WEEKEND PLANNER
Colour your long weekend with Thanksgiving flair at a fall fair, picking pumpkins or taking in one of the annual fire department open houses. There’s so much to be thankful for. Here’s a list to get you going.
Final fairs
Take a ride on the Ferris wheel this Thanksgiving weekend. Our final two fall fairs have all the bells and whistles that make great memories. The Rockton Agricultural Society welcomes you to the 165th Rockton World’s Fair with demolition derbies, midway, 4-H, horse shows, a pie-eating contest and helicopter rides. Fairground hours are Friday midway from 4 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15, $7 for children six to 15; children five and under get in for free. An adult weekend pass is $50, youth pass is $20 and the family rate on Sunday is $35 for two adults and up to four children. A shuttle bus will be provided by the HSR from stops in Hamilton to the Rockton Fairgrounds. The fair is on Highway 8, Rockton. rocktonworldsfair.com The 177th Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show has it all. Midway, live performances and agriculture competitions. The fair continues daily until Monday, gates open at 8:30 a.m. Admission is $13, $6 for kids six to 13, free for children five and younger. Sunday is Family Day with a $30 rate. Parking is $8. The fairgrounds are at 172 South Dr., Simcoe. norfolkcountyfair.com
It’s all in a game
The Hamilton Bulldogs take on the Niagara Icedogs Saturday, 7 p.m. at FirstOntario Centre, 101 York Blvd. Tickets available at the gate, or visit ticketmaster.ca
Wiggles
The Wiggles Big Show is Sunday at FirstOntario Concert Hall, 1 Summer’s Lane. Ready to delight families across the continent with their incomparable brand of preschool entertainment, The Wiggles will be celebrating their 25th birthday. Sunday show times are 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Hint: next week, Oct. 14, #IMOMSOHARD is at the FirstOntario Concert Hall with a 7:30 p.m. show.
Thanksgiving festival
It’s a giant family-friendly festival at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area. The 43rd annual Thanksgiving Festival features more than 150 selected artisans, live entertainment, children’s workshops, activities, gourmet foods and heritage demos. The hours are Friday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. There will also be a farmers’ market. Ball’s Falls is located at 3292 6th Ave. RR 1, Jordan. Admission: $6. thanksgivingfestival.ca
Thanksgiving dinners
Monday at 3 p.m., a full turkey dinner will be provided at the Good Shepherd Centre, 135 Mary St., 3 to 5 p.m. Guests are treated to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, served by volunteers and staff who provide a positive and dignified dining experience. Sunday at 5 p.m., Mission Services, 309 James St. N. Free turkey dinner, all are welcome.
Autumn fun
Lindley’s Farm and Market, 900 Fiddlers Green Rd., has pumpkins, hayrides and corn maze 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. $8 for hayride and field pumpkin, cornmaze $7. (open Thanksgiving Day) Dyment’s Pumpkin Patch, 416 Fallsview Rd. E., Dundas, offers scenic wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, a barnyard play area, corn bin, corn maze and zip line. $12. Open weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (open Thanksgiving Day) Halloween Ho-Down Weekends at Puddicombe Estate Farms and Winery is Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live entertainment, campfire, train rides, fall crafts and pumpkins. Day pass is $20 per person. Puddicombe Farm is located at 1468 Highway 8 in Winona. (open Thanksgiving Day)
Westdale Village
OktoberWest is on in Westdale on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. You’ll find some Oktoberfest flair with live music and entertainment along King Street West from Bond to Sterling. Streetside music includes The Fabulous Raves, Midtown, Oscar Kay Trio, Klaus the Organ Grinder and “Mr. Oktoberfest” George Kash.
Fire station open houses
Visit your local fire station Monday during the annual Thanksgiving Day open house event. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at all 26 area stations. It’s your opportunity to tour the station, view the fire trucks and speak to firefighters about fire safety. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for our community food banks. hamilton.ca/fire
n Want more? Visit the Multi-Agency Training Academy (MATA), located at 1227 Stonechurch Rd. E. from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The public will have an opportunity to tour the state-ofthe-art training facility, view equipment firefighters use, speak to them about safety and witness a display about the various jobs they perform during their emergency calls.
Thanksgiving Day: open and closed
There is no green bin, blue box or garbage pickup on Monday. Pickups will be one day later than usual. Recycling centres and transfer stations are closed that day. City offices, civic museums, recreation facilities and arenas are closed. Hamilton Public Libraries are closed Sunday and Monday. Seniors’ centres and clubs are closed. Hamilton Farmers’ Market is closed Sunday and Monday; it opens again Tuesday at 8 a.m. The Art Gallery of Hamilton open noon to 5 p.m.; the Warplane Heritage Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HSR, Burlington Transit and GO are on Sunday schedules. DARTS will run on a holiday schedule.
Compiled by Jennifer Moore, The Hamilton Spectator