Busy August in Bolton as three popular events return

By Zachary Roman

A jam-packed August of events is in store for Bolton.

Here's a preview of three that are upcoming, starting with perhaps Bolton's biggest night of the year: Midnight Madness.

Last time it was held, around 15,000 people were in attendance throughout the night.

Midnight Madness takes place on Friday, August 12 this year, begins at 6 p.m., and is being hosted by the Bolton Community Crew and Stage Academy Theatre Association. The presenting sponsor for the event is The Caputo Group.

Bolton's downtown core will be pedestrian-only for this night of fun, and shuttle buses will be available to bring people from two large parking lots to the event. A North shuttle will be running from the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness and Midnight Madness, and a South shuttle will be running from the Albion-Bolton Community Centre to Midnight Madness. Both shuttles will be running back and forth from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

There will also be free parking at the Royal Courtyards near King and Queen streets, along Mill and Chapel streets, and at the municipal parking lot on Chapel Street.

Multiple musical acts are lined up to rock the stage that's going to be set up on Queen Street: Table 69, saxophonist Marco Marrone, and disco band Escapade. There will be a plethora of food trucks, a cash bar and a vendor market.

There will be a kids' zone with face painting and games, and Caledon OPP and Caledon Fire and Emergency Services will also be in attendance. More information about Midnight Madness can be found on the website boltoncommunitycrew.ca.

Next up in Bolton is the third and final running of this year's new Taste of Bolton event series on August 19.

Taste of Bolton sees Bolton's Royal Courtyards by the intersection of King and Queen streets transformed into an outdoor dining experience.

Local food vendors will be set up in the parking lot there, and musicians will be playing live in the courtyards where there is seating for guests. There will be a cash bar as well for those interested. Food will be served from 6 to 9 p.m. and live music by local jazz quartet 4 Skör will play from 7 to 10 p.m. 

Taste of Bolton is an event series that was started this year by the Downtown Bolton Task Force, and has been spearheaded by Sara Clarkson, Vilma Tarquini, and Ward 5 Regional Councillor Annette Groves. 

“The whole basis behind it was that we wanted to add some more community events… and we wanted also to provide the local restaurant and food vendors an opportunity to be able to highlight themselves at an event,” said Clarkson in a previous interview with the Citizen.

On Saturday, August 20 (and the following Saturday, August 27), the Bolton Summer Market is going to be taking place. It too will be utilizing the parking lot of the Royal Courtyards near King and Queen streets.

Hosted by the Downtown Bolton Business Improvement Area (BIA), the Bolton Summer Market is a maker's market that encourages people to buy local. It used to be a farmer's market, but switched to this new format due to a lack of produce vendors. Over 30 vendors are scheduled to be in attendance on the 20th, according to the Downtown Bolton BIA's website.

More information on the vendors can be found there at downtownbolton.ca/summermarket.