CELEBRATING MOM
The weekend is here and so is Mother’s Day!
Whether a presence in your life, or not, take some time to honour and give thanks to the mother figures in your life.
Here are some ways to celebrate with or without mom this weekend.
Candle making
Channel those memories of making elementary school projects with a beeswax candle-making workshop at Mountsberg Conservation Area. Learn about the honey bees and waxmaking process, then make your own dipped beeswax candle. Registration required, Sunday only, $20 plus gate fee. Workshops are one hour and run at 10 and 11:30 a.m. as well as 1:30 and 3 p.m.
African Lion Safari
It might not be the safari she’s always dreamed of, but it sure is a lot closer. African Lion Safari opens for the season on Saturday. Purchase tickets online to save a few bucks on admission, $35.95 for adults, $22.95 for kids (3-12).
Doors Open
Doors Open Hamilton is drawing back the curtain on 31 local sites. From the creepy, Auchmar Manor, to the previously unvisitable Balfour Estate, there’s something for everyone. Virtual tours are also available.
As part of Doors Open, and for the first time in two years, Robin McKee is once again hosting free cemetery tours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This weekend, it’s Stories in the Stones: The Hamilton Women’s Tour in honour of Mother’s Day. Meet at the cemetery gatehouse, 777 York Blvd.
You can also join Dundas’ Stan Nowak for a two-hour walking tour along King and Hatt streets. Meet at the Dundas Museum & Archives at 10 a.m., Saturday and Sunday.
Stars on Ice
Figure skating fanatics will be delighted to discover that Stars on Ice has finally made it to Hamilton. Skating icons Kurt Browning and Elvis Stojko are headlining on Saturday. Tickets start at $37.70, show is at 7:30 p.m.
Live theatre
Looking for some quick entertainment? The one-act, suspense thriller “Sorry, Wrong Number,” which is based on a 1940s radio drama, is on at Village Theatre Waterdown. The 30-minute play has performances on Saturday, 4 and 8 p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m. Memorial Hall, 317 Dundas St., Waterdown. $15.
Game Day
The Bulldogs are at home as they take on the Mississauga Steelheads, Sunday at 2 p.m., for Game 2 of Round 2 in OHL playoff action. Beer is $5 at FirstOntario Centre from 1 to 2 p.m. for early birds. Tickets start at $24.
Pop Culture Market
Check out the free pop culture market on Saturday to get your fill of records, video games, comics, toys, books and more. All ages are welcome, 12 to 5 p.m., 20 Land St.
Ottawa Street Market
This Saturday, 9 a.m. until they’re gone, the Ottawa Street Farmers Market is handing out monarch butterfly garden mix. One per family, 3 Britannia Ave.
Stop plastic pollution
On Saturday, EcoLocke is hosting an event to encourage children and adults to ponder the effects of plastic. Linda Lukasik from Environment Hamilton is the main speaker. Native tree seeds will also be handed out. From 4 to 6 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church Gardens, 170 Dundurn St. S.
The movies
There’s some great films for Mother’s Day opening at the Playhouse Cinema this weekend. For the whimsical, mother-daughter duo there’s “Petite Maman,” while comedic green thumbs are sure to love “The Rose Maker.” More into spy types and true stories — check out “Operation Mincemeat.”
DELANEY CAULFIELD IS A HAMILTON-BASED WEB EDITOR
AT THE SPECTATOR. REACH HER VIA EMAIL: DCAULFIELD@THESPEC.COM
If your mom is into heritage and architecture, take her on a tour of the city’s iconic and historic buildings with Doors Open Hamilton