Halifax
Shakespeare by the Sea Macbeth premieres on Saturday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. in Point Pleasant Park. Earlier that day, for a more family-friendly outing, the Shakespeare by the Sea Theatre Society (www.shakespearebythesea.ca) presents Jack and the Beanstalk at 1 p.m.
Rocking on the Hill Catch Chickenfoot (led by Sammy Hagar), Our Lady Peace, Sloan and the winner of the Next Great Atlantic Rock Band contest at the Canadian Forces Halifax Rockfest 2009 (halifaxrockfest.ca ), Aug. 2 on Citadel Hill.
Birthday bash in the city Alexander Keith's Natal Day Festival – a big birthday bash for Halifax and Dartmouth – actually spans July 30 to Aug. 3. Expect music, a parade, races, a regatta, pancakes, a tea party and celebrations to mark the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in British North America. Organizers claim the fireworks show, to begin at 10 sharp on Saturday night, is the best in Atlantic Canada. (www.natalday.org)
Quebec City
Stay outside Quebec City at the four-star Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations, which combines accommodations with a museum dedicated to the Huron-Wendat culture. Recommended last year by National Geographic Traveler magazine, the hotel is on the bank of the Akiaenrahk River.
The Wendake Pow Wow, 15 minutes from downtown Quebec City, showcases traditional and contemporary aboriginal dances from July 31 to Aug. 2. (www.tourismewendake.com)
New France nectars While the verdant Île d'Orléans – just five kilometres outside Quebec City – is famous for its apple and ice ciders, the Domaine de la Source à Marguerite produces a great little red wine too: a uniquely fruity yet smoky number that is almost like the vintner's equivalent of a Rauchbier. Perfectly matched with robust cured meats or cheeses, this is a truly unique produit de terroir from one of the first colonies of New France – and one of the oldest historic settlements in North America. (www.domainemarguerite.com)
Montreal
Dancing in the streets, en Français and in the now Traffic comes to a halt downtown for the 21st Les FrancoFolies de Montréal (www.francofolies.com), 175 shows by thousands of artists from dozens of countries over a 10-day period starting on July 30. Simultaneously, until Aug. 2, the MEG Montreal Festival (www.megmontreal.com) showcases indie, hip-hop and electronic music.
Montreal has pride Starting tomorrow, Divers/Cité (www.diverscite.org) brings eight days of outdoor events to the city's downtown, including Mascara, the biggest drag show on Earth, featuring more than 100 artists in a five-hour performance, and the memorable street dance party La Grande Danse, with 11 hours of beats by DJs spun by from around the world.
Toronto
Cool camping in the city Remember sing-alongs, treats from the tuck shop and camp movie nights? The Drake Hotel is bringing it back for grownups at Camp Drake – an urban camping experience in the city hotel. Watch a movie in the great outdoors in the SkyYard patio (where the hotel has installed a specially carved totem pole), visit the Taco and Tequila shack, and grab treats at the Drake General Store's Tuck Shop. By day, enjoy a bike ride (mapped out by the concierge) on complimentary classic cruisers and a Drake picnic lunch or head up to Nathan Phillips Square for the Irie Music Festival, celebrating Caribbean culture, from July 30 to Aug. 3.
Celebrate Caribana Take in steel-pan sounds at Pan Alive at Lamport Stadium on Friday, starting at 7 pm; take in the sights and sounds at the always spectacular daylong Caribana parade, beginning at Exhibition Place at 10 a.m. Saturday and continuing west along Lake Shore Boulevard; or head to Olympic Island on Sunday for a day of performances by artists from throughout the Caribbean. (www.caribana.com).
Ottawa
Get out your kilt Outside Ottawa in the town of Maxville, more than 60 pipe bands will compete for the North American Pipe Band Championships at the 61st Glengarry Highland Games (www.glengarryhighlandgames.com). There are also dance, fiddling and feats of strength competitions. July 31 and Aug. 1.
Get your green on Learn about straw bale housing, hemp panels and recycling waste water at the Rideau Canal Festival's Ecosphere Environmental Fair. Fittingly, the Rideau festival (www.rideaucanalfestival.ca) features a canoe rendezvous and a boat parade. July 31 to Aug. 3.
Walk-by entertainment Fire shows, dance moves, acrobatics and comedic acts at Sparks Street Mall for the 2009 International Busker Festival (www.sparksstreetmall.com), which runs July 30 to Aug. 3.
Calgary
Olympic fever Get an advance taste at Canada Olympic Park (go to www.winsportcanada.ca and click on Canada Olympic Park on the right) during the 11th annual Sprinter Tournee for ski jumping and Nordic competitions featuring North America's top junior and senior athletes. Don't want to be a spectator? Take the kids and strap yourself into a giant translucent ball and roll down a track, have them climb the spider web (a giant wood and rope contraption), dare to experience North America's fastest zipline or play it safe with the Eurobungy (like bungee jumping, but on a massive trampoline).
Vancouver
World's toughest customers The World Police and Fire Games (www.2009wpfg.ca) includes 65 sporting events – including “toughest competitor alive” – showcasing the athletic prowess of firefighters, and police, customers and corrections officers from around the world. Organizers expect more than 12,000 competitors for events in Vancouver, Coquitlam, Surrey, Fort Langley, Chilliwack, Burnaby and Whistler July 31 to Aug. 9.
Fashionable farmers market While exploring Gastown, drop by Vancouver's newest farmers market, opening for the first time Aug. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (and returning every Sunday until the end of September), and take in the public drawing performance at the foot of Carrall Street that day from noon until 5 p.m. (gastown.org)
