St. Catharines Ontario has few equals in North America when it comes to attention to aesthetic beauty. St. Catharines? nickname is The Garden City, due to the great attention paid to the development and maintenance of 1,000 acres of parks, gardens, and trails. It is no wonder that such a place comes alive in the summer, with several large events held to show off the city's diversity, its culture, and its beauty.

Niagara Folk Arts Festival.

The biggest celebration in St. Catharines, the Folk Arts Festival began in 1969 as a celebration of diversity. In its modern incarnation, the Festival is an extravagant affair that lasts for 17 days from May 12-28. Highlights of the festival include the Ambassador's Ball, which kicks off the celebration, and the weekend wrap up event in Montebello Park entitled ?Folk Arts in the Park?. The closing ceremonies are free of admission, and visitors and residents alike are encouraged to come out and enjoy the many different foods, dances, artwork displays, and much more that the festival has to offer.

Niagara New Vintage Festival.

With the Niagara region being a prime location for growing grapes, it is no surprise that dozens of wineries call the area home. The wineries put on various celebrations featuring their product throughout the year, and in the summer, it is time for the Niagara New Vintage Festival. Over 30 wineries take part in the event, starting on June 10 with a vintage wine tasting at the St. Catherines Golf and Country Club. The wineries scheduled to be part of the event all offer a schedule of attractions during the festival, from tastings to tours and other events. This festival is a don't miss for the southern Ontario wine connoisseur!

Canada Day.

All over Canada, cities light up for the first of July, and St. Catharines is no exception. There are several events scheduled to celebrate the country's birthday. Among these are the Canada Day Family Street Party which runs from 11am to 3pm at the Market Square. There are also weekend long celebrations at Port Dalhousie, which includes a full carnival and a huge fireworks show. Charles Daley Park also offers a full day of celebrations from 2pm until after the fireworks show at 10pm.

Dragon Boat Races.

This annual event takes place on July 21 at the Henley. The races are sponsored by the St. Catharines Museum.

Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

Celebrating its 101st anniversary in St. Catharines this year is the largest regatta event of its kind in the western world. The Royal Canadian Henley Regatta annually hosts over 3,500 competitors in various rowing events from August 7th to12th. The event is held on Martindale Pond in Port Dalhousie.

There are also concert series in several of St. Catharines? famous parks throughout the summer. These include both lunch and evening concert series. St. Catharines offers summer events that all can enjoy, from nation wide celebrations to multicultural and athletic events.