Enjoy free events and activities in Brantford’s Harmony Square this summer

There’s lots to do in downtown Harmony Square in July and August.

“Harmony Square is the place to be this summer,” said Jennifer Middleton, special events supervisor for the City of Brantford. “With an exciting lineup of live music, outdoor movies, family-friendly activities, and lively evening events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We invite you to come downtown, take in the entertainment, and celebrate the season in this vibrant space at the heart of Brantford.”

Activities include:

• Movies in the Square: Outdoor movies sponsored by local businesses, every Thursday at dusk, until August 28. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy pre-show activities. Take part in weekly trivia on Harmony Square’s Facebook page for a chance to win the VIP treatment including two free drinks, two bags of popcorn and front row Muskoka chairs.

Popcorn, sweet treats and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Movie goers who ride their bike to the Movies in the Square event will receive a free bag of popcorn.

• Music in the Square: TD Bank Group presents music by local artists on Friday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., until August 29, and Sunday performance from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on July 18.
• Roller Skate in the Square: Held on Mondays and Wednesdays, with a live DJ, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and presented by the Downtown Brantford BIA. Onsite registration is required. Roller skate rentals are available for $10 a pair, or you can bring your own.
• Fitness in the Square: Returns, in partnership with Laurier Brantford YMCA, until Aug, 25, with drop-in classes, including High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Mondays from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m.; Yoga on Tuesdays from 6:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; BodyFit on Wednesdays from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m.; and CardioFit on Fridays from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Classes are instructed by a canfitpro certified fitness instructor. All fitness levels are welcome. In case of inclement weather, Fitness in the Square will be held indoors at the YMCA, 100 Water St.

• Character Meet and Greets: Events include visits with Sleeping Princess, Tower Princess, Wish Guardian, Rose Princess and more from the Glass Slipper Company. A different character will be bringing magic to the square every Tuesday in July and August from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Kids can tap into their creativity by colouring a page of the character, then take a photo with them and have their work of art autographed. In the event of rain, the magic will continue in the lobby of the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts.
• Chess in the Square: Returns on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from noon to 2 p.m. until Aug. 28, with the Brantford Chess Club. Additional Chess Tournaments will be held Sunday, July 20 and Sunday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Playdate in the Square: The Brantford Public Library will have children blowing bubbles, playing giant games and much more every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. until August 20.
• Fun in the Sun Family Gatherings: Crafts, science experiments, painting, Indigenous cultural education and more with Family Gatherings Urban EarlyON. This program takes place on Mondays from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. from July 14 to Aug. 25.

Families can cool off this summer at the splash pad, now open daily from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Program closure dates for July and August, along with real-time splash pad open and close status, can be found at Brantford.ca/SplashPads.

By Expositor staff