PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
Festival of Friends
It’s a summer tradition. The Festival of Friends is back at the Ancaster Fairgrounds this weekend. The festival features a children’s stage, arts and crafts, foods of the world and three stages of music. Gates open Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at noon and the grounds close nightly at 11 p.m. A shuttle will depart on the quarter hour from King Street West across from the MacNab Street Terminal. On Friday, it leaves downtown at 4:30 p.m. with the last departure at 10 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, it leaves downtown at 11:30 a.m. with the last bus leaving downtown at 10 p.m. On the way back, the bus leaves every 15 minutes with the first departure at 5:05 p.m. Regular fares apply. On-site parking is $10 per day. festivaloffriends.ca
CANUSA
The 59th CANUSA Games, the international friendship Games between Hamilton and Flint, Mich., takes place Friday through Sunday. The Games is an Olympic-style competition bringing together more than 1,400 athletes who participate in the friendly rivalry of 16 sports. For sporting areas and times, see canusagames.com
Films in the Forest
Bring your blanket, sleeping bag or folding chair to watch the show on Saturday. The film scheduled for this date at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area is “The Lorax.” Saturday’s event also features a visit from Safari Niagara of Fort Erie. Its Zooniversity Show features animals, reptiles, birds and more. Arrive by 6 p.m. and the film begins at dusk. Admission is $15 per car.
Hell in the Harbour
It’s a challenging 6.5-km obstacle course happening at Bayfront Park on Saturday in support of Special Olympics Ontario. If you’re not a participant, the event is open to spectators and supporters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Together with the race, the day also features live entertainment, beer gardens, food vendors, merchandise vendors and more. Participants have preregistered.
Pony rescue
The Wind Dancer Pony Rescue is hosting its monthly open house on Saturday at the Rescue, 1165 Highway 8, in Sheffield, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet all the Wind Dancer ponies and learn about what it takes to care for ponies in need. The rescue is always looking for new volunteers and pony foster families.
Copps N Rodders
Don’t miss this classic vehicle show in support of the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. The show features hundreds of hot rods, vans, trucks, motorcycles as well as live music, the world’s largest truck convoy and food vendors. The show is Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bayfront Park, 200 Harbour Front Dr. The rain date is Aug. 28.
Safe to swim?
Public Health has closed Pier 4 Park Beach from swimming and wading due to the presence of toxin-producing blue-green algae as tested Aug. 4. For up-to-date information, call 905-546-2189 for Hamilton and 1-866-442-5866 for Halton or visit hamilton.ca/beaches or halton.ca/beaches.