Regina's friendly local roundup | Monday, July 20, 2026

Happy Monday, Regina! 👋

Today starts on the cooler side with a decent chance of rain, but don't put the sunscreen away. Temperatures climb back into the high 20s by Wednesday and keep rising toward the weekend. It was a big weekend for Regina on screens both giant and outdoor, and there's plenty more ahead.

A Christopher Nolan epic pulled film lovers from across the province into one of the world's rarest theatres, hundreds gathered in Wascana Centre for the World Cup final, and the Riders keep rolling toward Thursday's showdown with Edmonton. Let's get into it.

In today's edition:

Christopher Nolan's new film The Odyssey opened Thursday at the Kramer IMAX Theatre inside the Saskatchewan Science Centre. The Regina venue is one of just 41 theatres worldwide that can project the film on genuine 70 millimetre IMAX stock, and tickets for its first showings sold out within days of going on sale more than a year ago. Science Centre chief operating officer Ryan Holota said staff were thrilled to finally welcome moviegoers who had circled the release on their calendars for months. Regina's screen is the largest in the province.

North Battleford's Trenton Blum made the roughly four-hour drive to catch Thursday's first screening, and told CBC the trip was worth repeating for a second viewing. The film itself arrived at the theatre in three aluminum crates, with a reel weighing 600 pounds and stretching 16 kilometres, handled by a projectionist trained specifically for film-format screenings. The Odyssey runs at the Kramer IMAX Theatre through August 12.

Regina soccer fans gathered inside Wascana Centre on Sunday for a free outdoor watch party for the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Ward 6 Coun. Victoria Flores sparked the idea, hoping the rest of the city could share in the World Cup excitement she'd experienced firsthand, and a handful of phone calls turned it into a full community effort. The Regina Open Door Society, Summer Bash YQR, the Good Morning Project, the Saskatchewan Community Foundation and Access Communications all pitched in to bring a massive screen, food trucks and family activities to the Wascana Centre grounds near the Legislative Building.

Organizer Kairo Holness pointed to Regina's diverse community and soccer's rising popularity as reasons the watch party made sense here, calling it an event built to unite people across backgrounds and soccer traditions. Entry was free, with fans encouraged to bring their own seating and blankets for the 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. event, with kickoff at 1 p.m. What started as a few phone calls turned into a celebration meant to bring the whole city together.

The Western Canadian Baseball League's East Division cruised to a 9-2 win over the West in Sunday's All-Star Game at Cairns Field in Saskatoon, with three Regina Red Sox suiting up for the home side. Infielder Justin Simard went 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs, starting pitcher Keagan Baker opened the game with a scoreless first inning, and reliever David Gordon helped keep the West off the board in the fifth. Medicine Hat's Carter Roth, who blasted a two-run homer, was named the game's MVP.

It was the East Division's third straight All-Star Game win, and Simard was happy to claim the bragging rights again, telling reporters "three years in a row, so I love it." The weekend marked Saskatoon's first time hosting WCBL All-Star festivities, and despite Sunday's wind, fans turned out for both Saturday's skills competition and Sunday's game. Sylvan Lake will host the 2027 edition.

The Regina Thunder are back in training camp at Mosaic Stadium and Leibel Field, gearing up for the 2026 Canadian Junior Football League season. The 100 percent volunteer-run club, coached by Scott MacAulay, opens its Prairie Football Conference schedule on the road against the Edmonton Wildcats on August 1. Founded in 1999, the Thunder have won three PFC championships (2013, 2022 and 2024) along with a Canadian Bowl title in 2013.

The program keeps producing talent that turns pro heads close to home. Thunder alumni Peter Boersch and Ben Walz both earned invitations to Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp this spring, with Walz drawing praise from head coach Corey Mace for his work ethic and preparation throughout camp. For a city that loves its football, the Thunder's return means another season of homegrown talent worth cheering for.

Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris had a reunion earlier this month when Gene Smith, his first general manager with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2010, showed up at Mosaic Stadium to watch him play his 200th career CFL game. Smith, now based in Nashville, was invited by Roughriders GM Jeremy O'Day, a longtime friend, and caught Saskatchewan's 38-7 win over Hamilton on July 12 that pushed the team to a 4-1 start this season.

The two shared a warm hug and a long chat in the locker room after the game, sixteen years after Smith released Harris from Jacksonville's camp, a moment Harris now credits with reshaping his career for the better. Harris, the reigning Grey Cup MVP, has climbed to 12th on the CFL's all-time passing yardage list. Saskatchewan hosts the Edmonton Elks this Thursday in a battle for top spot in the West.

July 20 to 22

🦉 Twit-Twoo Craft Crew | Royal Saskatchewan Museum, 2445 Albert Street | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Free with admission | Drop-in weekly craft project for kids 5-8, all welcome. Details →

🙏 Smudge in the Commons | Central Library, Community Commons | 12:00-1:00 PM | Free | A weekly smudge to start the week off in a good way, open to everyone. Details →

⛏️ Saskatchewan Mining Association Pop-Up | Royal Saskatchewan Museum | 1:00-3:30 PM | Free with admission | Drop-in games on Saskatchewan geology, minerals and mining. Details →

🎩 Danny Kazam Magic Show | Regent Place Branch | 2:00-2:30 PM | Free | Family-friendly magic and illusions for ages 4 and up. Details →

🎷 Monday Night Jazz & Blues: Ryan Maier | Bushwakker Brewpub, 2206 Dewdney Avenue | 7:30-9:00 PM | Winnipeg artist delivers a live set. Details →

🎸 Coup D'etat, LeavesLikeTinyFlames, My Friend Neil | The Exchange (Clubside), 2431 8th Avenue | Doors 7:00 PM | All ages and licensed. Details →

🎬 The Odyssey: The IMAX 70mm Experience | Kramer IMAX Theatre, Saskatchewan Science Centre | Running through August 12 | Christopher Nolan's epic on true 70mm film. Showtimes →

🖌️ Colouring Café | Regent Place Branch | 10:30 AM-12:00 PM | Free | A relaxed colouring session for families, light refreshments provided. Details →

🔬 OWL//LAB | Royal Saskatchewan Museum | 1:30-3:30 PM | Free with admission | Drop-in look at Saskatchewan's owls, including an owl pellet dissection. Details →

🇨🇦 RCMP Academy's Sunset Ceremonies | RCMP Heritage Centre, 5907 Dewdney Avenue | Gates 5:00 PM, ceremony 6:00 PM | Free | A Canadian tradition found only in Regina: cadets in scarlet tunics, a field gun drill, and the lowering of the flag. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Details →

🎮 Big Screen Video Games | Central Library, Central Children's | 7:00-8:00 PM | Free, teens | Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. on the RPL Film Theatre's big screen. Details →

🏐 2026 Canada Cup | Bunge International Trade Centre, REAL District | July 21-26 | National volleyball tournament gets underway. Details →

🦉 Owlathon Owl Skills Challenge | Royal Saskatchewan Museum | 2:00-3:00 PM | Free with admission | Interactive owl-themed challenges in the auditorium, all ages. Details →

🏳️ Art in the Park: Paper Pennants | Victoria Park | 10:00 AM-1:00 PM | Free | Drop-in flag-making with collage and mixed media, all ages. Details →

🥕 Regina Farmers' Market | Pat Fiacco Plaza, 2190 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM-1:00 PM | Local produce, baked goods and crafts, every Wednesday and Saturday through October 10. Market info →

📖 Words in the Park | Victoria Park, 2190 12th Avenue | 12:00-1:00 PM | Free | Local authors and storytellers over your lunch hour, against the downtown skyline. Details →

🎸 Summer Sidewalk Concert: Charlie Holmlund | Central Library | 4:00-5:00 PM | Free | Live music outside Central Library as part of RPL's summer concert series. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: Listers | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00-9:00 PM | Free admission | A comedy about two brothers who spend a year chasing a competitive birdwatching title. Details →

🎻 Wednesday Folk Night: Michel Chammartin | Bushwakker Brewpub | 7:30-9:00 PM | The special St. Jean performance returns for an encore. Details →

🎸 Bed of Roses: Tribute to Bon Jovi | Casino Regina Show Lounge | 8:00 PM | Paid admission. Details →

🏐 2026 Canada Cup continues | Bunge International Trade Centre, REAL District | Through July 26. Details →

🖼️ Strange Dark Memory | MacKenzie Art Gallery, 3475 Albert Street | Free, 11:00 AM-5:30 PM daily, through August 9 | Maia Stark's first major solo exhibition. Exhibit info →

🖼️ Death Boat and Other Stories | MacKenzie Art Gallery | Free, 11:00 AM-5:30 PM daily, long-term exhibit. Exhibit info →

🚣 Mystery at the Lake Outdoor Escape Room | Wascana Centre | Through October 31 | Self-guided outdoor puzzle experience along the lake. Details →

🛶 Wascana Centre Canoe & Kayak Rentals | Wascana Marina | Through September 15. Details →

🏛️ Communication Across Time Tours | Government House, 4607 Dewdney Avenue | Free, hourly 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, through July 25 | Costumed Victorian-era tours. Details →

🚔 RCMP Depot Tours | RCMP Heritage Centre | Tuesdays through Fridays, through August 28. Details →

🎲 Games in the Park | Victoria Park | Tuesdays through Fridays, through August 28 | Free drop-in games downtown. Details →

🎨 Connective Tissue | Dunlop Central Gallery, Regina Public Library | Free, through September 5. Details →

🎨 Bruce Anderson: Herd-Bound | Dunlop Sherwood Gallery, Sherwood Village Branch | Free, through October 14. Details →

The Riders are riding a 4-1 start into Thursday's showdown with Edmonton. How are you watching?

🏟️ I'll be at Mosaic Stadium in person
📺 Watching from home, green and white on
🍻 Catching it at a patio or pub downtown
🎬 Honestly, might catch The Odyssey instead

Hit reply and let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Catch a movie, catch the market, and catch some sunshine this week! 😃

🗓️ Next edition: Wednesday, July 22.

-QCD