Skip to content

What's going on in and around Newmarket this weekend

Weekend events include a mystery book club meeting, family board gaming, and a breakfast gathering hosted by the Social 50+ Meetup Group
20220325NmktBrdGamersGK06
Local board game enthusiasts gather every other Friday at Cardinal Press Espresso Bar. File photo/Greg King for NewmarketToday

Thursday, Jan. 5

Dark Evenings Online Mystery Book Club: Newmarket Public Library hosts an online book club for mystery lovers with intriguing books, lively discussions, and great titles to see you through the long, dark evenings of fall and winter from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month until June. The Darkness by Ragnar Jonasson is the book pick for January. Copies of the books are available for pick-up approximately one month before club meeting dates. For more information, call 905-953-5110, ext. 4770 or register at Xplor Recreation.

Friday, Jan. 6  

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. 

Markham Winter Carnival, to Jan. 8: Winter Carnival is both an indoor and outdoor event featuring ice sculptures, mechanical rides, bouncy castles, games, magicians, DJs, food, shopping, animatronic dinosaurs, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd. Tickets are available online and at door.

Saturday, Jan. 7

Meet the Author, Newmarket Chapters:  Drop by to meet Canadian author Gary D. McGugan and chat about his six suspenseful novels of international intrigue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at 17440 Yonge St. Have your personal copies signed.

EG Mayor and Council Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, Jan: 7:  Join East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson and council for a complimentary breakfast and free skate to kick off the new year from 9 to 11 a.m. at the EG Sports Complex at 1914B Mt Albert Rd, Sharon.

Markham Winter Carnival, to Jan. 8: Winter Carnival is both an indoor and outdoor event featuring ice sculptures, mechanical rides, bouncy castles, games, magicians, DJs, food, shopping, animatronic dinosaurs, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd. Tickets available online and at door.

Sunday, Jan. 8

Breakfast Meetup, Newmarket/Aurora Social 50+ Meetup Group: Meet at the Bunchberry Diner, 165 Wellington St. East, Aurora, from 10 a.m. to noon. Sign up here. 

Chinese Stories Chinese New Year: The fifth annual gala theatrical evening at the Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre at 10268 Yonge St. from 7 to 10 p.m. Since 2019, Chinese Story China Year has been included in the "Happy Chinese New Year" series of activities in the consular area of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto. Tickets $38, $58.

Markham Winter Carnival, to Jan. 8: Winter Carnival is both an indoor and outdoor event featuring ice sculptures, mechanical rides, bouncy castles, games, magicians, DJs, food, shopping, animatronic dinosaurs, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd. Tickets are available online and at door.

Coming up: 

Newmarket Mayor 's New Year Levee, Friday, Jan. 13: Mayor John Taylor and Newmarket council welcome the community to celebrate the beginning of a new year at Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan Dr., from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Festive activities include outdoor skating, free hot chocolate and beavertails (while supplies last), raffle prizes, a live outdoor performance by Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train, and fire and LED busker performance by Zola Molotov.

Ukrainian Concert: Echoes of Christmas, Sunday, Jan. 15: The third fundraising concert in support of Ukraine at Trinity United Church, 461 Park Ave., Newmarket featuring Roman Soltys on violin. The new program called Echoes of Christmas includes classical and popular works, Christmas songs and Ukrainian carols. Tickets, $27.

P.A. Day Movie, Friday, Jan. 20: At Newmarket Public Libary is showing free family movies in the story room every P.A. Day this year. On Jan. 20, watch DC League of Super-Pets (2022), 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. When Superman and the other members of the Justice League are kidnapped, it’s up to Superman’s pet dog, Krypto, to rescue them. To help him on his rescue mission, Krypto recruits a group of animals that gained their own super powers after being accidentally exposed to orange Kryptonite. This fun animated film features a stellar voice cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Kate McKinnon, Kevin Hart and Keanu Reeves. Rated PG. Watch the trailer. Snacks are provided, bring your own beverage. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required.

Rick Fines with Roly Platt and Alec Fraser, Saturday, Jan. 28: The Newmarket Folk Society presents Rick Fines with Roly Platt and Alec Fraser at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 426, 707 Srigley St., at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Tickets $39 online or Patty McLaughlin 705-431-7182 to pay by credit card.

Storytelling with Bricks, Saturday, Jan. 28: Family Literacy Day is a celebration of how reading and literacy can play an important role in a child’s life. Newmarket Public Library celebrates by sharing the importance of reading while engaging in a fun activity with Lego from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants will be organized into teams of four to create a scene from a well-known story, or a story of their own based on a specific theme. You can form your own team of four family members or friends beforehand, but register as individuals. Join us for a fun afternoon of Lego-inspired storytelling. Register with your Xplor account

Newmarket Psychic Medium Fair, Jan. 28 & 29: Chart your course for 2023 at the Psychic Medium Fair Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Halls at 200 Doug Duncan Dr. Admission $5, door prizes, entry gifts for early birds, workshops, complimentary Tea & Tisane Bar by necessitea. Astrology, tarot, mediumship, oracle readings, tea leaf readings, chakra tuning, holistic handmade products, jewelry, gemstones, sage and smudging supplies, workshops.

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, Feb. 26 (Old Town Hall) Young Artists Showcase; Sunday, March 26, The Quatuor Despax; Sunday, May 7, the Drew Jurecka jazz trio. To subscribe by cheque, VPAN subscription form 2022-2023.docx. To subscribe online, visit the website.  

The Newmarket Voice Festival: The Newmarket Voice Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary Feb. 21 to 25 with Concert of the Stars Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. at The Old Town Hall. Categories are musical theatre, pop, classical and speech arts for performers of all ages. Professional adjudicators provide written and verbal feedback to each participant. Deadline for entries is Jan. 31. Find more details at www.newmarketvoicefestival.com. Many scholarships are available and the adjudicators will also recommend singers and actors for OMFA provincial finals in June in Niagara Region.

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. 

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.

To have your event included in this regular feature, send an email with full details to [email protected]


Reader Feedback

Debora Kelly

About the Author: Debora Kelly

Debora Kelly is NewmarketToday's editor. She is an award-winning journalist and communications professional who is passionate about building strong communities through engagement, advocacy and partnership.
Read more