Niagara-on-the-Lake is cramming a lot into one June weekend.
There are motorcycles rolling out for a cause, $3 books, strawberry treats, paddlers on the river, vintage vehicles, butterflies, live music, Father’s Day brunch, a whisky tasting, cannon fire at Fort George and sunset drumming at Ryerson Park.
Here is what is happening, in order.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
The Niagara Ride For Dad Group Ride starts Saturday at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 124, 410 King St., with registration from 7 to 8:45 a.m. and kick-off at 9 a.m. The motorcycle ride raises money for prostate cancer research and awareness, with riders travelling through Niagara wine country and along the Niagara Parkway.
A huge book sale runs from 8 a.m. to noon at 609 Simcoe St. The sale includes mysteries, vintage and Canadian titles, history, fiction and non-fiction. It is cash only, with most books priced at $3.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is also bringing back its annual Strawberry Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 323 Simcoe St. The event includes free admission, strawberry treats, a barbecue lunch, homemade goods, a silent auction, children’s activities and entertainment.
At Queen’s Royal Park, the Niagara River Paddle Challenge runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with paddlers taking to the water from one of NOTL’s most recognizable shoreline spots. The event is hosted by Paddle Niagara and is part race, part riverside spectacle for anyone who wants to watch the action from shore.
Pleasant Manor Community Day runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a welcome planned for 11 a.m. in the parking lot behind the long-term care building. The free event brings back a familiar community gathering with vintage vehicles, homesteading activities, bouncy castles, food and music by the Marty Allen Band.
Queenston Pottery will host a Meet the Artist Day from 1 to 4 p.m. with Niagara-based acrylic painter Robin Nisbet. Visitors can meet Nisbet, see her layered, landscape-inspired work and browse the gallery at 1648 York Rd.
Community Palliative Care and Wellness Niagara-on-the-Lake will hold a butterfly release from 1 to 3 p.m. at the NOTL Community Centre, 14 Anderson Lane. The annual memorial event gives people a way to remember loved ones through a shared community gathering.
The day ends with the Jackson-Triggs Summer Concert Series from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Jackson-Triggs Estate Amphitheatre. The series is celebrating 25 years of Canadian music at the outdoor venue on Niagara Stone Road.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
Father’s Day starts at Fort George National Historic Site, where Niagara in BOOM runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event gives dads a chance to fire a real cannon, with cannon firings available by pre-booking, while families can explore the fort and take in the site’s military history.
Queenston Heights Restaurant is hosting Father’s Day brunch, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The Niagara Parks restaurant sits inside Queenston Heights Park, overlooking the Niagara River, and is offering a Father’s Day menu built around local ingredients.
Music takes over Queenston Heights Park from 2 to 4 p.m. with the Queenston Concert Series. The free outdoor concert features the Niagara Youth Orchestra.
Music Niagara continues the afternoon with Moving Pictures: Victor Paukstelis in Recital — Father’s Day at St. Mark’s Church. The recital runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 41 Byron St.
The Shaw Festival also has a Father’s Day tasting event tied to Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Festival Theatre. Contact the Box Office to get last-minute ticket availability information.
The weekend closes at Ryerson Park with Drumming Down the Sun and Yoga in the Park from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The annual summer solstice gathering begins with yoga, followed by handpan drumming and community music as the sun sets over Lake Ontario.
