Best Canada Day Celebrations

School's out for summer!!!!    I still consider when the kids get out of school as the official start of summer.     The countdown is on.

If you are going to be in town this weekend, "THE" place to be is right here in Waterdown for the Oh Canada Ribfest.    Not only are some of the best "Ribbers" in North America going to be at Memorial Park bbq'ing up a storm, there are many different food vendors, merchandise vendors, entertainment (like a midway, singer  Brian Melo, various bands, the movie "Rio" shown on a big outdoor screen in the park, dance performances from local studios) and Fireworks on Sunday July 1st!   The Rotary Club of Waterdown pays to put on during Ribfest and they are looking for donations from the public to help cover the cost of this entertainment they provide.    If you go onto the official website for Ribfest   http://ohcanadaribfest.ca   you can donate right on-line on their website.

Make sure you go to this link  http://ohcanadaribfest.ca/?page_id=407    to print off a coupon for $3 off a Half Rack Rib dinner which is valid Monday July 2nd only between 11am to 1pm.

You can also get the schedule for events that are happening on the website as well, just click on the "Entertainment" tab.

This will be the 3rd Annual Oh Canada Ribfest.   Waterdown's Ribfest has become a marquis event for the community, drawing rib fans from throughout Southwestern Ontario.  Sponsored by The Rotary Club of Flamborough AM and Rotary Club of Waterdown, this four-day festival will celebrate Canada Day, and recognize new Canadians, while raising much-needed funds for the many local and international charities, projects and humanitarian causes that the Rotary Clubs support.   Don’t miss the official Citizenship Court to swear in new Canadians, July 1 at 1:30

2012 Oh Canada Ribfest Hours

Friday June 29 3:00pm - 11:30pm
Saturday June 30 11:00am - 11:30pm
Sunday July 1st 11:00am - 11:30pm
Monday July 2nd 11:00am - 6:00pm

Best Free Museum Weekend (Burlington)

Looking for something interesting to do this weekend??   Burlington has many interesting historical attractions right down in the core, and this weekend you can tour them for free in a City of Burlington special event called "Doors Open Burlington"

Some of the great attractions that will have their "Doors Open" for free this weekend are Burlington Art Centre, Easterbrooks Hot Dog Stand, Emma's Backporch, Gingerbread House Gardens, Ireland House, Joseph Brant Museum, the RBG and more.  

To learn more about this great event...  follow this link http://cms.burlington.ca/Page7811.aspx  or drop into the Tourism Burlington offices (which is the Doors Open Burlington Headquarters) located at 414 Locust Street in downtown Burlington.

A copy of the information from the City of Burlington website is below....

June 9 & 10, 2012 Landmark Buildings Open their Doors for FREE!

The City of Burlington and the Doors Open Organizing Committee are hosting the 2012 Burlington Doors Open event on Saturday June 9 and Sunday June 10, 2012. Our 2011 event was a great success with almost 5,000 visits to our 19 sites.

Every year, Doors Open Ontario attracts large crowds across the province. From April to October, residents and visitors are invited to discover first-hand various communities’ heritage, natural and cultural resources. Since the program was launched in 2002, over 3 million people have visited sites participating in this exciting initiative. Festival and Events Ontario recognized Doors Open Ontario as one of the Top 100 Ontario Festivals.

On June 9 and 10, residents and visitors to the City will be given the remarkable opportunity to learn about places and spaces normally not open to the general public or for which an admission fee is usually charged. The event will help our community celebrate its heritage, strengthen and encourage local partnerships and stimulate tourism and the local economy. Admission to all Doors Open events and sites is free!

Highlights include guided heritage walking tours, the Fine Art and Craft Festival, mini performances by our student theatre and an antique/classic car display. Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens Centre and buy a famous foot-long hotdog at the historic Easterbrook's hotdog stand in our new Aldershot cluster of sites. Featured sites for the 2012 event will be announced soon.

Best Waterpark

Hamilton has broken a 34-year-old record for the hottest May 25.    The old record was 28.4 C, set in 1978.   The record was bested Friday afternoon when the temperature hit 29.
The new record was recorded at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. by Environment Canada at its weather station at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

But it’s possible other parts of the city got even hotter.  Some saw the outdoor thermometer on their car record the temperature at 33C!   The national weather agency had forecasted that Hamilton could would see temperatures hit 30.

Environment Canada says the average maximum temperature for the day is 20.4.   If you need something to take your mind off the heat, think about the lowest temperature recorded for the day — since they started keeping records in 1960 — a very chilly 2.6 C, in 1992.

On such a hot day like today, we start to dream of ways to cool off.... fortunately we have air conditioning at our house and many of my neighbours are fortunate to have a pool in their own back yard.

We also have quick access to a fantastic attraction where many locals like to spend a lazy day at the best Waterpark around in this area... Wild Waterworks.    We will have til next weekend to look forward to going there as  their website...  http://www.wild-waterworks.com   says the park does not open until next weekend... June 2/3, 2012.    With the warm weather we've had the last couple of years for the May long weekends,  maybe going forward they will consider opening earlier next year??!!

Please note: Wild Waterworks is a SMOKE FREE facility.

Located in Confederation Park, just off Centennial Parkway in Hamilton, Wild Waterworks offers a perfect place to spend a warm summer day.   Ride the four tube slides: Night Rider and Blue Demon and Vertigo and Sidewinder.

Move on and surf the waves in one of Canada's largest outdoor wave pools. Over a million gallons of heated water splash down every minute.

Discounted tickets to Wild Waterworks available at participating Mac's Milk stores.

The fun continues with the heart-pounding twists of the Corkscrew and the Kamikaze - the park's six-storey body slides.

Toddlers will love Little Squirt Works, a fun wading pool with slides, sprays, mists and fountains.

Confederation Park is an 83-hectare package of fun and adventure located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Hamilton. Here you'll find some of the area's best food and fun throughout the year. To see everything Confederation Park has to offer, go to the website and download the Confederation Park - Wild Waterworks Brochure.

You can purchase the Go-Solo Season's Pass for $69.99 or a Family Pass is available for $223.96 (for a family of 4, with an additional charge of $55.99 extra per person) which includes a free parking pass for Confederation Park.    With the Season Pass there are VIP privileges like a fast VIP gate entrance.

Best Victoria Day Fireworks

We've been looking forward to this weekend for so long... the first long weekend which seems to kick off the summer season.

The May long weekend has long been associated with opening up the cottage, camping, gardening, bbq'ing and enjoying spending time with the people you love to hang out with.    Days prior to the long weekend are usually spent "praying" for nice weather.

I love the long weekend as it is a goal for me to get my gardens (front, back & side!!) edged, mulched and annuals spread around to give summer long impact between the spurts of bloom between the perennials.

It is also a time when people look forward to FIREWORKS!

There are many variety stores, temporary mobile trailer stores and sections of retail stores that sell fireworks for you to set off (safely) on your own property (please note recommendations at the end of this post).

For the Victoria Day 2012 long weekend, you will only find Public Fireworks on Sunday May 20th at the Dundas Driving Park, located on Cross Street in Dundas.     These are the official City of Hamilton Victoria Day Fireworks and Burlington does not have Public Fireworks this weekend.     The Fireworks in Dundas are presented by the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club in partnership with the City of Hamilton.    Volunteers will be on hand to collect cash donations to help fund Rotary Community Projects.     PLEASE NOTE THAT PERSONAL FIREWORKS AND & SPARKLERS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE PARK.

Fireworks generally are set off when the sun goes down (sometime around 9-915pm.    As these are the only fireworks in the area, best get there early so you are not disappointed.

Guidelines for Setting off Fireworks:

• Family fireworks may be set off only on Victoria Day, Canada Day and the two days immediately preceding or following these two holidays.
• No child shall set off family fireworks other than a sparkler where the child is under direct supervision of an adult at all times.
• No person shall set off family fireworks on any land of which he or she is not the owner without first obtaining written permission of the owner.   Fireworks shall not be discharged over roadways.
• Appoint one person to be in charge who knows about the hazards of fireworks.   Carefully read and follow the label directions including requirements for safe distances to spectators.
• Always keep a pail of water or a water hose nearby.
• Firmly set the fireworks at least 1/2 its length in a pail of sand or dirt, angled slightly away from spectators, checking wind direction and speed.
• Never lean over a firework when lighting it.   Never re-light a "dud" firework.
• Supervise the use of sparklers with children.    They burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing and cause severe burns.   As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, immediately soak in water.

Best Gas Prices

Can you believe the price of gasoline?    I got my first car about 20 years ago, and back then the price of gas was a glorious 49.5 a litre!   Now, I consider myself lucky to fill up for under $75!

I've noticed over the years that in and around Waterdown, the best gas prices are usually on Highway 6 (North to Guelph) between the 6th Concession East and Carlisle Road.    It is usually a cent or two lower so if you need to go up that way it is very worth it to fill up when in the neighbourhood.    I wouldn't make a special trip to go out of my way to fill up on Highway 6 since the savings of going up there would probably be lost driving up there and back unnecessarily.

Technology can be wonderful, and I just recently discovered "Gas Buddy".    You can go on-line (www.gasbuddy.com)  to register a membership and immediately be able to find the best gas prices in your area... OR, you can download the Gas Buddy Mobile App for your smartphone.   I also found that Gas Buddy has a Hamilton specific site they operate at http://www.hamiltongasprices.com/    These sites offer a fascinating look at trends/maps/charts for the area, and all across Canada.     Gas Buddy's website also offers a great map to show you what gas prices are right across Canada.  http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_can_gastemperaturemap.aspx

Just logging in to Gas Buddy tonight on my phone I found that prices can be varied around town.    The Husky at the corner of Dundas & Hamilton was charging 135.6 a litre and just a little further down Dundas Street at the Esso Station (across from Kentucky Fried Chicken) it was 131.8.      The gas stations on Highway 6 range from 130.9 (Pioneer) to 131.6 (Olco).

In these times of expensive gas, it is great that there is a website/mobile app like Gas Buddy to help us out with our comparative shopping.

Best Easter Activities

There is a fantastic forecast for the Easter long weekend this year, so when you are not taking part in worship services or family dinners, a great place to enjoy some Easter fun is at Springridge Farms.    Springridge is a little gem in the hills of Milton and is only open from Mid-April to Christmas each year.    The farm opened today April 5th, 2012.

This weekend the farm is offering great a Easter Easter Festival April 6, 7 & 8, 2012!    There will be an Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny, Eggcellent Easter Show, Face Painting, Pedal Tractor Track and more!

Admission for the Easter Egg Hunt: $8.85 + $1.15 HST = $10 per person ages 2-92.  In addition to the special Easter Festival, you can also enjoy the rest of the grounds including the bakery, gift shop and cafe.   Then, for some hands on activites, check out the Fun Farm Yard.  

The Fun Farm Yard includes:

• Spiderweb Climber
• Farm Yard Pipe Slide
• Giant Sandbox
• Farm Animals
• Corn Trails
• Straw Play
• Escarpment Lookout
• 40' Windmill
• Antique Tractors
• The Fun Farm Yard experience includes a tractor drawn Wagon Ride.  Enjoy the views of the Niagara Escarpment and learn about the farm and the land around us. 

Wagon Ride Departure Times (Weather permitting)

Weekends: 11:30, 1:30 & 3:30

Weekdays: 11:00, 1:00 & 4:00

 

Watch Rocky the Rooster make friends with Animal Barn visitors!

Weekend Pony rides are available for the children for an additional $3 per ride.  Maximum weight 80lbs.
There is no charge to enter the Springridge Farm Gift Shop, Bakery and Cafe.  At Springridge our Fun Farm Yard is a safe, educational and fun area for families to explore and play. 
Regualar Season Fun Farm Yard Admission: $3.54 + .46 HST = $4 ages 2-92, April until mid-November.   
For those frequent visitors we recommend a 2012 Season Pass
Individual Pass $20
Family of 3 Pass $60
Family of 4 Pass $70
Season Pass excludes Festival weekends.
The admission charge only applies to those wishing to enjoy the The Fun Farm Yard activities and Wagon Ride.    

To learn more about the farm and it's history please visit...  www.springridgefarm.com

Best Mom to Mom Sale

Over the last number of years I have been hearing the term "Mom to Mom Sale" more and more.    It makes great sense... Anyone with kids knows that you have a small fortune of clothes that your kids have outgrown and in many cases they have never worn.    It presents a great opportunity for you to be able to make some money selling your gently used children's clothes, or pick up some new to you clothing.

A Mom-to-Mom Sale is essentially a huge rummage sale where you can buy gently used baby and kids' items directly from sellers.   Get great deals on second hand baby clothing, kids' clothing, toys, games, furniture and gear.
Generally, to participate as a seller, simply register for a table. You bring your items to the sale and sell them yourself.    Whatever you make at the sale, you keep!
As a buyer, just show up on the day of the sale and pay your admission. Bring cash to pay for your items and make sure you have change. Reusable shopping bags are great for toting your treasures.

Tomorrow is when one of the biggest Mom 2 Mom Sales in the area is happening at Flamborough Baptist Church in Waterdown located at #41 on the 5th Concession East (just east of Terra Greenhouses)  

Here's an excerpt from the churches website:

"Date	Saturday March 24 2012
	9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Details	Location: Church auditorium Admission: $2 for ages 12 and up ." Click on the link below for a map of how to get to the church.   Happy Shopping! http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=41+Concession+5+E&city=Waterdown&state=ON&zipcode=L0R&country=CA