Happy Friday, St. Catharines! 😮💨
Take a deep breath. Go ahead. It's safe now.
After two smoky days, the air finally clears today. The pools reopen. The carousel spins again. And just in time.
Because this weekend is STACKED. Santa is coming to a basketball game. Every Ontario Park is free today. Peach season hits the market. And Nelly is in town. Yes, that Nelly.
Quick note from us first: the Farmers Market runs Thursday AND Saturday all summer. We missed flagging Thursday's market in Wednesday's issue. Our bad. Tomorrow's market makes up for it. Big time.
In today's edition:
🏀🎅 Christmas in July: the River Lions' wildest home game of the year
😮💨 The smoke is lifting. Here's what's back open
🌳 FREE entry to every Ontario Park. Today only
💰 Bigger benefit cheques land Monday (and a scam to dodge)
🚧 Road closures to know about
📅 Your full weekend guide: 30+ things to do
🏀🎅 Santa, Fireworks and Pro Basketball. Tomorrow.
Source: Niagara River Lions / Meridian Centre
Forget everything you know about July.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Niagara River Lions host their famous Christmas in July game. And they picked a good year for it. Your River Lions are the back-to-back CEBL champions. They won it all in 2024. Then they did it again in 2025. Now they're fighting for playoff position, and they need the building LOUD.
Here's what to know:
Saturday, July 18 at 3:30 p.m. at the Meridian Centre, 1 David S Howes Way.
They play the Edmonton Stingers.
Santa will be there. In July. Carollers too.
Fireworks when they win. (When. Not if.)
Only TWO home games left this season. This one, and July 26 vs. Ottawa.
Nearly 70% of CEBL players are Canadian. This is homegrown pro ball, five minutes from Market Square.
And here's the kicker. Saturday's forecast shows a 75% chance of rain. The Meridian Centre has a roof. This isn't just the best plan for Saturday. It might be the only plan.
💛 Today's Issue Is Brought To You By Garden City Digest's Own Marketing Shop
Quick honesty moment.
This newsletter doesn't run on magic. It runs on me — Goodness — and the same marketing agency I use to help local businesses get found on Google.
Here's the thing about St. Catharines right now. New homes going up. New businesses opening. And most of them are invisible online because nobody set up their Google Business Profile correctly, Google Ads, their SEO, or a website that actually converts.
I fix that. That's the whole job.
If you own a business here, or you know someone who does and the phone isn't ringing enough, reply to this email and just say "help." I'll show you exactly what's broken and how to fix it. No cost to find out.
Back to the news. 👇
😮💨 The Smoke Is Lifting Today
Source: Environment Canada / City of St. Catharines / CBC Hamilton
That campfire smell hanging over the city all week? Smoke from wildfires way up in northwestern Ontario.
It got serious. On Thursday, our air quality hit 10+. That's the worst rating on the scale. The city shut outdoor pools, sports fields, outdoor programs, and even the Lakeside Park Carousel.
Here's what to know:
Today's air quality is forecast to drop to moderate. A big improvement.
City outdoor pools, splash pads and programs are expected back to normal today. Double check at stcatharines.ca before you head out.
The carousel should be spinning again this weekend. Still 5 cents a ride. Still the best deal in Ontario. 🎠
Week 2 of the free Summer Concerts at Montebello Park got cancelled Wednesday. The city says it will be rescheduled. We'll tell you the new date the second it drops.
If you have asthma or a heart condition, take it easy this morning. The air gets cleaner as the day goes on.
🌳 Every Ontario Park Is FREE Today
Source: Northern Ontario Travel
Today is Healthy Parks, Healthy People Day. That means day-use entry at ALL Ontario Parks is free on Friday, July 17.
Here's what to know:
Short Hills Provincial Park is 15 minutes from downtown. Waterfalls. Trails. Zero dollars.
Today is about 28°C and mostly sunny. Saturday looks rainy. So today is THE day.
This happens once a year. Pack water and go after work.
Fresh air never felt so earned.
💰 Bigger Benefit Cheques Land Monday
Source: HR Block
Mark Monday on your calendar. July 20 starts a brand new Canada Child Benefit year.
Here's what to know:
Your CCB payment lands Monday. It's now based on your 2025 tax return, so your amount may change.
Families can get up to $679.75 per month for each child under 6.
The old GST credit has a new name: the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. It now pays 25% more. The first boosted payment went out July 3. The next comes in October.
Filed your 2025 taxes? You're set. Everything updates automatically.
⚠️ Scam alert: The CRA says posts about a new "$2,000 relief payment" going around online are FAKE. There is no such payment. If a text or email promises you one, delete it. Real benefit info only lives at canada.ca.
🚧 Road Closures This Week
Source: City of St. Catharines / Niagara Region
The two big ones are still with us:
Vine St. / Parnell Rd. intersection: fully closed until Aug. 24. Southbound detour: Lakeshore → Geneva → Linwell → Vine. Northbound: Linwell → Niagara → Lakeshore.
Martindale Rd. is closed between Main St. and South Service Rd. until end of year while crews replace the 59-year-old J.R. Stork bridge.
Remember to always check the city’s traffic notice that drops at 9am before you head out.
Want the daily list yourself? It's always at stcatharines.ca/trafficnotices.
📅 Your Weekend Guide (July 17 to 19)
Clean air Friday. Rain likely Saturday (75% chance, have an indoor backup). Gorgeous, dry and 25°C on Sunday. Here's everything we found.
FRIDAY, JULY 17 ☀️ 28°C
🌳 FREE entry to ALL Ontario Parks. Day use is free everywhere, including Short Hills. Once a year. Go after work.
🎵 Live music at Niagara Artists Centre, 354 St. Paul St. (lineup)
🎤 Andrew Packer Live! Comedy at 92 St. Paul St. downtown.
🎩 The Paranormal Magic show in Niagara Falls. Spooky, funny, weird. In a good way.
🍹 Copa After Dark in Niagara Falls if you're making a night of it.
🌅 Golden hour at Sunset Beach. The smoke made the sky ugly all week. Tonight the sunset is back. Bring a chair.
SATURDAY, JULY 18 🌧️ 28°C, rain likely
Morning:
🧺 Farmers Market at Market Square, 91 King St., 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Over 60 vendors. Peach season is HERE. Go early, the good stuff goes fast. Rain or shine, vendors show up. So should you.
🎶 Music in the Square at the Market, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.
👶 Market Discovery Table for kids, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Free.
Afternoon:
🏀🎅 River Lions: Christmas in July, 3:30 p.m., Meridian Centre. Santa. Carollers. Fireworks when they win. Indoors, so the rain can't touch it. Tickets
🐶 Happy Days Sanctuary Adoption Event, Bake Sale & BBQ, 12 to 4 p.m., 2960 Burger Rd., Stevensville. Meet your new best friend. Worth the drive.
🎨 Wine Tasting & Paint Experience at Vieni Estates in wine country. Sip, paint, repeat.
Evening:
🎤 Nelly live in Niagara Falls. It IS gettin' hot in herre.
🎵 Live music at Niagara Artists Centre again Saturday night, 354 St. Paul St.
🤼 NSW: Great Canadian Bash. Live pro wrestling at the Grantham Optimist Youth Centre. Featuring ECW legend Shane Douglas. Body slams in Grantham. What a time to be alive.
🦜 Niagara Falls Bird Show, 7 p.m. Yes, a bird show. The kids will lose their minds.
🍹 Copa After Dark runs Saturday too.
All day (virtual):
💻 EmpowHER Career Exploration Fair (free, Zoom, Sat + Sun). Youth explore 12 career fields, from aviation to law to VFX.
SUNDAY, JULY 19 ☀️ 25°C
🏖️ Beach + carousel day at Lakeside Park. The air is clean, the sun is out, the carousel is back, and it's still 5 cents. Best Sunday in weeks.
🎻 Queenston Heights Sunday Afternoon Concert Series. Free music with a view over the river. Bring a blanket.
🍷 Wayne Gretzky Estates Summer Music Series. Live music at the winery, minutes from town.
🚗 Sunday Night Cruise Nights with Drifters Niagara. Classic cars and good vibes.
🧘 Sound & Stillness at Park 56. Slow Sunday, done right.
🛍️ Factory Outlet Flea Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Comics, records, toys, treasure. Sundays only.
🎶 Live music at the Outlet Collection at Niagara. Free tunes while you shop.
📌 MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Wednesday, July 22: 🚒 Hot Summer Nights hits Guy Road Park, 5 Guy Rd., 6 to 8 p.m. Fire trucks become giant sprinklers. Kids run through. Everyone wins. Free.
Saturday, July 25: ✊ The Harriet Tubman 175th Anniversary Arrival Walk, 10 a.m., James Street downtown. 175 years since Harriet Tubman arrived in St. Catharines. Be part of history.
Sunday, July 26: 🏀 Last River Lions home game of the season vs. Ottawa, 3 p.m.
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That's it for today, St. Catharines!
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Breathe easy out there. Let's chat again on Monday! 👋
— Garden City Digest
P.S. The Farmers Market runs Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., all summer long. Screenshot that. We just did.
