Canada Day long weekend is here to kick off summer fun.
There are plenty of festivals and activities in the Hamilton area to entertain people of all ages. We’ve put together a list to help you make the most of this weekend.
Outdoor pools open
City of Hamilton outdoor pools will open on Friday for the summer.
These pools include:
- Ancaster Lions Outdoor Pool
- Birge Outdoor Pool
- Chedoke Outdoor Pool
- Coronation Outdoor Pool
- Green Acres Outdoor Pool
- Inch Park Outdoor Pool
- Parkdale Outdoor Pool
- Rosedale Outdoor Pool
- Victoria Park Outdoor Pool
- Walker Outdoor Pool
Four wading pools, with supervised shallow water areas for children, will open next Tuesday:
- Andy Warburton Wading Pool
- Gage Park
- Jesse Patterson (Huntington Recreation Centre)
- Powell Park
Dundas Driving Park’s wading pool is currently open.
The Big Bounce Canada
Touted as “the world’s biggest touring inflatable theme park,” The Big Bounce Canada is headed to Hamilton this summer starting Saturday.
Inflatable playgrounds, slides and sports arena will be set up at Hanes Corn Maze in Dundas.
Children of all ages can attend, as well as parents, with tickets ranging in price from $32 to $53.
It’s Your Festival
Head over to Gage Park for a packed weekend of concerts, food and activities. There will also be cultural acts including Kostas Greek Music, Suzuran Odori Group of the Canadian Japanese Cultural Centre and the Six Nations Smoke Dancers.
The festival runs from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Ribs, ribs, ribs
There are two Ribfests going on in Hamilton this weekend, offering a huge selection of ribs for meat lovers to enjoy.
The Waterdown and Flamborough Rotary Clubs are hosting a four-day event at Memorial Park running 4 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.
In Stoney Creek, ribs and beer will be on tap at Eastgate Square Mall all weekend.
It runs 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at noon to 7 p.m. Monday.
Bayfront Park fireworks
The City of Hamilton is hosting a full day of events for Canada Day at Bayfront Park.
The celebration begins at 1 p.m. Monday, with a food truck rally and a range of activities for kids from bouncy castles to face painting to games.
Entertainers will hit the stage at 4 p.m., kicking off with Stunt Ventriloquist Tim Holland.
Fireworks will fill the sky at 10 p.m.
Other Canada Day celebrations
Municipalities and organizations across the region are hosting events on Canada Day, including live music, activities for kids, food vendors and other performances, all finishing off with fireworks after dusk.
These include celebrations at:
Free admission on HMCS Haida
Climb aboard the national historic site at Hamilton harbour’s Pier 9 for free on Monday.
“Explore the legendary tribal-class destroyer, learn about brave sailors who served aboard the ship, and enjoy stunning views of Lake Ontario,” says Parks Canada.
“Join us on July 1st to honour Canada’s rich naval history.”
The ship is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.