Things to Do in Haldimand County

The final weekend of September is packed with things to do across Haldimand County, with fastball, hockey, live music, fall markets, food events, workshops and community fundraisers filling the calendar from Caledonia to Dunnville.

Sports fans have several options this weekend. The Ontario Challenge Cup USC Fastball Tournament runs Friday through Sunday at Jarvis Lions Park, while the Caledonia Corvairs host Welland Saturday night with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. Toronto Motorsports Park has the Race Cayuga Sportsman Series, and Rumble on the River brings amateur boxing to the Lifespan Centre in Dunnville Saturday evening.

If you’d rather get into the action yourself, the Grand River Rowing Club is holding a free Try Rowing Day Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bob Baigent Memorial Park in Cayuga. The Cayuga Food Bank also holds its monthly garage sale Saturday morning, while the Legion has live music from Van Moon and a beef-on-a-bun dinner later in the day.

Dunnville has one of the busiest schedules of the weekend. Saturday includes a kids’ scarecrow workshop at GrandErie Home Hardware, the Minga Repair Café, 3 Beez in a Car’s 14th Annual Fall Market and the Dunnville Rotary Club’s food and bottle drive. The Dunnville Legion adds a dunk tank followed by the Allen Bros Band, while Mudcat Bowling Centre has Silver City Steel Saturday night.

Friday is busy too. Julia’s is giving away another truckload of free groceries starting at noon, the Dunnville Farmers Market runs from 2 to 7 p.m., the Legion has its meat draw and chili cook-off, and live music comes from the John Atlee Band at Sandy Acres Park R-Bar and Cruze at New Amsterdam.

Hagersville has a community challenge underway Saturday as Heaslip Ford attempts to fill a van with at least 1,000 pounds of food for local food banks. Donations can be made at Hagersville Foodland and No Frills from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also happening are Crafting Days at Hagersville United Church, a beeswax candle-making workshop at the Active Living Centre, Felicia McMinn at Plank Road and a Hagersville Hawks fish fry at the Legion.

In Fisherville and the surrounding area, Singles in the Sticks takes over the Fisherville Tavern Saturday night with speed dating, karaoke, music and dancing. Sweets Church hosts an all-ages square dance fundraiser Friday, Cottonwood Mansion is offering Friday tours, and Hillbilly Farm Market has behind-the-scenes tours of its off-grid Rainham Road homestead this weekend.

Caledonia’s weekend includes karaoke and live music at Hammer Hogs and a Friday barbecue followed by Forever Song and open mic at the Caledonia Legion. Cypress 55+ also has activities spanning the week, including walking, line dancing, tai chi and euchre.

Jarvis and Townsend have plenty happening beyond the fastball tournament. Concession Road Brewing has a pour painting class Friday, Nicole Smith performing Saturday and its Books & Beer Book Club Sunday. The Erie Boys are at Just John’s Friday night, while Townsend Community Church begins a series of marriage workshops Sunday afternoon.

There are a few reasons to venture just beyond Haldimand County as well. Festival of Fountains: The Night Garden runs Friday and Saturday at Whistling Gardens in Wilsonville, Beerstock is happening Saturday at Silver Lake Park in Port Dover, and both the Ancaster Fair and Simcoe Heritage Friendship Festival are on this weekend.

From fastball and boxing to fall markets, live music, community fundraisers and free groceries, September is going out with a very full calendar in Haldimand County. The difficult part won’t be finding something to do. It’ll be deciding how much you can fit into one weekend.