Regina's friendly local roundup | Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Regina! 👋

After a soggy, storm-warned stretch, the sun is finally winning. Wednesday climbs to a comfortable 24°C, and the mercury keeps rising all the way to a sunny 33°C by Saturday. Perfect timing for a week packed with track stars, Fringe Festival theatre, and a downtown full of ladybugs.

There's a lot of good happening around the Queen City this week, so let's get into it.

In today's edition:

🏈 SPORTS

The Saskatchewan Roughriders overcame a shaky opening quarter to defeat the Ottawa REDBLACKS 27-22 on Friday, outscoring Ottawa 27-6 over the second and third quarters to seal the comeback. Mathew Sexton's 101-yard punt return touchdown was the turning point, and quarterback Trevor Harris passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns along the way.

The win keeps Saskatchewan in second place in the West Division at 3-1, while Ottawa falls to 0-4. The Riders are back home at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday, July 12 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, kickoff at 6:30 PM.

🎖️ COMMUNITY

As the Royal Canadian Legion marks its 100th anniversary, Regina's Branch 001 has launched a new online archive with more than 2,000 historical photographs, letters and documents chronicling Saskatchewan's military history, now searchable on MemorySask. The museum's full collection tops 5,000 artifacts dating back to 1885.

"Our goal is to make our military history accessible and help people discover their own family members among the faces in the collection," said Kelsey Lonie, the museum's collections manager. Anyone who recognizes a face in the digitized photos is asked to email [email protected]. The museum, at 1820 Cornwall Street, is open free to the public Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM.

🏃 YOUTH & SPORT

A five-day provincial track and field camp is underway at the Canada Games Athletic Complex, bringing together more than 200 young Saskatchewan athletes to train with experienced coaches. Many come from rural communities with limited access to specialized coaching.

In this year's group, 36 athletes will move on to the Legion National Track and Field Championships, which Regina will host this August.

🐞 COMMUNITY

The City of Regina's annual Ladybug Release returns to Victoria Park on Thursday, July 9, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM. More than 200,000 ladybugs will be handed out to families to release in the park or take home for natural, pesticide-free aphid control, a single ladybug can eat up to 2,400 aphids in its lifetime.

The free, family-friendly event includes face painting, games and treats while supplies last. Regina Transit is free for anyone heading to the event, just tell your driver you're going to the Ladybug Release.

🚧 CITY UPDATE

The City has compressed its Lewvan Drive repaving project, normally a three-week-plus job, into 12 days to reduce disruption for Harbour Landing residents, with crews working extended hours and weekends. Southbound lanes are closed through July 10; northbound repaving follows July 11 to 16, with two-way traffic maintained throughout.

Pedestrian crossing points shift daily this week: Wednesday, cross at Harbour Landing Drive and Jim Cairns Boulevard; Thursday, at Jim Cairns Boulevard and Parliament Avenue; Friday, at Gordon Road, Jim Cairns Boulevard and Parliament Avenue. Elsewhere around the city, expect ongoing lane restrictions on 11th Avenue (McIntyre to Albert, through October), Wascana Street (17th to 19th, through July 24) and Broadway Avenue (Francis to Edgar, through September). Check the City's live Road Report before you head out.

July 8 – 10

🛒 Regina Farmers' Market | Victoria Park, 2190 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Free
Local produce, baked goods, and handmade goods from Regina-area vendors. Details

💃 The Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy | Regina Performing Arts Centre, 1077 Angus Street | 7:30 PM (runs through July 12) | $20–$40 | This musical comedy brings 80s nostalgia and big laughs to the stage all week. Details

🧵 STEAM Lab | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Free | Ages 8 to 12 explore science, technology, art, engineering and math through hands-on activities. Details

👑 The Tall Tall Tower Puppet Show | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Free | Ages 4 and over meet Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs, performed by Wide Open Children's Theatre. Details

🎨 Dyed Bandana Workshop for Kids | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Free | Ages 6 to 12 create a bandana while exploring how colour dye can be made from natural materials. Details

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Youth Hub | Central Library, Community Commons | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Free
Teens are invited to drop in for video games, art, beading, and pizza. Details

🌳 Family Fun Thursdays in Wascana | Wascana Centre, QEII West Lawn | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Free (boat tours $5) | A weekly summer evening of family-friendly activities in the park, with optional paddleboat tours on the lake. Details

📚 Summer STEAM Storytime | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM | Free | Ages 3 to 5 enjoy stories, songs, rhymes and a theme-inspired STEAM activity. Details

🍋 Library Lemonade Stand | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Free | Ages 12 and under celebrate summer with a cool refreshment, a book in the shade, and an outdoor activity. Details

🎨 The Heart's Canvas: A Journey of Connection | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Free | Adults use the gentle power of art to celebrate the bonds that shape us, creating paintings with supplies provided. Details

🎸 Country Thunder Saskatchewan opens | Craven, SK | Gates open Thursday, runs through Sunday | Ticketed | CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, rock legends Creed, and country hitmaker Riley Green headline this year's Craven Valley weekend, plus a new Buckin' Thunder bull-riding showcase. Many Reginans make the trip out. Details

🎤 Country Thunder: Riley Green Headlines | Craven, SK | Gates open 3:00 PM | Ticketed | Friday's Ram Main Stage lineup features Riley Green, The Dead South, Gavin Adcock, and Robyn Ottolini. Details

🚗 Friday Nights Classic Car Show | Southland Mall, 2965 Gordon Road | 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM | Free | A weekly gathering of classic car enthusiasts showing off their rides in the mall parking lot. Details

💃 Family Dance Party | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM | Free
A movement, music and song-filled program for the whole family. Details

July 8–12, downtown Regina | Tickets $13 online / $15 cash at the door | All shows ~60 minutes

The Regina International Fringe Theatre Festival is back this week after a year away, running five days of local, national, and international independent theatre across two downtown venues: the Artesian on 13th and the Unitarian Fellowship of Regina.

Note: Gameshow Gameshow Gameshow is family-friendly (all ages); Lapsed Catholic is 18+.

More details here

🖼️ Connective Tissue | Dunlop Art Gallery, Central Library | Runs through September 5 | Free | Details

🖌️ Drawn from the Vault: Ages 10-12 | MacKenzie Art Gallery | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, runs through July 10 | $150 | Details

With the sun finally sticking around, what's pulling you outside this week?

Hit reply and let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest! A warm, sunny week ahead in the Queen City. Next edition: Friday, July 10.

-QCD