Friday, Jan. 13
Newmarket Mayor 's New Year Levee: 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.
Saturday, Jan. 14
Lunar New Year Celebration: You can celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and ring in the Lunar New Year at Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket with interactive booths, music, dance and a fashion show in the centre court from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eight interactive booths feature activities celebrating Lunar New Year traditions. Enjoy music, a drum dance and Year of the Rabbit fashion show from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and a lion dance with Chinese instruments, children's poems and more music from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
Lunch with the Doctor: Lifestyle is Medicine hosts a free casual community event featuring a delicious plant-based lunch and health talk on using lifestyle as medicine. Delicious plant-based food from all over the world; learn about the power of lifestyle medicine; learn practical tips and strategies to live optimally to prevent disease; and meet community members, doctors and health professionals in a friendly, casual setting. Family-friendly (kids are welcome). From 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall, 200 Doug Duncan Dr. Newmarket. Register here.
Nowhere to Call Home, a Talk and Exhibition by by Sara & Leah den Bok: Leah den Bok is a 22-year-old photographer who has walked the streets in many cities and towns, capturing the lives of the homeless with her impactful photos. She wishes to shine a spotlight on the plight of homelessness and to humanize people experiencing homelessness. She was inspired by her mother, who was found on the streets of Kolkata, India when she was three years old and was brought to Mother Teresa's orphanage. She was adopted by a Canadian family. Sara will be at Richmond Hill United Church from 1 to 3 p.m. to tell her story and bring her daughter’s books and prints. Leah will join via Zoom from Spain (www.humanizingthehomeless.org). Proceeds go to the church's social justice programs. This event is offered virtually, as well as in person. For tickets, $15, click here. Click here to listen to the Connecting the Community podcast with the event producers.
Sunday, Jan. 15
Movie Afternoon, Newmarket/Aurora Social 50+: The group meets at 1 p.m. at Cineplex Odeon Aurora Cinemas, 15460 Bayview Ave., Aurora to watch A Man Called Otto, a comedy starring Tom Hanks, in which a grumpy, isolated widower makes an unlikely and reluctant friendship with his new neighbours. Request to join here.
Ukrainian Concert: Echoes of Christmas: 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.
Coming up:
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.
Explore Islam, Sunday, Jan. 22: Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association presents Explore Islam, an opportunity to learn more about Islam, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Newmarket Public Library. The exhibition is taking place across Canada.
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.
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