London, Ontario is a vibrant city with plenty events going on throughout the summer. Sometimes our financial situations can leave us feeling like we’re left out of the fun summertime traditions or like there isn’t much to do in the city. We’ve compiled a list of free things to do in the summer that won’t break the bank. While some of these events suggest spending money, they have free admission and no spending is required. Read on as we explore the various events and activities to do in London in the summer if you’re on a budget!
Boho Bazaar Night Market
Our friends down at Purdy Natural and Lunah Life have joined forces to provide London with an impressive summer-time event! Once a month, they host a Night Market in the quaint backyard of Purdy Natural. The atmosphere of the night is just what you’d expect from Purdy Natural and Lunah Life; a charming and chilled-out outdoor party that welcomes anyone and everyone who’ll join. Complete with twinkle lights, candles and live music, this is the perfect summer-time event that showcases London’s most fabulous local vendors. The artisan merchants sell everything from mala bead jewellery, candles, clothes, natural skincare and body products to house decor and yoga essentials. The best part of the night market is that although the mission is to sell local products, you don’t need to spend any money to enjoy the event! In addition, you will be exposed to some fantastic London businesses that will no doubt leave you with some ideas for future purchases.
Live music and kombucha samples? What better way to spend a hot Thursday summer’s eve. Our friends down at 10Eighteen Coffee Bar are also involved with this event, providing delicious treats and drinks for those who attend!
This is a growing event that brings Londoners together while support local businesses. The well-intentioned evening that boasts such pleasant vibes is sure to be a hit for those who attend!
Movie Nights in the Park
Victoria Park is undoubtedly one of London’s most celebrated attractions – especially for those who love to laze in the sun. Picnics are always a good idea in this beautiful space, and there’s no doubt you’ll make some new canine friends (maybe some squirrels too!) while you take a stroll.
While basking in the sun and enjoying the hot weather is always a good idea for Londoners, when the sun goes down the park becomes dull with not much to do. Luckily, the City of London partners up with various non-profit groups to coordinate Movie Nights in the Park. It has quickly become an annual tradition for families in the summertime.
For the past few years, the City has hosted a slew of free movie nights throughout the summer months – averaging at about 3 per month. The movies are always family-friendly and the best part is it’s free. They are screened at the band shell, with a huge projector ensuring everyone can see the movie clearly. The movie roster last summer included classics such as Grease, and new films like Zootopia, Moana, Star Wars: Rogue One and Secret Life of Pets.
This is an excellent option for those who don’t want to drive out to the middle of nowhere to catch a drive-in. It’s centrally located and easily accessible to everyone in the city – the perfect activity with the whole family or as a date night.
Sunfest
Sunfest is an annual event that has slowly become an inherent aspect of the London culture and community. It is a festival that interweaves food, art and community from around the globe together in one fun (and hot!) weekend.
The unfailing sense of otherworldly cultures, charitable initiatives, food and vendors makes for one of the most anticipated and enjoyable weekends of the year!
Downtown residents watch each July as Victoria Park morphs itself from a gorgeous landscape of lush greenery and towering trees to a temporary home for hundreds of vendors and performers.
Over 200,000 visitors make their way to Sunfest each year to enjoy the hot weather and delicious food. It’s next to impossible to avoid the droves of people and their pets. But walking through Sunfest provides a feeling of being transported to another world! The vendors offer trinkets, jewellery and clothes reminiscent of Moroccan markets and the vibrant colours instantly put you in a good mood.
Although there are plenty of vendors, you don’t need to buy anything to enjoy Sunfest in all its glory! Many people love just taking a stroll through the park and sitting down in the open green areas to chill out while listening to music.
The bandshell is always showcasing various talented performers. Spectators come from all over London and surrounding area to watch acts from local folk bands to ethnic dancers. The entertainment is always full of good summer vibes, especially when the sun goes down, and the best part is these shows are completely free of charge!
Fireworks
Summertime wouldn’t be complete without seeing at least one fireworks show! London is home to many events throughout the summer but one of the most anticipated for families, friends and couples alike are the Canada Day Fireworks hosted in various spots in and around the city.
Harris Park is undoubtedly the most popular spot for Canada Day Fireworks. Each year crowds of people make their way down to the fork of the Thames River. They find themselves a free spot, lay their blanket on the ground and hunker down waiting for the show to begin! If you feel inclined to spend some money, there are multiple vendors and some activities for children that will keep you occupied while waiting for the show.
Firework locations vary from year to year, and the events aren’t listed yet for 2018. Past locations include various parks and community centres such as White Oaks Park, Meadowgate Park, Argyle Arena, and Delaware Speedway.
The Beach
London isn’t home to many beaches in the city, except for Fanshawe Lake, and there is admission to get in. Luckily, those who are willing to make the drive can access some amazing beaches at the Great Lakes.
Grand Bend is a favourite family pastime for Londoners. It’s only a 45-minute north of London and boasts some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Located on Lake Huron, families can enjoy the day lazing on the beach and walking up and down the main strip. Grand Bend is a staple for anyone who lives in London and a must-do in the summer.
For those who want to avoid the sheer busyness of the famous Grand Bend beach town, Port Stanley is another fantastic option for heading to the beach. It is an hour south of London at Lake Eerie. It is less of a tourist attraction and boasts wide beaches for miles.
Both of these towns are perfect for a day trip, and if you feel like spending a bit of money stopping for a classic meal in any of the restaurants in both Grand Bend and Port Stanley is always the best way to end a day in the sun before heading home!
Ribfest
Since its inaugural year in 1985, London’s Rib-Fest has earned quite the reputation for itself as Canada’s first and largest festival of its kind. Not to mention it’s become a tradition for local London families and shows no sign of slowing down. It takes place at the beginning of August every year beginning on Thursday and going through the weekend until Monday.
While Rib-Fest is widely popular like Sunfest, it doesn’t boast the same varied culture and shopping. The focus is on, you guessed it, ribs! For those inclined to spend some money to get a little taste of the food-centric festival in all its glory. While ribs are the star of the show, other food options endless. From festival classics such as elephant ears, souvlaki and lemonade to more innovative and modern eats like fried chocolate bars and pineapple skewers, there’s a ton to try.
Admission is free at Rib-Fest, and for those who don’t want to spend, they can take in the various art and gaming instalments. The expressions in chalk street painting performance will take place in the bandshell, and there will be a free virtual reality interaction opportunity. In addition to this, there is an extensive lineup of musicians including Led Zeppelin and Tom Petty tribute bands. On Monday at 3 pm, the “Ribber” awards take place, and the rib vendor with the best ribs is given recognition!
Kayaking
Nature options are endless, especially in a city where a river runs through it. A favourite pastime for many in the summer is kayaking down the Thames River or on Fanshawe Lake!
It’s not an uncommon sight to see a group of people spending the day in the Thames River with a few beers in their kayak. There is a present kayaking and paddling community in London and surrounding area. If you’re interested in taking a paddle down the river, but don’t know where to start or how to get ahold of a kayak or canoe, you can check out www.thamesrivers.ca for more information or follow the Thames River Paddling Routes Facebook page! This will connect you to the paddling community in London and open you up to all the info you’ll need to start a remarkable summer tradition.
Hiking
With the warm weather comes the natural inclination to spend more time outdoors. Luckily for us, London is home to 200 parks and over 100 kilometres worth of trails! Pack the kids in strollers, throw the leash on the dog and you’re ready for a fun afternoon outdoors.
The Forest City is a fantastic place for those who enjoy long trails that aren’t challenging. There are unlimited spots to spend an afternoon throughout the city. Most trails are well-kept, and while you’ll definitely run into other hikers, there won’t be many interruptions (depending on the day and time you go).
Some of our favourite trails in and around the city are Komoka Trails, Medway Valley, Meadowlily Trail and Sifton Bog Dock Trail! Disclaimer: while utilizing the paths is free, some trails do charge for parking, so do your research before you head to any trails if you don’t want to get hit with a parking charge!
Home County Music & Arts Festival
London has been home to the Home County Music & Arts Festival for a full 44 years and is gearing up to celebrate their 45th annual event this year! Each year, Victoria Park hosts this lively and welcoming festival. It’s become known as a fun weekend full of music, art and food and admission is by donation. While there are some similarities to Sunfest, Home County puts less focus on multi-cultural retail vendors throughout the park and more on community and performances.
They always have an impressive lineup of local and decently known artists and emphasize retailers that have a direct connection to the Home County Music & Arts Festival mission. This mission is to enrich the cultural life of London’s four-country community. The result of this mission is a festival that showcases vendors and performers Canadian roots. The festival celebrates emerging local artists, amazing artisans, food vendors and more.
London International Food Festival
Food lovers in London rejoice every year at the end of June. This is because Victoria Park hosts a massive food festival featuring a ton of vendors from around the world. This has become an awesome summertime tradition, bringing people together since its inaugural year.
The festival is complete with classic festival grub such as beaver tails, fries, hot dogs and burgers. But for those feeling adventurous, there are multi-cultural stands and foodie heaven food trucks. These vendors are serving up food such as enchiladas, meat pies, brisket, grilled cheese and perogies. There is even an all ages beer garden serving up ice cold beer perfect to beat the summer heat.
For those who prefer to be entertained rather than eating, London International Food Festival rejoices the essence of international culture and has a selection of multicultural artists performing for the duration of the festival.