Week of August 17-23, 2026

Hey, hi, hello there, folks and friends.

Welcome to the very first issue of From Durham. No fanfare, no confetti cannon (alright, alright, just one) — just a weekly rundown of what's actually happening around the region, so you can stop piecing it all together across five different Facebook groups and just know what's on.

Here's the week, town by town. ✌🏻

🗓️ This week in Durham

Ajax

• 🎼 Tuesday, Aug 18 (7–8:30pm) — Music in the Square: Blue Silver — a Duran Duran tribute act taking over Pat Bayly Square, because nothing says "summer in Durham" like belting "Hungry Like the Wolf" in a lawn chair. Little Beasts Brewing is pouring, so the grown-ups are covered too.
• 🏘️ Thursday, Aug 20 (6–8pm) — Official Plan Review Open House — this is "Ajax: Our Future in Focus," the town's big-picture review of how it grows over the next few decades: housing, roads, parks, the works. Worth an hour if you've ever complained about traffic, a new subdivision, or where the next park should go. At Community Hall C, Audley Recreation Centre.
• 🎈 Saturday–Sunday, Aug 22–23 (3–11pm) — Durham Summerfest — free, at Ajax Downs, with international music, food, and family activities. It's got provincial funding behind it this year, so expect a bigger swing than usual.

Oshawa

• 🚗 Friday, Aug 21 (3:30–9pm) — Kars on King — downtown Oshawa turns into one long driveway of classic cars, plus Touch-A-Truck and live music from Jackson & The Phantom Rebels. Free, and genuinely fun even if you don't know a carburetor from a cupholder.

Whitby

• 💃🏼 Wednesday, Aug 19 (6–8pm) — Soca on the Shore — a Caribbean music and dance pop-up right on the waterfront. Good excuse to learn a move or two before anyone you know is watching.
• 🎬 Friday, Aug 21 (starts at dusk, ~8:15pm) — Movies in the Park: Ferris Bueller's Day Off — Civic Park, free. Bring a blanket and maybe a light jacket; Ferris didn't wait around for anyone and neither does the sunset.
• 👙 Also this week: Fall 2026 program registration opens in stages — set a reminder if you're trying to snag a specific swim time before it fills.
  • Aquatics (residents-only) on Tuesday, Aug 18
  • General recreation programs on Thursday, Aug 20
  • Non-residents recreation programs on Wednesday, Aug 26

Pickering

• 🤠 Saturday–Sunday, Aug 22–23 (2–8pm) — Country Music & Line Dancing Family Festival — Pickering Festival Grounds, $10 for a single day or $20 for the weekend. Boots optional, enthusiasm not.
• 👻 Thursday, Aug 20 (evenings) — the weekly ghost-hunting walks continue along the Pickering waterfront, running every Thursday through October 22, for anyone who wants their history lesson with a side of goosebumps.

Clarington

• 🍿 + 🛼 Wednesday, Aug 19 (starts at dusk, ~8:15pm) — Movies Under the Stars: Inside Out 2 — free, and this week it's at the Diane Hamre Recreation Complex. Plus, there's pre-show roller skating beforehand starting at 6pm and 7pm. Double whammy for a date night, or a kid-friendly outing. Pajamas encouraged.

Looking ahead: Autofest Nationals rolls into Elgin Park, Uxbridge, Aug 29–30; the Port Perry Fair runs Sept 5–7 (right before school's back in session); and the Uxbridge Fall Fair — celebrating its 50th year — follows Sept 11–13.

📍 Local gem: Eunoia Forest School (Oshawa)

Tucked in at Camp Samac, north Oshawa, Eunoia Forest School runs on a simple idea: "beautiful thinking happens in naturally beautiful spaces." Translation — kids ages 4 to 12 (and toddlers, via the parent-and-tot program) spend their school day, camp day, or Saturday morning outside, learning by poking at the actual dirt instead of a worksheet about it.

They run kindergarten and grade 1–3 nature programs, one-day-a-week options, summer day camps, weekend adventure programs, and workshops for teachers who want to steal the model for their own classrooms. If you've got a kid who's happier outside than in—or who needs to get off the screen—this is worth a bookmark.

💚 Why I love it: My kids have gone regularly for about 4+ years now, and Ellisha, the founder is one of the most forward-thinking, inclusive, expansive educators I've come across.

👨‍👩‍👧 This weekend, with littles

• Friday, Aug 21 (3:30–9pm) — Kars on King, downtown Oshawa — the cars are for the adults; Touch-A-Truck is very much for everyone under 10.
• Saturday–Sunday, Aug 22–23 (3–11pm) — Durham Summerfest, Ajax Downs — free, with music, food, and enough going on to burn off a weekend's worth of kid energy.
• Saturday–Sunday, Aug 22–23 (2–8pm) — Country Music & Line Dancing Family Festival, Pickering Festival Grounds — $10–20, and a genuinely good excuse to teach the kids the electric slide.

Know a hidden gem (or just an obvious, but well-loved rock) in Durham Region I should feature, profile, or talk to?

Talk soon,

Arina from Whitby