Thursday, Oct. 6
Off The Rock - A Great Big Sea Tribute: Celebrate the Colours of Fall at Aurora Town Park with one final free outdoor concert at Town Park, 49 Wells St., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The concert will include live music, a corn roast and pumpkin carving. As you nestle into your blanket while carving your pumpkin, enjoy live entertainment featuring the debut of Off The Rock – Tribute to Great Big Sea, starring Anthony Clayton, Tyler Reznick, Thom Danger Speck, Sean Battams, Steve Peckford, and David Skolnick. Complimentary pumpkins and carving tools are available. This event is free of charge, but donations of non-perishable food items for the Aurora Food Pantry are appreciated.
Newmarket Main Street Walking Tour: Enjoy a free self-directed walking experience of art, history and business. The artworks of 17 artists from the Newmarket Group of Artists have been paired with 17 historic buildings on Main Street. Take a stroll to discover inspiring artwork and use the QR codes along the way to watch videos on the history of the building and its current business. Visit newmarket.ca/culturedays for more details.
East Gwillimbury Farmers Market: Every Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. until Oct. 6, the market is held at the East Gwillimbury Civic Centre, 19000 Leslie St., Sharon.
Friday, Oct. 7
Meet Author Gary D. McGugan at Chapters Newmarket: Meet this author of six novels of international suspense and intrigue and check out his books and gift sets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 17440 Yonge St, Newmarket.
Board Gaming: Join local board game enthusiasts every other Friday at Cardinal Press Espresso Bar at 200 Main St. Newmarket at 6 p.m. The games are provided and teachers are available, or you bring your games to teach others. Note from organizers: We don't tend to play a lot of 'traditional' board games such as Monopoly, Clue, Sorry! Let them know what you would like to play when you RSVP and they will bring those games.
Haunted Hollows Scream Park: This 2.5-acre Halloween attraction features live actors, free parking from 7 to 10 p.m. at 18444 Yonge St. East, East Gwillimbury, just north of Upper Canada Mall. Follow twisted trails into the dark forest, where you'll encounter horrifying clowns, ghouls, giant spiders, murderous inmates, and ravenous cannibals. Organizers bill this the scariest and most terrifying Halloween attraction in the GTA. Tickets $32.
Saturday, Oct. 8
Writers Community of York Region Poetry Fadeout: WCYR hosts a free Culture Days event at the Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Halls, 200 Doug Duncan Dr. from 10 a.m. to noon. Participate in a creative form of poetry called blackout or erasure poetry in which the poet creates by crossing out, blocking out, blacking out, cutting out, whiting out, or literally erasing words from an already existing text. Embellish the poem with colour and your own unique deigns to create a frameable work of art.
Highway 11 Cruisers Club 2nd Annual Apple Cruise: Leaving from Harvey’s (17850 Yonge St., Newmarket) at 8:30 a.m., the all-day event will travel through the countryside, and hopefully catch some amazing fall colours on the way to Grandma Lambe’s apple orchard and market. There will be a few other stops along the way, and a route will be provided (a passenger is recommended to help navigate.) There is no charge for the day, with door prizes and some other surprises. First 30 cars get a free goodie bag.
Everyone Belongs - Collective Spaces and Community Care: Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association Community Centre hosts the free Culture Days event offering a unique art-inspired experience to learn about inclusion, share your your thoughts and ideas, and learn more about resources for Black families from 1 to 3 p.m. at 449 Eagle St.
Coopers Farm Night Maze, Fridays, Oct. 7 to 28: Visit the 10-acre corn maze at night — it's not a 'scare maze' or Halloween haunt — from 7 to 9 p.m. Cooper’s CSA Farm & Maze, 266 Ashworth Road, Zephyr. Tickets, $23, must be purchased online, no tickets available at the gate. Admission is free for children age 3 and under. Pumpkin included with each admission purchases.
Paul Cafcae Music @ Old Flame Brewing Co.: Paul and the band take to the stage at Newmarket's Main Street Music Hall from 7 to 10 p.m. Paul blends Americana music with European ancestral lyricism, with a bright and entertaining stage presence. His songs have been played on North American radio stations such as The Bay, Radio Western, CKIU and CIUT, as well as in Europe, Asia and Africa. The song I Ain’t Shook from his recent album peaked at #11 in the UK’s Hot Disk Country Top 40 chart and stayed in the chart for 17 weeks. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Haunted Hollows Scream Park: This 2.5-acre Halloween attraction features live actors, free parking from 7 to 10 p.m. at 18444 Yonge St. East, East Gwillimbury, just north of Upper Canada Mall. Follow twisted trails into the dark forest, where you'll encounter horrifying clowns, ghouls, giant spiders, murderous inmates and ravenous cannibals. Organizers bill this the scariest and most terrifying Halloween attraction in the GTA. Tickets $32.
Newmarket Farmers Market: Farmers, vendors and volunteers create a hive of activity reminiscent of the town’s early years as a new market. A place to buy farm fresh produce, homemade baking, handmade crafts and a great place to meet up with friends over breakfast or lunch. At Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan Dr. from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Aurora Farmers Market: Saturdays at Town Park, 64 Wells St from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 9
Haunted Hollows Scream Park: This 2.5-acre Halloween attraction features live actors, free parking from 7 to 10 p.m. at 18444 Yonge St. East, East Gwillimbury, just north of Upper Canada Mall. Follow twisted trails into the dark forest, where you'll encounter horrifying clowns, ghouls, giant spiders, murderous inmates and ravenous cannibals. Organizers bill this the scariest and most terrifying Halloween attraction in the GTA. Tickets $32.
Coming Up:
Canadian Concert Classics, Oct. 13, Nov. 12: At Newmarket's Old Town Hall, enjoy concerts featuring Juno award-winning talent, sponsored by Mercedes Benz Newmarket. On Thursday, Oct. 13 is one of the best new bands of the decade, the Bywater Call seven-piece band. And on Saturday, Nov. 12 is two-time Juno award winner Donne Roberts and his six-piece band. Doors open at 6 p.m. with concerts performed from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. There are only 168 seats available per concert. Tickets, $60, can be purchased at newtix.ca.
Newmarket Artisans, Saturday, Oct. 15: The Newmarket Artisans event combines a concert by the After Hours Big Band of danceable, contemporary jazz and popular music with displays by local artists Todd Jamieson, Paul Thomas and Carol Tremayne, and craft beverages from Old Flame Brewing Co. Tickets, $25, are available from the Newmarket Old Town Hall, 460 Botsford St. Call 905-953-5313, ext. 2870 or visit this link.
Seniors’ Jukebox Classics, Saturday, Oct. 15: Join the Flailing Shilaleighs for a musical journey through some of the best rock and roll, country and Celtic hits of our time from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place (474 Davis Dr.). Pre-registration is required; register by Oct. 7. A cash bar is available. $15 member / $20 non-member newmarket.ca/adults55+
York Cinemania Film Circuit, Oct. 19: The Official Competition (A wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker to make a smash hit film, starring Penélope Cruz , Antonio Banderas, Oscar Martínez) at 7 and 9 p.m. at SilverCity Newmarket. Click to purchase tickets, $15.
Haunted Halloween Trail, Oct. 27 to 29: Take a walk through Newmarket’s Haunted Halloween Trail – if you dare! A portion of the Dave Kerwin Trail (entrance at 325 Woodspring Ave.) will be transformed into an eerie one-kilometre adventure with spooky decorations, lighting, sound effects and actors in costume. Recommended for ages 10+. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. newmarket.ca/
Seniors Trivia Pub Night Spooktacular, Oct. 28: Test your trivia knowledge from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place, 474 Davis Dr., $10 Member / $11 Non-Member.
Visual and Performing Arts Newmarket Three for the Show concert series: VPAN's 2022-23 concert series at 2 p.m. at the NewRoads Performing Arts Centre in Newmarket features: Sunday, Nov. 6, TakeFive Ensemble with Shoshana Telner; Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 (Old Town Hall) Young Artists Showcase; Sunday, March 26, 2023, The Quatuor Despax; Sunday, May 7, 2023, the Drew Jurecka jazz trio. To subscribe by cheque, VPAN subscription form 2022-2023.docx. To subscribe online, visit the website.
English Country Dance: Join the dance at Trinity United Church, 461 Park Ave. at Main Street, Newmarket from 2 to 4 p.m. Beginners welcome; all dances taught; you don't need to bring a partner. Admission by donation; your first class is free. Join the group on the first, third and (when there is one) fifth Saturday of the month.
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