Our lovely city of Burlington has a rich heritage-structural, oral and cultural. If you're looking to learn more about your community and its local heritage, there are some great opportunities happening all month long. Take some time in February to explore all the events happening in celebration of Heritage Month and Black History Month in Burlington. The celebrations have grown from a one day Heritage Fair to a month long series of events held across the city.
Take a walking tour of Downtown Burlington with Alan Harrington on Feb. 2 at 10:45 a.m. We start at the Tourism Burlington Visitor Centre at 414 Locust St, rain or shine, for a lively informative tour. Dress appropriately for the weather!
Join local historian Gary Evans on Feb. 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Burlington Central Library for a walk down memory lane and reminisce about Brant Street.
The Beach Canal Lighthouse Group will have a display at Central library starting on Feb. 1 and their monthly meeting is on Feb. 10 in the Holland Room at 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend and learn about the plans for this historic building.
Also on Feb. 12, at 7 pm join the Royal Botanical Gardens Head of Science Dr. David Galbraith at Burlington Public Library who will be speaking on the cultural landscapes of the RBG.
The Burlington Historical Society opens its doors for its monthly meeting on Feb.11 at the Central Library at 7 pm for those who would like to hear speaker Rob Green, of the Ontario Black History Society.
Visit Ireland House Museum for a Family Day Open House on Feb. 18, 1-4 pm. Participants can look forward to exploring the Ireland family home, lemon shortbread cookie demonstrations and sampling by the hearth and creating a family keepsake craft. Cost is $15/family (2 adults and up to 4 children) and no pre-registration is required.
For the first time Heritage Month is offering a free concert at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Fiddler, Singer and Composer Anne Lederman will be performing with folksinger, songwriter and instrumentalist Ian Bell on Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Event is free however you must register in advance at the box office.
The Freeman Station is hosting a diorama show on Feb. 16 at the station located on 3023 New St. (next to the Central Fire Station). Show times are 10am, 11am, 12 noon. Now that the Lower Level of the Burlington Junction Station is almost complete, a dedicated team of Friends of Freeman Station volunteers have begun assembling a unique and special model railway and historic diorama depicting life in the village of Freeman in the early 1900's. The teaching diorama recaptures the nostalgia of the times, depicting early Twentieth-century bucolic life in Freeman, now a part of the Burlington.
Central Library is always a busy spot during Heritage month with everything from films (Show Girls) to Don Giovani (SOLO) to Genealogy Club to Samurai Sword Making. This year local heritage organizations and groups will set up displays on the second floor throughout the month. On Thursday's at 2 pm. the Burlington History room will open its doors and feature a speaker each week; Feb 7 – Pauline Grondin on Indigenous farm workers of Aldershot: Feb 14 Joan Downey on Pioneer Families; and Feb. 28 Zig Misiak on Joseph Brant.
For more details check the Burlington Post on Jan 31 for the Burlington Heritage Month Insert or go to the Burlington Library site for all the dates and times.