WEEKEND PLANNER
Give yourself some time this weekend to enjoy some of the many local attractions and events in and around Hamilton.
It’s all geek
ConBravo! The annual Festival of Everything Geek opened Friday night at the Hamilton Convention Centre and runs through Sunday at 6 p.m. This festival is about passion, fierce fandom, hot topics, technology, creativity and sharing in the voices of a generation. This convention embraces electronic media in all its online goodness. This is a weekend of fun, with concerts, games, video games, panels, live game shows, vendors and artists. Single-day tickets are sold at the door. Weekend passes will be available at the door for as long as supplies remain. conbravo.com
Brott festival
The Brott Music Festival presents “Last Night of the Proms” Saturday, 7:30 p.m. The festival returns to the FirstOntario Concert Hall for the performance, which features the usual unruly audience participation, Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” “Rule Britannia” and Parry’s “Jerusalem” (bring your flags and be ready to sing). This concert also includes the incomparable David Curry and Lauren Margison. Tickets are $44 for regular admission. brottmusic.com
Women of War
Jump back to the ’40s Saturday on the decks of the legendary warship HMCS Haida. “Women of War” marks the 75th anniversary of Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, or WRENS. Learn about the tremendous contributions of women to the war effort with special exhibits, films, talks and more. Featured will be three veterans who will be presented at a ceremony starting at 11 a.m. Tea and refreshments served along with the delightful harmonies of jazz trio, The Ault Sisters from 1 to 3 p.m. A special admission rate of $3.90 for adults, $1.90 for children, $9.90 for a family and $3.40 for seniors will apply. The HMCS Haida is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 658 Catharine St. N.
Dusk dances
This outdoor festival at Bayfront Park offers participants a chance to dance into dusk by taking part in a workshop in contemporary and traditional dance. The festival offers free workshops at 6 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday. The workshops will be followed by a band performance at 7 p.m. and choreographed dance performances at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation: $10. 905-528-4020 duskdances.ca
Films in the forest
Bring your blanket, sleeping bag or folding chair to watch the show on Saturday. Films in Forest features “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, 650 Governors Rd., Dundas. Arrive by 7:30 p.m., the film begins at dusk. Admission is $15 per car. conservationhamilton.ca
Fringe
The annual Hamilton Fringe Festival continues daily until Sunday with more than 50 companies offering musicals, physical theatre, dance, comedies, drama, science fiction and sketch comedy at 10 downtown venues. Tickets are no more than $10 per show, available at the door one hour before showtime. You must also buy a one-time $5 fringe backer button to access the festival. For full show listings, times and locations, visit hamiltonfringe.ca
Haunted waterworks
Wear a costume if you head to Wild Waterworks on Sunday. It’s a Halloween-themed day with a pumpkin colouring contest, a haunted house and trick-or-treating. Wild Waterworks is located at 680 Van Wagner’s Beach Road. Wild-waterworks.com
Vintage Wheels and Wings
Bring your vintage vehicle to be part of our show or just drop by to enjoy the barbecue and view the beautiful collection of vintage cars and aircraft. Car owners may take pictures in front of a vintage aircraft for a minimum donation of $5 to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, regular admission rates apply. It’s happening Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum, 9280 Airport Road, Mount Hope.
Safe to swim?
Toxin-producing blue-green algae is present in Hamilton Harbour. Confirmed locations include Pier 4 Park Beach, Bayfront Park Beach and the Bayfront Park boat launch area. You are advised not to enter the water. Open as tested on July 24-25 are Binbrook Conservation Area Beach, Christie Conservation Area Beach, Valens Conservation Area Beach and Van Wagner’s Beach. In Halton, open beaches include Bronte Beach Park and Kelso Conservation Area. 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