art Gallery of Hamilton’s 110th anniversary
On Sunday, families can join the Art Gallery of Hamilton in the Fischer Gallery for hands-on art-making inspired by Hamilton-based artist and playwright Radha S. Menon’s new exhibition Touched by Devi.
Activities include creating musical instruments inspired by the traditional South Asian Ghungroo anklets, a traditional musical anklet tied to the feet of classical South Asian dancers.
My Friend Christopher will also be there for a special musical performance. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and is free for gallery members and $5 for non-members.
Later at 3 p.m., Menon will be giving a talk about her exhibit, and how the project responds to complex histories of women in colonized India.
Book Lovers Market
The Grain and Grit Beer Co., located at 11 Ewen Rd., is hosting the Book Lovers Market on Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Local vendors include author Carol King, Read Play Love Books, Blushed Designs Co, Blue Oasis Bath and Blind Date Library.
Hamilton Cardinals vs Guelph Royals
Cheer on the hometown team as the Hamilton Cardinals take on the Guelph Royals at the Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium.
The game is on Sunday and starts at 2:05 p.m. General admission is $12.
Industrial heritage and cholera cemetery tour
The Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology is partnering with Cemetery Chronicles for a tour that explores Hamilton’s journey from a cholera-ravaged city to a site of impressive technological advancement. The tour will delve into the history of technology in Hamilton and the lives of the people who changed the city.
The tour is on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event is free and participants are asked to meet their tour guide at The Hamilton Cemetery Gatehouse.
Explore the city’s dark history with Ghost Walks
Hamilton Ghost Walks will be giving a tour on Sunday that promises to be jammed with stories of murders, mobsters and hangings. The tour will touch on the reason for the city’s laughable reputation for hanging people, the story of Evelyn Dick who was suspected of killing her husband in the 1940s, and the rise and fall of Prohibition-era crime figure Rocco Perri.
Admission is $13.