👑 Kilts, Beatles, and a Celtic Festival Friday

Regina's friendly local roundup | Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Regina! 👋

Spring has properly landed in the Queen City. After Sunday's howling wind warning blew through, the week is settling into proper May weather, the kind that makes you remember why you put up with February. The outdoor farmers' market is back downtown this morning, the Riders are in camp and looking sharp, and the May long weekend is two days away with one of the most packed event slates the city has seen in a while. There is a lot to get into this week.

In today's edition:

Riders Hit the Field in Saskatoon, and Day One Was as Good as Advertised

The Saskatchewan Roughriders opened main training camp on Sunday in Saskatoon, and head coach Corey Mace set the tone early. Veteran quarterback Trevor Harris looked sharp and completed two great deep balls over defenders, one to All-CFL receiver KeeSean Johnson and one to rookie Daniel Wiebe. Wiebe had a stellar 2025 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, recording 78 catches for 1,257 yards and 13 touchdowns as Canada West Player of the Year.

One of the players drawing plenty of attention on opening day was veteran linebacker Josh Woods, who is making the transition from division rival BC to Saskatchewan after spending the last five seasons with the Lions. Woods arrived with a productive 2025 season: 65 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and a sack. The Riders have preseason games in Calgary on May 18 and Saskatoon on May 23, then wrap camp back home in Regina from May 25 to 29. The regular season opens June 13 against the BC Lions at Mosaic Stadium.

20 New Medical Seats Are Coming to Saskatchewan, and 12 of Them Are in Regina

Saskatchewan is adding 20 medical school seats and 10 new residency positions as part of a broader effort to strengthen the province's physician workforce. The expansion includes a $4.3-million investment to add undergraduate medical education seats at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine beginning in 2026-27. The newest expansion will bring the total number of first-year undergraduate seats to 128, with 12 of the new seats available at the College of Medicine's Regina campus and the other eight at the Saskatoon campus. The province is also committing to target 95 per cent of medical school admissions for Saskatchewan students, with the goal of training doctors who will build their careers right here in the province.

Ten new residency positions are also being added in both family medicine and specialty programs, including the launch of a new plastic surgery residency program. The University of Saskatchewan has filled all 162 first-year residency seats beginning in July 2026. For Reginans who have experienced the challenge of finding a family doctor, this kind of long-term investment in the training pipeline is exactly the news worth celebrating.

Saskatchewan's First Mariachi Band Just Dropped Its Debut Album

Saskatchewan's first mariachi band is officially a recording act. Based in Regina, the Mariachi Latino Band consists of 10 members including seven with Latin roots. The band formed over four years ago and were surprised by the interest they received. Their debut album, celebrated this week, is the culmination of years of performing across the province. Regina has a rich and growing multicultural arts community, and watching a mariachi band put down roots here and connect with audiences from every background is a point of local pride. Keep an eye on their upcoming performance dates.

Help Is Coming for Regina's Most Collision-Prone Intersection

SGI data shows the intersection of Lewvan Drive and Dewdney Avenue had the highest average collision rate of any intersection in Regina between 2022 and 2024, averaging 38 crashes per year. The City of Regina has issued a request for proposal to improve traffic safety there, with director of roadways and transportation Chris Warren explaining that the intersection's protected permissive left-turn configuration has contributed to the collision numbers at what is already a high-speed, high-volume crossing. The fix involves adding a northbound and southbound protected left-turn lane.

The RFP is open until May 26, with construction expected to start in late 2026 or early 2027. For anyone who commutes through that stretch regularly, the city is listening. The city is also managing multiple infrastructure projects across the road network this spring, including the final stage of the 11th Avenue Revitalization Project, which is targeting an October 2026 completion from Cornwall Street through to Albert. The finished blocks of 11th already look sharp, and the full corridor will be transformed by fall.

MacKenzie Art Gallery Is Open with Multiple Exhibitions Running

The MacKenzie Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with several concurrent exhibitions on view including works from its permanent collection and rotating contemporary and Indigenous art programming. General admission is $12; youth 17 and under are always complimentary. If you have not been recently, now is a good time to go, and the May long weekend gives you a natural excuse.

Plan your visit

May 13 - 15

🌿 Regina Farmers' Market | Pat Fiacco Plaza (City Square), 2190 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Free The outdoor market is back downtown. Every item made, baked, grown, or designed in Saskatchewan. Running Wednesdays and Saturdays through October 10. reginafarmersmarket.ca

🌺 Regina Floral Conservatory | 1450B Fourth Avenue | 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Free by donation One of Regina's most underrated gems, and one of the last few weeks before it closes for summer on June 8. Tropical plants, blooms, and a quiet waterfall in the city. reginafloralconservatory.ca

🖌️ Watercolour Workshop: Art in Bloom | MacKenzie Art Gallery, 3475 Albert Street | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM | $25 (pay-what-you-will spots available) Learn three creative approaches to painting flowers in watercolour. All materials provided. Offered again Thursday May 14 at 6:30 PM. Details

🖼️ Dunlop Art Gallery: Kssááhkom Áássksinima'tstohki — The Land is our Teacher | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | Regular gallery hours | Free An Indigenous land-based exhibition curated by Star Crop Eared Wolf at the Dunlop Central Gallery. Running through June 17. Details

🐦 Dunlop Art Gallery: Casey Koyczan — raven; tatsǫ́ | Sherwood Village Branch, 6121 Rochdale Boulevard | Regular gallery hours | Free Tlicho Dene interdisciplinary artist Casey Koyczan fills the gallery with immersive mixed-media sculpture and projected animation exploring themes of grief, transformation, and the trickster spirit through the raven. Curated by Stacey Fayant. Running through May 27. Details

🎭 Conservatory Musical Theatre Showcase – Day 1 | Darke Hall, 2255 College Avenue | 6:30 PM | $16.80 advance / $21.00 at the door Students from the U of R Conservatory of Performing Arts perform Oliver! JR. and Mary Poppins JR. Rush seating, first come first served. Tickets and info

✈️ Top Gun 40th Anniversary in IMAX | Kramer IMAX Theatre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive | 6:30 PM | Paid admission The 1986 original hits the province's only giant screen in IMAX for the very first time, paired back-to-back with Top Gun: Maverick. Running through May 19. Tickets

🎸 Parabolus: The Complete TOOL Experience | The Exchange, 2431 8th Avenue | Doors 6:30 PM, Show 7:00 PM | From $56 A powerful tribute to one of rock's most complex catalogues. All-ages and licensed. Tickets

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: Wuthering Heights | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00 PM | Free admission Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) brings her singular vision to Emily Brontë's classic. UK, 2026, 136 min, 14A. One of the most anticipated films of the year, free at one of Regina's best screens. Film Theatre

🎭 Globe Theatre: Little Red Warrior & His Lawyer | MacCorquodale Place, 1801 Scarth Street | 7:30 PM | Paid (Pay-What-You-Will on select Wednesdays — call 306.525.6400 to confirm) A sharp trickster comedy by Governor General Award-winner Kevin Loring. Running through May 17. Tickets

🎤 The Michael Jackson HIStory Show | Casino Regina, 1880 Saskatchewan Drive | 8:00 PM | From $58 One of the premier Michael Jackson tribute productions on the touring circuit. Tickets

🎭 In Good Company Improv | The Artesian, 2627 13th Avenue | 8:00 PM | Doors 7:30 PM A Wednesday night improv show at one of Regina's favourite intimate venues. A great low-key option after the farmers' market or a bite downtown. artesianon13th.ca

🌺 Regina Floral Conservatory | 1450B Fourth Avenue | 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Extended Thursday hours) The conservatory stays open until 8:00 PM on Thursdays, making it a lovely early evening stop before a show. Visit info

🖌️ Watercolour Workshop: Art in Bloom (Evening Session) | MacKenzie Art Gallery, 3475 Albert Street | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | $25 (pay-what-you-will spots available) The evening session of this week's watercolour workshop. All materials provided. Details

🖼️ Dunlop Art Gallery: Kssááhkom Áássksinima'tstohki | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | Regular gallery hours | Free Details

🐦 Dunlop Art Gallery: Casey Koyczan — raven; tatsǫ́ | Sherwood Village Branch, 6121 Rochdale Boulevard | Regular gallery hours | Free Details

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: The Choral | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 1:00 PM | Free admission Nicholas Hytner's new UK film. PG, 113 min, 2025. A great afternoon cinema option. Film Theatre

🎭 Conservatory Musical Theatre Showcase – Day 2 | Darke Hall, 2255 College Avenue | 6:30 PM | $8.40 advance / $10.50 at the door Day 2 of the four-day showcase from the U of R Conservatory of Performing Arts. Rush seating. Tickets and info

📚 Heritage Regina Book Launch: A Vacation for Victory | The Artesian, 2627 13th Avenue | 7:00 PM | Doors 6:30 PM Author Kelsey M. Lonie launches her new book at The Artesian. A great evening for anyone with an interest in Regina's local history. artesianon13th.ca

🎵 Music at the Library: Katie Achtzehner | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Free A live concert in the library's Central Adult space, part of RPL's ongoing music series. Details

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: Careless Crime | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00 PM | Free admission Sharaham Mokri's acclaimed Iranian film. 2020, 14A, 139 min. Film Theatre

🎭 Globe Theatre: Little Red Warrior & His Lawyer | MacCorquodale Place, 1801 Scarth Street | 7:30 PM | Paid (Pay-What-You-Will on select Thursdays — call 306.525.6400 to confirm) Tickets

🎵 Classic Albums Live: The Beatles – Abbey Road | Casino Regina, 1880 Saskatchewan Drive | 8:00 PM | $43 – $50+ Abbey Road performed live in full, note for note. Tickets

🖼️ Dunlop Art Gallery: Kssááhkom Áássksinima'tstohki | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | Regular gallery hours | Free Details

🐦 Dunlop Art Gallery: Casey Koyczan — raven; tatsǫ́ | Sherwood Village Branch, 6121 Rochdale Boulevard | Regular gallery hours | Free Details

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Saskatchewan Highland Gathering & Celtic Festival – Day 1 | Victoria Park, Scarth Street entrance | Gates open 8:00 AM, festivities all day | Adults: paid | Youth 12–17 & Seniors 65+: $10 | Under 12: Free Piping and drumming, highland dancing, Scottish heavy athletics, a beer garden, bouncy castles, and a vendors market. Massed Pipes and Drums at 5:00 PM, ceilidh at The Exchange at 7:30 PM. Continues through the long weekend. Tickets and schedule

🎪 The Great Benjamins Circus – Opening Day | Victoria Square Shopping Centre, 2223 Victoria Avenue | May 15–18 A full touring circus comes to Regina for the May long weekend. High-flying aerial acts, jugglers, motorbikes in the cage of death, acrobatics, and more. A perfect family outing over the long weekend. Check Victoria Square for showtimes and ticket details.

🎭 Conservatory Musical Theatre Showcase – Day 4 | Darke Hall, 2255 College Avenue | 6:30 PM | $8.40 advance / $10.50 at the door Day 3 of the four-day showcase from the U of R Conservatory of Performing Arts. Rush seating. Tickets and info

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: Piranha 2: The Spawning | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 4:30 PM | Free admission James Cameron's early creature feature. USA, 1982, 94 min, R. Film Theatre

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: Marty Supreme | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00 PM | Free admission Josh Safdie's film about a young man who goes to hell and back in pursuit of table tennis greatness. USA, 2025, 150 min, 14A. Film Theatre

🎭 Globe Theatre: Little Red Warrior & His Lawyer | MacCorquodale Place, 1801 Scarth Street | 7:30 PM | Paid One of the final performances before the run closes May 17. Tickets

🎸 Augurium + From Beneath + Rivers of Ash + Nox Umbra | The Exchange, 2431 8th Avenue (Clubside) | Doors 7:00 PM | $15 advance / $20 door A four-band metal night. All-ages and licensed. Tickets

🚔 RCMP Heritage Centre | 5907 Dewdney Avenue | Regular hours | Paid admission Over a century of RCMP history, interactive exhibits, and virtual reality experiences. A perennial favourite for visitors and locals alike. Visit info

🏛️ Government House | 4607 Dewdney Avenue | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily | Free The historic Lieutenant Governor's residence is open daily for the season, with the Amédée Forget Museum, the Queen Elizabeth II Art Gallery, and the sprawling grounds all accessible to visitors. Visit info

🔬 Saskatchewan Science Centre | 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Spring hours, daily | Paid More than 185 hands-on exhibits. Always a good call for families and curious minds. Visit info

The May long weekend is here. What is your plan?

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Victoria Park for the Highland Gathering

🎵 Catching a show at Casino Regina

🎬 RPL Film Theatre or Globe Theatre

☀️ Patio, backyard, and absolutely nothing

Hit reply to let us know, or find us on Facebook and Instagram @QueenCityDigest

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest! The May long weekend is shaping up to be one of the better ones in recent memory, with the Riders in camp, Celtic culture taking over Victoria Park, and the city looking a little more alive every week.

Get outside and enjoy it! 😃

Next edition: Friday, May 15.

-QCD