Attractions Ontario Events

Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology, 900 Woodward Ave., Hamilton
Using 3-D photography to capture images of the architecture and machinery of the 1859 Pumphouse, local designer Jennifer Kaye has done photographic justice to the beauty of this National Historic Site. Put on a pair of 3-D glasses to see the 1859 Waterworks depicted with startling realism, and to learn about 3-D photography and machine art.
Date: January 19, 2019 to September 8, 2019
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Ages: All
Cost: FREE Exhibition. Regular admission rates apply to the museum:
Adults: $7.50, Seniors/Youth: $6.50, Children: $5.50, Infants: Free, Family: $22.00
Contact: 905-546-4797, steamtech@hamilton.ca, www.hamilton.ca/museums

Gods in My Home brings together Chinese ancestral paintings and traditional popular prints, and examines the unexplored connection between these two seemingly separate genres in the context of Chinese Lunar New Year. These images reflect a Chinese view of reverence and the belief that these portraits and prints were capable of blessing and protecting the prosperity of family lines.

Visitors are invited to explore beautiful objects including New Year prints and paintings, ancestral portraits, paper gods and ceramics, and discover the shared family values, ritual concepts, belief in visual powers and common traditions that bind them. Experience these compelling and never-before-seen images through an artistic lens in this ROM original exhibition.

In 1991, during his tenure as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Henry N. R. Jackman donated his historic collection of toy soldiers to the Royal Ontario Museum.

While there are a few of these collectables currently on display in the J.F. Driscoll Family Stair of Wonders, this new installation will showcase almost all of the Hal Jackman Toy Soldier Collection, which traces the historic life span of Britains Ltd., one of the world’s pioneers in the manufacturing of toy soldiers. Visitors are invited to enjoy the artistry and detail of this outstanding collection, and learn about the legacy of Britains Ltd.’s years of lead toy production from 1893-1966.

Explore the spectacular royal arts of one of India’s greatest former kingdoms, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Alluring jewellery, lavish tents and canopies, vibrant paintings, and opulent decorative arts tell stories of kingship, strategic alliances, the role of women and life at court. Amassed over the course of nearly four centuries, these treasures reflect the history and artistic legacy of the Rathore dynasty, one of the longest continuous royal lineages in the world, that ruled this desert kingdom until India’s independence in 1947.

Treasures of a Desert Kingdom features masterpieces drawn from the collection of the former royal family, most of which are on display outside their palace setting for the very first time. While the stunning objects highlight India’s multifaceted past, they reveal a lasting cosmopolitan culture that was sustained by a delicate balance between local and external influences, and tradition and modernity.

Photo: Neil Greentree.

Join an immersive IMAX® adventure to experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs. In this inspiring true story, our best friends are also real-life superheroes. Journey around the globe to meet remarkable dogs who save lives and discover the powerful bond they share with their human partners. Follow Halo, a rookie puppy training to join one of the most elite disaster response teams in America. Meet Henry, an avalanche rescue expert in the Canadian Rockies, Reef, a Newfoundland lifeguard with the Italian coastguard, Ricochet, a Californian surf legend helping people with special needs, and the Bloodhound brothers, Tipper & Tony, who are leading the fight to save endangered species in Africa. As we discover the incredible abilities of dogs and the astonishing science behind their superpowers, we’ll never look at our best friends the same way again!

Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology, 900 Woodward Ave., Hamilton
Discover this National Historic Site from an entirely different perspective. Roll up your sleeves, put on your hard hat, and join us behind the scenes. See the 1859 Gartshore pumping engines from every angle. Get up close and personal with the walking beam, the oil cups and the flywheel. Visit the artifact storage buildings and learn more about Hamilton’s fascinating industrial history. Explore the 1913 building, see our largest artifacts and learn about Hamilton’s first electric Pumphouse. Immerse yourself in the complete history of this fascinating museum, learn about the people, hear the full story, and depart with a clear understanding of how this marvel of engineering truly worked.
Date: MONDAYS April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 26, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, 2019
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Ages: All
Cost: $30 per person. Pre-registration required. (Includes a family admission pass valid at any one of the Hamilton Civic Museums – maximum value: $32)
Contact: 905-546-4797, steamtech@hamilton.ca, www.hamilton.ca/museums

Set on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, with a bounty of water and resources, Ancaster has attracted humans since the retreat of the last glacier over 10,000 years ago. Using 31 stories and artifacts, one for every year the museum has been open, this exhibition offers snapshots of Ancaster’s history from the earliest human occupants to the present day. Sponsored by the Shaver Family Foundation.
Date: May 4 – December 31, 2019
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Tuesday to Saturday)
Ages: All
Cost: Adults: $3.50, Seniors/Youth: $3.00, Children: $2.50, Infants: Free, Family: $10.00
Contact: 905-648-8144, fieldcote@hamilton.ca

Charles T. Currelly, one of the founders of the ROM, obtained two Fayum mummy portraits from Sotheby’s in 1912. Romano-Egyptian Fayum mummy portraits, which originally covered the face of mummies, hold great significance as they represent some of the earliest known and finest painted portraits in the history of art. Mummy portraits identified the deceased, and were created with wax or tempera on wood panels or canvas shrouds, during the Roman era, from about AD 20 to AD 300.

Mummy portraits show us not only a wide diversity of the people who once lived in Roman-Egypt but also shed light on the popular hairstyles, clothing, and jewelry two thousand years ago. Some are wonderfully preserved, and they are an unmatched source of information on Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultural traditions.

After acquiring the two portraits, one of them remained at the ROM, while the other went to the National Gallery of Canada. Now after more than 100 years of separation, the two well-preserved mummy portraits will be together again. The paintings will both be on display in the Eaton Gallery of Rome, Level 3, through November 24, 2019.

Photo: Left (ROM 2018.52.1) and right (ROM 918.20.1). Photo: Brian Boyle © Royal Ontario Museum.

Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Blvd., Hamilton
In the 19th century servants were employed in large homes like Dundurn to do a variety of tasks such as washing, dusting, polishing and cooking. Assisted by Dundurn’s Cook Demonstrators, guests will work together to make and savour a traditional recipe in our historic kitchen. Led by costumed staff, visitors will explore over 40 rooms and discover the history of the MacNab family and the servants who lived and worked below stairs to support their affluent lifestyle.
Dates: SATURDAYS, May 25, June 22, July 27, August 24, September 28, 2019
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Ages: All
Cost: $35.00 per person. Pre-registration required. (Includes a historic recipe souvenir book, and family admission pass valid at any one of the Hamilton Civic Museums – maximum value: $32)
Contact: 905-546-2872, dundurn@hamilton.ca, www.hamilton.ca/museums

Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Blvd., Hamilton
Dundurn Castle is built on the history of the War of 1812. Burlington Heights, where the Castle now stands, was occupied by the British military from 1813 until 1815. Your journey will begin at The Hamilton Military Museum to uncover the history surrounding the property. Discover evidence of military fortifications as the tour takes you outdoors through key areas in Dundurn Park including the rarely see Cock Pit building. The guided tour concludes with a look inside Dundurn Castle focusing on the 1812 architectural features that Sir Allan MacNab later incorporated into his well-known home.
*This tour contains outdoor components; please come dressed for the weather and prepared for walking on uneven terrain.
Dates: SUNDAYS, May 26, June 23, July 28, August 25, September 22, 2019
Time: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Ages: All
Cost: $30.00 per person. Pre-registration required. (Includes a family admission pass valid at any one of the Hamilton Civic Museums – maximum value: $32)
Contact: 905-546-2872, dundurn@hamilton.ca, www.hamilton.ca/museums

An unprecedented collection of over sixty paintings – including works from Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, and Jacob van Ruisdael – provides insight into the 17th century Dutch and Flemish ways of life, whether through luxurious still life, humorous genre scenes, sumptuous portraits, or detailed landscapes, cityscapes, and architectural paintings.

Exhibition organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Image: Hendrick Avercamp, Winter Landscape near a Village, about 1610–15. Oil on panel. 53.3 x 94.6 cm. Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection. Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Join us at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery for the opening reception of our summer exhibitions at 2:00pm on Sunday, July 7. The opening remarks will be followed by a talk and tour from artists Nurielle Stern & Nicholas Crombach. This event is free, all are welcome.

Summer exhibitions include:
The Eye of the Beholder
June 1 to September 8, 2019
Artist: Joon Hee Kim

From the Collection: Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 19 to September 8, 2019
Artists: Carl Beam, Ann Beam, Anong Migwans Beam, Michael Robinson, Nick Sikkuark, Steve Smith, Leigh Smith

Whale Fall
July 2 to September 8, 2019
Artists: Nurielle Stern & Nicholas Crombach

En Route : Sculptural Ceramics and Glass Emerging from Manitoba
July 6 to September 8, 2019
Curated by Sheila McMath and Grace Nickel
Artists: PJ Anderson, Gayle Buzzi, Grace Han, Terry Hildebrand, Monica Mercedes Martinez, Alana MacDougall, Chris Pancoe, Mary Stankevicius, Peter Tittenberger

Image: “In Your Hands” (Detail), 2019, Glazed Ceramic, Gold Luster. Joon Hee Kim.

Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Blvd., Hamilton
Dundurn’s historic Kitchen Garden catered to the nutritional needs and aesthetic desires of
the MacNab family 150 years ago. Enjoy informative stories and historic gardening knowledge
conveyed by costumed garden staff. The tour promises to be a pleasure for the mind and the
senses.
Date: July 2, 2019 to September 1, 2019 (closed Mondays)
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Ages: All
Cost: Free outdoor event. Regular admission rates apply to the museum:
Adults: $12.00, Seniors/Youth: $10.00, Children: $6.50, Infants: Free, Family: $32.00
Contact: 905-546-2872, dundurn@hamilton.ca, www.hamilton.ca/museums

Looking to get your fingers in the dirt, learn something new? Join us for this free, drop-in program in Dundurn’s Kitchen Garden. Participants will work alongside Dundurn’s Gardeners in a variety of seasonal tasks, which range from harvesting and washing produce, arranging flowers, weeding, pest control or pruning. All skill levels are welcome! All participants are required to supply their own close-toed shoes. Water bottles, hats, and sunscreen are recommended for all participants.
Date: Wednesday’s from July 3, 2019, to August 28, 2019
Time: Drop in from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Cost: Free outdoor event.
Ages: 10 and up (Children between 10-13 years of age require adult accompaniment)

Seed Bombs!
Be a part of the Sudbury regreening story by creating your very own seed bombs! These mulch paper balls with seeds from native flowering plants will help beautify your very own garden. If you are not from Sudbury, not to worry, these can also be planted as part of your indoor garden.
Location: Outdoor Science Park at Dynamic Earth
Time: 2:00pm daily, weather permitting

Mine Training in Virtual Reality
Immerse yourself in a virtual mine to see, feel and hear what it takes to make a mine safe. This virtual training tool allows workers to test their skills before they descend underground.
Location: MacLean Engineering Gallery at Dynamic Earth
Time: runs daily, please ask a Bluecoat and they would be happy to guide you through this experience.

Molding the Past
Discover the mysteries of ancient Earth and what stories can be unlocked through rocks. This hands-on workshop will allow you to explore the formation of sedimentary rocks and the fossils that form within them.
Location: Earth Gallery at Dynamic Earth
Time: 11:00am daily

Gold Rush!
Get your hands dirty and pan for gold to find your quota for the day. Discover the ancient method of using water to excavate, transport and recover heavy minerals using the process of placer mining.
Location: MacLeod Rock Gallery at Dynamic Earth
Time: 4:00pm daily

Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology, 900 Woodward Ave., Hamilton
Discover this National Historic Site from an entirely different perspective. Roll up your sleeves, put on your hard hat, and join us behind the scenes. See the 1859 Gartshore pumping engines from underneath and from the very top. Get up close and personal with the walking beam, the surge tanks and the oil cups. Visit the artifact storage buildings and learn more about Hamilton’s fascinating industrial history. Explore the 1913 building, see our largest artifacts and learn about Hamilton’s first electric Pumphouse. Immerse yourself in the complete history of this fascinating museum, learn about the real people, hear the real story, and depart with a clear understanding of how this marvel of engineering truly worked.
Date: SATURDAYS July 6, 13, 20, 27 AND August 3, 10, 24, 31, 2019
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Ages: All
Cost: $25 per person. Pre-registration required. (Includes a family admission pass valid at any one of the Hamilton Civic Museums – maximum value: $32)
Contact: 905-546-4797, steamtech@hamilton.ca, www.hamilton.ca/museums

Calling all ninjas in training: Master Wu is ready to challenge you with an EPIC mission! LEGO NINJAGO® has been summoned to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto! Unleash your Ninja building powers to complete Master Wu’s challenges with exclusive building activities, mega mini movie creations and practicing your ninja moves with your favourite NINJAGO characters to become a ‘Master of Spinjitzu’! Are you pumped for the challenge?

Event highlights include:

– Discover your elemental power – Will you be fire or lighting? Or have you got your own elemental power that nobody else has?!
– Fly your Spinjitzu flyer – Test your vehicle on the Mountain of Madness! Test your flyer against others to see who has the strongest Elemental Power!
– Ninja training – Receive your Spinjitzu training to develop your ninja skills and make Master Wu proud!
– Create your epic battle movie – Using your Spinjitzu training put your ninja skills to the test and create the most awesome ninja combat sequence!
– Meet Kai – can you impress him with those new ninja skills you just learned!

The exhibition, An Index, exposes work by the first cohort of residency artists who entered Akin’s Studio Program in September 2018. While the participating artists’ practices range widely in terms of conceptual approach, style and media; they have also been influenced to some degree by the experience of sharing and conversing within Akin’s open-plan studio structure for the last nine months.

To find common points of departure for an exhibition, MOCA has invited curators Marsya Maharani and Marjan Verstappen, associated with the Younger than Beyonce Gallery, to work with the 24 participating artists. The curators’ proposal, An Index, speaks to process and production, to the varied artistic approaches found within one context and the relationships built through this programme.

Taking their inspiration from Akin’s residency at MOCA, in the former Tower Automotive building, Maharani and Verstappen drew on the site’s history as a car parts factory and also a venue for raves and artist studios. “Throughout the past year, the fourth floor of MOCA served to extend this legacy by opening space for studios, residencies, as well as programmes exploring art’s utilitarian role in contemporary society,” they explained.

“In the context of the site’s histories, this exhibition features works by artists who have produced within this space as part of the inaugural Akin Studio Program. An Index makes visible the labours of artistic creation through an open and honest charting of the processes, challenges, delights, and failures of making art in the city.”

The exhibition comprises work in a variety of media from sculpture, to video, to new wall murals by:

Adria Mirabelli, Carrie Chisholm, David Constantino Salazar, Emily Woudenberg, Emma White, Eva Kolcze, Helen Liene Dreifelds, Humboldt Magnussen, Jennifer Dany Aubé, Jessica Thalmann, Jieun June Kim, Leone McComas, Liang Wang, Maren Boedeker, Nuff, Polymetis, Raoul Olou, Raquel Da Silva, Samar Hejazi, Sara Mozafari, Stephanie Avery, Su Bin Ee, Tanya Louise Workman, and Walter Segers.

Teachers receive FREE admission to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre between August 1st and September 2nd, when they show their OCT/ECE Card, employee or school ID at the door.

To sweeten this deal, teachers can bring up to 4 guests who will receive $10.00 off of regular admission. No need to book in advance, just show up and build your memories!

Promotion valid August 1 – September 2nd, 2019. Offer only valid at the door. Cannot be combined with other offers. Adults must be accompanied by a child to visit. Please be advised that you may need to present Government ID along with your OCT/ECE card to verify your identification.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25TH
“It’s delightful when your imaginations come true, isn’t it?” (L. M. Montgomery)

You may want to pull out your puff sleeves for this one! Be transported to everyone’s favourite “P.E. Island” town as we reimagine the Village during Anne of Green Gables™ Day!

Head to Purple Hill Loyal Orange Lodge for Line Dancing from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., enjoy an ice cream and raspberry cordial making demonstrations (with a recipe cards to take home), enter a spelling bee, see if you could be top of the class in the late 1870s, play fair games and take part in our relay races, or try some of the chores that Anne would have been expected to help with.

Anne of Green Gables and other indicia of Anne are trademarks and Canadian official marks of the Anne of Green Gables Licensing Authority Inc.

L.M. Montgomery is a trademark of heirs of L.M. Montgomery Inc.

Flower Pressing and Dye Making

Beautiful, well cared for, gardens were a matter of pride during the 19th century. Plants were used for many things within the home, from remedies to cooking. Along with their practical uses, the Victorians loved to fill their homes with floral decorations. Learn how to press flowers and create a pressing as a family, then join us for a walk through the Dye Garden and discover how plants were used to make dyes for fabric!

Sponsored by Checkers Cleaning Supply

Adults $15.00
Children $12.00
Capacity: 25 people
Tickets for this workshop includes admission into our Anne of Green Gables Day event on August 25th!

Create your own mandala mug art! We’ll be making our own painted mug masterpieces on Wednesday, August 28th!
Remember, every painting we do can be fully customized
The event is from 6-8pm.

***FOR PUBLIC SESSIONS: CHILDREN UNDER 18 WHO ARE REGISTERED TO PAINT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A REGISTERED AND PARTICIPATING ADULT – 1 PERSON PER MUG***

It is $35/person, and includes a mug (2 variations available), paint, smocks, sealer, etc – you don’t need to bring anything! This event is open to children 10 There are ONLY 20 spaces total available. All materials will be provided. Spaces are limited – to reserve your seat, prepayment is required and tickets can be purchased from www.raewrightartistry.ca under “Party Registration”. This is a great introductory opportunity, whether you have painting experience or not. We will go through the painting step-by-step together.We will be painting Mandala painted mugs at The Round Table in Waterloo at 105-280 Lester St on August 28th at 6PM. Paint on, my friends!

Brockville is pleased to once again be a part of the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Great Lakes 2019 Series. This tour takes place in our region every three years and Brockville has been taking part since 2013.

The event takes place at the Brockville waterfront at Blockhouse Island Parkway, Centeen Park, and Hardy Park from Friday, August 30^th to Sunday, September 1^st, 2019. The grounds will open at 2pm on Friday, August 30th. We are a proud partner in the Big River Festival – click here to find out more about the other Big River events.

Tall ships, including the Bluenose II, and other watercraft line the waterfront and the harbour while entertainment and vendors will be set up on land. Admission to the grounds to see these majestic ships is available with a $5 wristband for all three days, while deck tours of the ships will be available by purchasing a Festival Passport for $15 which grants each passport holder access to each ship one time (deck tours are available on Saturday and Sunday only). The passport has details on each participating ship and will be stamped after each tour, making it a great take home souvenir from the event.
NOTE: your Festival Passport also gives you admission onto the grounds – you do not need to purchase both a passport and a general admissions wristband.

Some of the ships in attendance will be offering special day sail-outs and evening dinner cruises for an additional fee. New this year will be the option to purchase tickets to sail on tall ship the Empire Sandy during Friday’s Parade of Sail, and tickets to tour the Bluenose II and one other tall ship after hours on Friday and Saturday night to live music with drinks and finger foods in Centeen Park. Tickets to those events will be limited, so be sure to check our detailed ticket information page for details. At our past events these special tickets have all sold out prior to the event, so be sure to plan ahead and purchase your tickets in advance. Tickets are now on sale, click here for details and direct purchasing links. Follow our festival facebook page for updates and notices about ticket availability.

New in 2019: We will be partnering with the Red Hot & Blue Rockabilly Weekend to jointly offer our two festivals in harmony with one another. We hope that you will have the chance to attend both festivals while you are visiting us in Brockville that weekend. Please be advised that all accommodations will likely be booked up prior to the festival taking place – please plan ahead and book your rooms early! While some RHB events will be taking place right next to the Tall Ships® Festival Grounds, you will not need a festival wristband or passport to access the RHB festival. Ticket takers will be positioned at Blockhouse Island past the RHB tents, though we hope that you will choose to attend both events.

We hope to see you here in Brockville in 2019!