What's on in Hamilton this August long weekend?
Somehow, it's August.
It may feel like summer is slipping away but there are still plenty of activities in the city to help you make the most of the season.
Here's some of what's on the go this August long weekend.
Marking Emancipation Day
At Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum, the City of Hamilton will mark Emancipation Day — honouring the abolition of slavery across the British Empire. The event will take place by the Griffin House National Historic Site Friday afternoon.
Festival of Friends
The annual free live music festival Festival of Friends runs Friday through Sunday in Gage Park, rain or shine.
Headliners include Sister Sledge, the group best known for dance anthem We Are Family, U.S. hip hop group Sugarhill Gang, known for their 1979 track, Rapper's Delight, Juno-winning singer-songwriter Dan Mangan, who recently released a new album Natural Light, and Brett Kissel, from Northern Alberta, who has won several Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
It's free to go to the event and there will be food for sale.
Night Market at Bayfront
From Friday through Sunday, Bayfront Park will be host to the Lucky Lion Night Market. Admission is free.
Organizers say the event will include hundreds of food items, merchants, nightly Chinese Lion Dance performances, a bar tent, music and claw machines.
Symphony by the lake
At noon on Saturday, the Brott Music Festival and National Academy Of Canada Orchestra are putting on a free one-hour concert at Pier 8. Organizers say to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
Swing Dancing at Pier 8
Also by the waterfront, Sunday swing dancing continues at Pier 8 through to the end of August. There will be a free lesson at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, with dancing starting at 7 p.m.
The dance floor is concrete and organizers recommend wearing comfortable shoes, a hat and packing water.
You don't have to bring a dance partner.
Children's activities at Dundurn National Historic Site
Hamilton Children's Museum will be holding a pop up at Dundurn National Historic Site on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers say there will be free nature-based activities in the Historic Kitchen Garden, allowing children to explore plants, animals and insects.
Making milky memories
Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, a dairy themed event will take over the Westfield Heritage Village Conservation Area.
Dairy Delicious will feature exhibits, games and hands-on activities about the history of dairy farming in Ontario from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
Advance registration is required.
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