It's going to be a mostly sunny weekend in Hamilton, with lots of events around the city starting Friday.
The Winona Peach Festival
The Winona Peach Festival, from Friday to Sunday, promises something for every age group. In addition to rides and games for kids of all ages, the arts and crafts section has more than 75 crafters. Over 100 vendors with different products are in the commercial exhibits area. The festival also includes free entertainment on the Main Stage/Safari Children's Dentistry Stage and a community area with many different kinds of foods — including, of course, peaches galore. The main stage starts Friday night and ends on Sunday afternoon at Winona Park, 1328 Barton St. E. Admission is free.
Goat-a-palooza
Triple C Farm at 500 Carluke Rd. W. in Ancaster is holding its annual Goat-a-palooza on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers say "there will be tons of free entertainment," including two bouncy castles, educational tours, colouring sheets, character meets, lawn games and more. The entry fee is $10.
Brantwood Farms Flower Field
From Thursday through Sunday — all summer long — you can stroll through the 1.2-hectare flower field at Brantwood Farms, 251 Powerline Rd., Brantford, and enjoy the sights and smells of more than 60 varieties of flowers, including sunflowers, lisianthus, zinnias, dahlias and sweet peas. You can take the time to relax and enjoy the experience of choosing the perfect flowers to make a beautiful arrangement for your home or for a gift. The farm will provide the clippers and containers to pick into and will wrap your bouquet for you to take home. Individuals and groups (two or more) are required to purchase a minimum of one $15 mason jar of flowers.
Dundurn National Historic Site
Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Blvd., Hamilton, is hosting a free outdoor garden event this Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Young ones are invited to drop in for free nature-based activities in Sophia's Garden, a new child-focused interactive space located in the Dundurn's Historic Kitchen Garden. This new garden features plants selected to inspire kids to touch, smell, and interact with nature. You are also invited to join Hamilton Children's Museum staff to explore plants, animals, and insects and engage in hands-on activities.
73 'Til Infinity
Back for the second year, 73 'Til Infinity is part dance show, part block party inspired by hip-hop and street dance cultures. Featuring an eclectic mix of dance performances, cyphers and battles with sounds provided by DJ's The Brown Brothers, DJ Fazooli, Onglish & DJ Realistic, and live musical performances from Lex Leosis, Stealth Elementz, Tarek Funk and S.O.A.P, 73 'Til Infinity will once again bring the vibe of a classic block party to Hamilton's downtown core. The free event is for all ages and presented by the City of Hamilton. It's curated and organized by Josh Taylor and Defining Movement Dance. The last run this summer of 73 'Til Infinity takes place Friday night from 7 to 8 p.m. in the car park at Wilson Street and James Street North.
A Night of Abba
There will be lots of entertainment at an Abba dance party from 6 to 10 p.m. at HWT Patio, 57 Discovery Dr. The event is free and caters to all ages. There will be food, treats and slushies, popsicles, a sparkle station with a makeup artist to give you a disco glam look, and a drag show featuring some Abba queens (and kings).
Hamilton Vintage Community and Markets
Hamilton Vintage Community and Markets has put together a group of vintage vendors for a vintage market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at 57 Discovery Dr. The free event will have food and ice cream plus DJ Mar Sanchez playing "some feel-good summer tunes."
Magic and Comedy at Levity
Starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday there will be magic and comedy starring magician Matt Disero as seen on Penn & Teller's Fool Us. The event, which will be held at Levity Comedy Club & Lounge, 120 King St. W, Hamilton, will feature magician Ken Pham and comedian Jimmy England. Tickets cost $20 plus HST.
Dub Poet Michael St. George
Dub Poet Michael St. George will be live at the Mule Spinner, 11 Landsdowne Ave., Hamilton, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. St. George, a Jamaican by birth, is a unique dub performance artist. With his dramatic power and vocal skills, St. George is consistently pushing the boundaries of songs and poetry, utilizing the roots reggae cadence, world beats and jazz influences to connect with audiences of diverse age and culture. Tickets cost $27.96.
Hamilton Cardinals Baseball
Hamilton Cardinals will play the London Majors in the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 IBL Playoffs. The schedule for the series is as follows:
Art Gallery of Hamilton: Closing Event and Artist Talk
The Art Gallery of Hamilton will hold a closing event and artist talk for Melissa General's exhibition from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. General has taken over the David Braley and Nancy Gordon sculpture atrium with an exhibition and evolving new body of work centered on her identity as a Mohawk artist from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, as part of the RBC Artist in Residence program. General is Mohawk/Oneida from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.
Final Thoughts: An Encore of Summer Fun
With the end of summer fast approaching, make sure you grab these last few moments of warm weather and enjoy the many happenings around Hamilton. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly festival, a vibrant music scene, or a taste of local history, this weekend offers something for everyone. So, get out there, explore, and embrace the spirit of summer!
