COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – This year, the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off will run from Saturday Sept. 3 to Monday Sept. 5 in Memorial Park with brand new events.
An event called “balloons, bites, and brews” will be offered on the field at Memorial Park during Saturday and Sunday afternoon. From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., there will be discounted items from vendors and a beer garden. There is also a 5k run being offered on Sunday, Sept. 4, and registration for that event is open now. Lastly, the event now provides an exclusive opportunity called “The Lift Off Lounge”. This provides the public with the chance to buy a $115 ticket that allows them access to the sponsors’ tent and includes food, drinks and VIP parking.
Labor Day Lift Off is an event free to the public, but this has become harder to sustain amidst rising costs.
“It’s one of the very few balloon events that’s for United States if not the world. And it’s been very well supported by the city of Colorado Springs and our committee, however the rising costs just overall for everybody and everybody’s daily life, it’s taking a toll on the event,” says Scott Appelman, Managing Partner of Hot Apple Productions. “There’s a lot that goes into this you know, obviously we have to host the 75 balloons that are going to be here so we have propane, hotels, hospitality, pilot packs to get everyone up here.”
Appelman cites these rising costs as a primary reason for the new events this year.
“We’re trying to add more products that will help drive revenue for the event, to help sustain this event on the long-term, so we can make sure that we’re keeping it the way that it’s been for the last 46 years,” Appelman states.
Labor Day Lift Off will also see the return of some balloon shape favorites, as Yoda and Darth Vader will be set to the skies again this year. New balloon shapes will also be introduced, including a pig named “Crispy Bacon”.
An estimated $9.4 million impact on the local economy for 2022 is expected for this year’s Labor Day Lift Off in Colorado Springs. That’s an estimated $2.5 million more than 2019 – which was the best year for the Labor Day Lift Off.
Get ready to fire up your grill and watch some fireworks as we head into the Independence Day holiday.
This week’s Go+Do list of events includes local fireworks shows and parades, an music and arts festival in Longmont, Night on the Town in Loveland and more.
Do you have an event coming up that you think would be a perfect addition to the weekly Go+Do list? Send the date, time, a description of the event and other pertinent information to Tamara Markard at tmarkard@greeleytribune.com for consideration.
Saturday, July 2
1. The Independence Day Community Celebration hosted by the city of Fort Collins is set for 7:30 a.m. at City Park, 1500 W. Mulberry St. with a 5K run/walk, golf tournament, parade, free trolley rides and more. The free event is open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3HFnbdz.
2. Join High Country Harley-Davidson for an All American Blast from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3761 Monarch St. in Frederick. The free event will feature a food truck, cold drinks, music and a contest for the most patriotic bike. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, contact the dealership at (303) 833-6777.
3. Exercise your singing chops at Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. at Rule105 Brewing, 4731 W. 10th St., Unit G. Hosted by Don Graham, adults ages 21 and older are invited to perform for customers. Not a singer? Then relax with a beer and enjoy the entertainment. Admission is free. For more information, contact Rule105 Brewing at (970) 301-4575.
4. Guerrilla Radio, a Rage Against the Machine tribute band, and Sabotage, a Beastie Boys tribute band, will be performing at 6 p.m. at Spirits Music Hall, 1 N. Parish Ave., Johnstown. Both groups will be playing fan favorites and top singles from both bands. The show is open to adults age 21 and older. Tickets are $15 per person. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3yoNBNH.
Sunday, July 3
5. Indie rock band, Wildermiss, are scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. at Washington’s FoCo, 132 Laporte Ave. The band is comprised of Emma Cole on vocals and synth bass, Joshua Hester on guitar and Caleb Thoemke on drums. All ages welcome to attend. Tickets are $18 per person for general admission. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3OnQhAt.
Monday, July 4
Happy Independence Day from the Greeley Tribune!
6. The Greeley Stampede Independence Day Parade will step off at 9 a.m. at 10th Avenue and 19th Street by the University of Northern Colorado and make its way toward Lincoln Park. The parade will feature a variety of marching bands, floats, equine entries and more. The parade is one of the most popular community traditions so you’ll want to get out early to find your spot. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3QPBfp2.
7. The annual Greeley Stampede fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. with amazing professional fireworks lighting up the sky of Weld County. This year Stampede organizers have a little something extra planned in celebration of the event’s 100th occurrence. People of all ages can watch the fireworks show from inside the Greeley Stampede grounds or surrounding areas. For more information on the Greeley Stampede fireworks show, go to www.greeleystampede.org.
8. Head on over to Loveland for the July 4th Festival at 3 p.m. at North Lake Park, 2750 N. Taft Ave. The event will feature a kids’ zone, vendors, food and drinks, live music, a cornhole tournament and more. Fireworks are scheduled to launch at 9:15 p.m. Admission is free and all ages are invited to attend. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3xVc1N5.
9. Celebrate Independence Day at Boardwalk Park with live music from the 101st Army Band and fireworks. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by the fireworks show at 9:20 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend the free event. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and coolers for a fun evening under the stars and overlooking the lake. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3bfA9Cw.
10. The Estes Park 4th of July Celebration kicks off with the Steam-to-Electric Coolest Car Show beginning at 9 a.m. at the Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way with over 100 vehicles. At 7 p.m. the Estes Village Band will be performing for free at the Performance Park Amphitheater, 435 W. Elkhorn Ave. Fireworks over Lake Estes begin at 9:30 p.m. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3HP0un9.
Tuesday, July 5
11. Concert Under the Stars: Denver Brass is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. at the UNC Garden Theatre between 10th Avenue and S. 8th Avenue in Greeley. The free concert will feature the one-of-a-kind brass chamber ensemble comprised of 14 professional musicians from around Colorado. The concert is open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3njA6Z7.
Friday, July 8
12. The Windsor Family Campout is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Boardwalk Park, 100 N. 5th St. The fun family event invites adults, teens and children to bring out a tent, sleeping bags and other camping gear for an evening of fishing, paddle boats, campfires, movie and more. The cost to attend is $12 per person and registration is required. For more information, or to register, go to https://bit.ly/3R0QgEy.
13. The 16th annual Loveland Loves BBQ, Bands and Brews will take place at 4 p.m. at 700 Railroad Ave. with five bands, over 10 beer vendors, food vendors and more. Admission is free and proceeds from the event benefit local charities such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Larimer County, House of Neighborly Services and Loveland Sertoma. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.lovelandlovesbbq.com.
14. Country western artist Kimmi Bitter will be performing at 9 p.m. at Stella’s Pinball Arcade and Lounge, 802 9th St. The San Diego native blends traditional country and soul with her own West Coast take. Adults age 18 and older are welcome to attend. Tickets are $15 per person for general admission and reserved tables range from $40 to $120. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3NrMukm.
15. Night on the Town is set to take place at 5 p.m. along 4th Street in downtown Loveland. Local retail shops, restaurants, bars and more will be hosting sales as well as providing live music, snacks and specials. All ages are welcome to attend the free event. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u0k5Lq.
16. The town of Severance is hosting its second concert in the Summer Concert Series at 5:30 p.m. at Community Park, 100 Waterfowl Way with a performance by Frank Ray. Attendees can also enjoy food, raffles, vendors and more. The concert is free and open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3OMa0cP.
17. Rhythm on the River Music and Arts Festival kicks off at 5 p.m. at Rogers Grove Park, 220 Hover Road, Longmont. The festival will feature live music, mobile arcade and glow games, an outdoor adventure land, local vendors and more. All ages are welcome to attend the free event. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u75uxY.
Across Miami-Dade and Broward on Monday, various cities will be holding events to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday on what will be America’s 246th birthday.
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea will hold a town parade with family-friendly events from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at El Prado Park, located at 4500 El Mar Drive. Miami Beach will hold its Fire on the Fourth Festival starting at noon at 73rd Street and Collins Avenue.
The city of Tamarac will hold a celebration starting at noon at the Caporella Aquatic Complex (9300 NW 58th Street) following by an All-American Celebration from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Tamarac Sports Complex.
Miami-Dade County Parks will hold a fireworks celebration starting at 4 p.m. at Tropical Park.
The city of Davie will hold its annual Fun on the 4th celebration from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Pine Island Park, located at 3801 S. Pine Island Road.
A drive-in fireworks show will take place at Calder Casino in Miami Gardens, located at 21001 NW 27th Avenue, with gates opening at 7 p.m. and the fireworks going off at 9 p.m.
The events conclude on Ocean Drive with a fireworks show and free patriotic concert at Lummus Park starting at 8:30 p.m.
For more events taking place across South Florida, click on this link.
Jim Miller is the owner of Moon Dancer Winery in York County, known as much for its perchhigh above the Susquehanna River that provides it with a fabulous view as for its extensive line of Moon Dog Cellars sweet wines.
Beer, cider, and the Moon Dancer line of wines are also sold there along with wood-fired pizza inside the French Country chateau that serves as the tasting room. The winery opened in 2004, and now has become one of the best-known wine destinations in central Pa.
Its Freedom Festival, scheduled for 2 to 8:30 p.m. today, highlights a list of wine festivals and events spread throughout the long weekend.
Owner Jim Miller said the event started as a result of the COVID lockdowns and the need to get past the pandemic restrictions a couple of years ago. This year, with inflation high and high gas prices through the roof, he said that the decision was made to make the event free. The music lineup includes Evan Crider, Crazy Joe n You Never Know, Unsupervised, and the headliner … Jeremiah Tall Band. Fireworks are planned to cap the event.
On the beverage production side, Miller said that the winery just brought in a “new bottling line from Italy to keep up with production with corks, screw caps and crown cap finish on our new releases. Also added an inline carbonator for our cider, seltzer, hard soda and sparkling wine production.”
The system should be operational in the next few weeks, he said.
Here’s a quick-hitting list of some of the other winery-related festivals and events scheduled around the region this weekend:
Pennsylvania
Adams County Winery, Orrtanna: Apple Pie wine release at the winery and Gettysburg shop, live music featuring The Willys at the winery from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy wine slushies, wine flights, wine by the glass or bottle, local craft beers, handmade wood-fired pizzas – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today
Springgate Vineyards, Harrisburg: 4th of July Weekend festival, including live music and food trucks – noon to 11 p.m. today and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: 4th of July party, including wine by the glass, flights, the White Sangria Slushie and a Sunset Blush Cosmo, plus music and food truck fare from Common Good Pizza – today through Monday
Pennswoods Winery, Chaddsford: July 4th at the Winery with lawn seating and live music (first-come, first-serve seating) – noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday
Setter Ridge Vineyards, Kutztown: BBQ 4th, enjoy ice cream flights plus wine and beers specials until noon, then Cetronia Soul Shakers will be playing from 1 to 4 p.m. BBQ from winery favorite Blazing Swine – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
Shady Brook Farm Market, Yardley: Summer unWINED with fireworks, with live music – gates open at 5 with the music starting at 6:30, and fireworks ($18, you can purchase online) – event is scheduled for today
Moon Dancer Winery overlooks the Susquehanna River from its location in Wrightsville, York County.
New Jersey
Villa Milagro Vineyards, Philipsburg: Chillin’ at the Villa (all day) – Dave Read performs today and Lou Pompilio on Sunday. $15 cover charge includes music, seating, wine tasting, with reservations required for groups of 4 or more – Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday
Four Sisters Winery, Belvidere: 4th of July Weekend Celebration, with Bistro menu available from noon to 5 p.m. all weekend. Live music all three days. – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
Old York Cellars Winery, Ringoes: Celebrate 4th of July Weekend, multiple wine tasting experiences to choose from, live music and food; here’s a link to all the details – 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Monday
White Horse Winery, Hammonton: 4th of July festivities, including live music by Oliver Dagum from 1 to 4 p.m., food by Pic-a-Lilli from noon to 4 p.m. and axe throwing – noon to 5 Monday
Sharrott Winery, Hammonton: July 4th Live Music from 1 to 4 p.m. It will be held on their covered patio or indoors, depending on the weather. Their Wine Bar Kitchen is also open – noon to 6 Monday
Maryland
Basignani Winery, Glencoe: Saturday Band Night series will feature wine, brick oven pizza, and live music from Liberty Road Plant. Tickets are $10 per person. – 6 to 9 p.m. today
Lands Point Winery & Vineyard, Chestertown: Opened for the first time on Friday and is open noon to 7 p.m. today. The winery is located on a historic farm with historic buildings that are listed on the Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Site Survey. Dave and Eileen Smack have been Maryland Eastern Shore residents a majority of their lives and now have taken a hobby on the historic Lands Point Farm in 2008 and made it an experience worth sharing – noon to 7 today
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, Thurmont: Independence Day Celebration, featuring Basic Bowl Bros. (noon to 4 p.m.) with music performed by Faded Denim (1 to 4 p.m.) – 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday
The UK will mark the Queen’s 70th year on the throne in a special four-day bank holiday weekend in June.
Her Majesty became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee on 6 February 2022. Her significant milestone will be celebrated in a number of events and initiatives taking place across the UK during the long weekend.
These will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on the Queen’s 70 years of service.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that more than 70,000 “Big Jubilee Lunches” have been planned across all four UK nations, with an expected 10 million people set to celebrate with their neighbours during the weekend.
Culture secretary Nadine Dorries said the UK will “celebrate it with tradition, pomp and circumstance”.
The Queen and members of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace watch a 2019 flypast (Victoria Jones/PA)
(PA Wire)
“I hope that people and communities across the country will come together to pay tribute to Her Majesty – whether that be to watch on big screens or toasting Her Majesty at a Big Jubilee Lunch with their neighbours or coming together in their local village hall.”
Here is the full schedule of celebrations taking place across the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
When is the Platinum Jubilee?
The extended four-day bank holiday to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will take place from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June.
Thursday 2 June
On this day, the Queen’s Birthday Parade will begin at 11am. Trooping the Colour marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign and usually takes place on the second Saturday in June.
However, this year, the ceremonial event will take place two days earlier as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and more than 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division will put on a display of military pageantry on Horse Guards Parade, alongside hundreds of Army musicians and around 240 horses.
The parade will be completed with a six-minute flypast of more than 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force, which will soar over Buckingham Palace.
The Queen is expected to watch the flypast from the palace balcony with other working members of the royal family.
Platinum Jubilee Beacons will also be lit on the first day of the long weekend.
A special ceremony will be held at Buckingham Palace at 9pm to light the Principal beacon, which involves The Tree of Trees, a 21m-high “tree” made of 350 smaller trees.
Other beacon events will also take place, including community beacons that will be lit by communities, charities and other groups, and Commonwealth beacons in all 54 capital cities of the Commonwealth.
Friday 3 June
A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral to give thanks for the Queen’s reign.
Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, will be rung for the first royal occasion in its history for the service.
The ringing of Great Paul will be followed by a peal of bells to celebrate.
The bell was made in 1882 but fell silent in the 1970s due to a broken mechanism and was restored in 2021.
Saturday 4 June
The Queen is expected to attend the Derby at Epson Downs on Saturday 4 June with other members of the royal family.
The day will also be marked with a Platinum Party at the Palace, hosted by Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp. The event will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and across the BBC network.
The concert will include three stages, 3D projections across the front of Buckingham Palace and an in-person audience of 22,000, including 10,000 tickets allocated in a public ballot and 5,000 tickets for key workers.
While the full line-up of acts will be announced by the BBC in the coming weeks, the first name on the list is British musician George Ezra.
Sunday 5 June
Celebrations conclude on Sunday with the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which will see thousands of performers process down The Mall.
A giant dragon puppet the size of a double decker bus will feature in the procession, as well as corgis, acrobats, unicorns, dancers and circus acts.
According to DCMS, the grand finale will showcase 150 “national treasures”, including Ed Sheeran.
Millions of people will also sit down to a Big Jubilee Lunch in the afternoon as more than 200,000 local events have been planned, including screenings, street parties and lunches.
Easter is the Christian holiday that celebrates the day Jesus returned from the dead after being hung on a cross. The holiday is often the marker that kicks off spring gardening and that warmer weather is on the way.
While Easter Sunday is the big day, the holiday is a weeklong affair, known as Holy Week, comprised of certain events and traditions in the Christian religion.
The week begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, and culminates on Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday.
Throughout the week, Christians will often take part in a variety of ceremonies that include feet washing, gathering palm fronds and abstaining from eating meat.
Good Friday and Easter Sunday services will be taking place across Weld and Larimer counties as well as around the Denver Metro area.(Photo credit Tina Marie Photography)
Christians typically describe Easter as a foundation of their faith and reason behind the belief that Jesus has risen, fulfilling the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament.
Religious or not, the holiday is often filled with family, friends and food.
If you aren’t singing “Here comes Peter Cottontail,” that may be because you don’t know about all the fun and festive events, activities and services taking place in celebration of the holiday.
So take a moment to check out this list of events and Easter services that are taking place before and during the Easter Weekend, or some activities that you can do at home to celebrate the Easter holiday.
Egg hunts for kids and adults, visits with the Easter Bunny and snuggling baby animals are just a few of the Easter events taking place around Weld and Larimer counties. (Greeley Tribune file photo)
Easter Events
Easter egg hunts aren’t just for kids. Adults are invited to take part in The Great Grown UP Golden Egg Hunt beginning Monday online. Hosted by Northern Colorado Credit Union, adults age 21 and older will solve daily clues to win one of two prizes. The event is free to play and more information including rules and a game card can be found by going to https://bit.ly/3NM5J9K.
Dust off your Easter baskets and head over to the Fort Collins Marketplace Easter Event at noon Saturday at College Avenue and Horsetooth Road. Participating merchants will be handing out eggs filled with goodies as supplies last. Festivities will include face painting, balloon twisting, a visit from the Easter Bunny and more. The event is free and open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3DN7mzy.
The Ranch Event Complex is hosting a Spring Craft and Gift Show at 2 p.m. Friday, April 15 through 4 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland. In addition to craft and art vendors, attendees can take part in an Easter egg hunt and toss and a chance to win $1,000 in cash. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u7aUcq.
Westview Church of Christ is hosting a free Easter egg hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at 4151 W. 20th St., Greeley. All ages are invited to come enjoy games, prizes, food, candy and a visit from the Easter Bunny. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3qZ1m1u.
Head over to Sweet Heart Winery at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for Easter Wine and Chocolate Pairing at 5500 W. Highway 34, Loveland. The event will feature four wines paired with decadent chocolate from The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The event is open to adults age 21 and older and tickets are $41.94 per person. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3JawPnA.
A community egg hunt is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at Bromley Farm, 1594 E. Bromley Lane, Brighton. The event will feature three different egg hunts by age group, crafts, egg coloring, baby animals, gunny sack races and more. The free event is open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3KcrhKn.
Enjoy an Easter brunch and snuggle time with a variety of farm animals at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 17 at Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary, 8640 Dahlia St., Henderson. Attendees of all ages are invited to enjoy food from Way Veg and mix and mingle with piglets, lambs, calves and more. Tickets are $27.24 per person. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3x0cKOp.
The annual Easter Egg Hunt at Wiley Roots Brewing Co. is set for noon Saturday, April 16 at 625 3rd. St., Greeley. Adults age 21 and older are invited to take part in collecting five eggs with the purchase of a full pour. Around 500 eggs will be hidden around the brewery for participants to find and win prizes. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u4eQuB.
The Great Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt at Village at the Peaks is taking place daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1250 S. Hover Road, Longmont. Participants will hunt for 60 hidden painted eggs for a chance to win prizes such as gift cards, free meals and $1,000 in cash. For more information, or to print out a game board, go to https://bit.ly/3Kcw6mX.
Celebrate Easter with the White Horse Inn at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 17 at 2750 8th Ave., Garden City. Festivities will include $10 hoppy shots bingo boards, free pool, a golden egg hunt, and eggs filled with prizes. The event is open to adults age 21 and older. For more information, contact the White Horse Inn at (970) 356-5386.
Good Friday and Easter Sunday services will be taking place across Weld and Larimer counties as well as around the Denver Metro area. (Photo credit Anton Petrus)
Easter Services
If you are looking for a Good Friday, Easter Sunday or even a Saturday service to attend, there is no shortage of churches in Greeley, Windsor, around Weld and Larimer counties and beyond.Whether you are looking for a sunrise service, a kid-friendly event or a Spanish service, check out these offerings that are set to take place.
The 75th annual Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rock Amphitheater is scheduled to take place in-person at 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. Doors open at 4:30 a.m. with the service beginning at 6 a.m. Participants are advised to arrive early and dress warm. Seats can be reserved by going to https://bit.ly/3j4Qfzz. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3fpz37m.
Celebrate Good Friday with Windsor Community Church at 6:30 p.m. at 700 Automation Drive. Easter Sunday service will take place at 10:15 a.m. at Windsor High School, 1100 Main St. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.windsorchurch.org.
Connections Christian Church is hosting a Good Friday service at 6:30 p.m. an Easter Sunday services at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. at Roosevelt High School, 616 N. 2nd St., Johnstown. All ages are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.connections.cc.
Journey Christian Church will be offering four different Easter services — 6 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.— Sunday at 4754 W. 31st St., Greeley. The 6 a.m. service will take place outside, so attendees are urged to dress for chilly weather and bring a lawn chair. All ages are welcome to attend any of the four services. For more information, go to www.journeychristian.org.
Easter at Christ Community Church is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at 1301 15th St., Greeley. All ages are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.cccgreeley.org.
Grace Community Church is offering Easter Sunday services at 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Sunday at 2033 W. S. 1st St., Johnstown. The 10:15 a.m. service will feature Children’s and Youth ministries. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.graceconnect.com.
Greeley Vineyard Church will be hosting three Easter Sunday services — 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. — at 1015 9th Ave. All ages of new and returning members are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.greeleyvineyard.org.
Easter at Restoration Church is set for 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland Hotel, Conference Center and Spa, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland. All ages are invited to enjoy singing, prayer and more. For more information, go to www.restorationchurch.online.
Traverse Christian Church will be holding Easter service at 9 a.m. Sunday at 810 Automation Drive in Windsor. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.traversechristian.com.
Celebrate Easter with City Lights Church at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Sunday at 4100 20th St., Greeley. Services are open to all ages and will include Crumbl Cookies, a children’s service and a photo area. For more information, go to www.citylights.church.
Chocolate bunnies and eggs as well as other Easter candy and goodies can be found at local supermarkets and stores including King Soopers, WalMart and Target. (Photo credit Tomas Anderson)
Easter activities
Of course, you can always opt to celebrate the holiday at home with family and friends. Here are some fun and creative activities that will make your Easter celebration one for the memory books.
Guess the number of jelly beans is a fun and easy indoor game for all ages. Simply fill up a jar with vibrant colored jelly beans (be sure to count them while filling) and ask each family member and guest to give their best guess. The winner closest to the number without going over receives the entire jar as a prize.
Go with an old school game of egg and spoon races. You can use hard boiled or raw eggs, depending on how much mess you want to clean up and a metal or wooden spoon. Races can be individual or a relay style to kick the competition up a notch.
Make Easter easy by hosting a potluck lunch with friends and family. Ask each guest to bring a side dish, salad, dessert or other item. Pick up some to-go containers at the Dollar Store to pack up and share the leftovers with the crowd.
Like gingerbread houses during Christmas, get the kids and teens involved in building Peeps houses. You can use graham crackers for the walls and roof and frosting to glue it all together. Lay out a variety of decorations such as jelly beans, sprinkles, colored frosting and other candies.
Instead of spending the afternoon in the kitchen cooking the traditional ham or lamb, do a late afternoon picnic with finger foods, sandwiches, chips and dip, fruit and other easy to transport food items. Bring a blanket, some fun books to read to the kids, a couple of outdoor games and enjoy the holiday in the sunshine.
It isn’t really Easter without coloring eggs. Make the project easy by setting up egg coloring outside on the lawn or driveway. Bring out the sidewalk chalk for a full day of coloring and creativity for family members of all ages.
Not really a fan of boiled eggs? Then opt to decorate cupcakes. You can make or buy vanilla cupcakes and decorate them with vibrant colored sprinkles and sugar, marshmallows, food coloring, candies and other fun edible items. For a great vanilla cupcake recipe, check out The Pioneer Woman at https://bit.ly/37iMQdC.
Niagara residents looking for something to do this Family Day long weekend will find a wide variety of activities planned across the region.
Here are some of the events taking place. More information can be found on individual municipalities’ websites.
ST. CATHARINES
SCAVENGER HUNT
A city-wide scavenger hunt “Winterquest” is taking place until Feb. 22.
Participants can download the free GooseChase mobile app and join the game with the code: 3MV899.
They’ll be given missions to complete at outdoor art installations, recreational trials, parks, community rinks and more.
MUSEUM
St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Family Day, with structured programming between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., including collection viewings, interactive activities, a scavenger hunt and a DIY family tree take-home activity kit.
Collection vaults will be open with behind-the-scenes tours throughout the day. An exhibit featuring the relationship between food and family will be on and visitors are encouraged to bring recipes of favourite family meals to pin on the boards in the Burgoyne room.
OUTDOOR YOGA
St. Catharines is offering “SNOWGA in the park — outdoor yoga outside the Russell Avenue Community Centre at noon Monday. Participants can join a 45 to 60-minute class, depending on the weather. Bring a yoga mat and dress in layers.
STORY WALK
Participants can get some exercise and practice reading at the Port Weller Community Centre by following the trail of story book pages for a winter walk. Drop by the park between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday.
NORDIC POLE ADVENTURE WALK
Participants can bundle up and meet at the Lock 3 parking lot at 10 a.m. for an adventure walk along the Welland Canal. Nordic poles are available to borrow. The city has a Nordic Pole Walking 101 video to view on the City of St. Catharines YouTube page to see what it’s all about.
SKATING
Public skating is happening at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre on Family Day with hour-long time slots starting at noon.
Niagara Falls Museums is hosting a free Family Day weekend scavenger hunt for families and friends who want to have fun, explore the city and learn some local history.
The contest runs from Friday at 4 p.m. until Monday at 9 p.m.
Participants can download the free GooseChase mobile app and join the game with the code: VW5W6Q. They’ll be sent on nine different missions taking them across the city to find answers to questions.
Butterfly Conservatory — The new travelling exhibit opens, “On the Trail of the Monarch Butterfly,” produced by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in partnership with the Embassy of Mexico
Niagara Parks Power Station — Little Inventors workshops run 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday featuring STEM-related activities designed to inspire young minds. Workshops free with admission.
Journey Behind the Falls — Reduced winter rates in effect, $15.50 for adults and $10.50 for children.
Zipline to the Falls — Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Family Day.
Garden at Home virtual series — Niagara Parks horticulturalists kick off an all-new virtual gardening series, Garden at Home. Tickets cost $15 per event with admission to the entire four-part series for $45.
Free skating with the donation of a non-perishable food item at Welland Main Arena, sponsored by Welland Optimist Club. There will be a “learn to skate” area with skate aids and bumpers and a play area to try out ringette.
Vouchers for a free hot dog and free drink for each child will be handed out and are redeemable Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
SCAVENGER HUNT
Family Day GooseChase is running from Friday at 3 p.m. to Monday at 6 p.m.
Families will be sent on a scavenger hunt around the city or in their neighbourhoods, building a snowman, creating a snow angel, taking a photo with a hockey stick and more.
Participants can download the free GooseChase mobile app and join the game with the code: ZMG8LL.
PORT COLBORNE
SKATING
Free skate on Monday at Vale Health and Wellness Centre from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Proof of vaccination status is required for anyone 12 and older.
The arena programming schedule with other program details and fees is available at the www.portcolborne.ca site by following the links.
SCAVENGER HUNT
Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum is hosting a scavenger hunt featuring local heritage. Participants can download the free GooseChase mobile app to participate in the “Humberstone Hunt” scavenger hunt.
Details will launch on Monday on the museum’s social media accounts. Those who don’t want to use the app can arrange to get a paper copy by calling the museum at 905-834-7604.
