Regina's friendly local roundup | Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Regina! 👋

Environment Canada has southern Saskatchewan under a heat warning today, with highs near 32°C and overnight lows staying up around 16°C. Things ease off a touch Thursday, though it'll stay above normal right into the weekend, so keep the water bottle handy.

It's a big one: Queen City Ex kicks off at REAL District today, running through Sunday with five nights of live music, and a Regina lottery pool just turned a decade of shared tickets into a six-figure payday. Let's get into it.

In today's edition:

Former colleagues David Wilde, Scott Beane, Trent Fehr and Dale Fuhr are celebrating a $100,000 LOTTO MAX win from the May 26 draw, the result of a group ticket they've kept buying together for more than ten years. Three of the four live in Regina, while Fuhr has since moved to Osoyoos, B.C., but the group ticket has kept them connected long after they stopped working together. "I was shocked," Wilde said of realizing the winning ticket was theirs.

The group bought their ticket from the Co-op at 2020 Prince of Wales Drive, and each is already dreaming up plans for the windfall. Beane is eyeing a new TV, Fehr is planning a kitchen remodel, and Wilde is considering a river cruise with his three daughters. A decade of loyalty, one very good Tuesday.

Saskatchewan's summer fair is back. The 2026 Queen City Ex presented by SaskTel opens today at REAL District and runs through Sunday, August 2, with the grounds open noon to midnight daily. West Coast Amusements returns as the midway partner, bringing a full slate of rides alongside fair food, agricultural showcases and family attractions across the grounds.

The Original 16 Grandstand Stage at Confederation Park delivers five nights of live music: Billy Dean and Collin Raye tonight, Helix and Quiet Riot Thursday, and Geordie Kieffer with Down With Webster Friday, ahead of Dallas Smith and Arkells over the weekend. Advance ticket pricing has ended, so regular gate admission applies starting today.

Queen City Ex

Regina city council is set to vote today on a staff recommendation to provide the Globe Theatre with roughly $1.38 million from the general reserve fund. The request stems from cash flow pressure tied to the theatre's ongoing multi-year renovation, which has grown well beyond its original budget as it upgrades lighting, seating and other core systems.

The funding, if approved, would go toward the theatre's most pressing obligations and let it move ahead with its 2026-27 season as planned. The theatre and its supporters have leaned on the community before to get through tight stretches, and today's vote will show whether the city is ready to back one of Regina's most storied stages through this one too.

Regina city council got its first preview of the 2027 budget picture at a special Tuesday meeting, and the early numbers suggest the city can hit its target of a 5.81 per cent mill rate increase without drastic measures. That target keeps Regina within the lowest 25 per cent of tax rates among comparable Canadian cities, in line with council's four-year strategic plan.

Covering rising costs for staffing, capital projects and reserve replenishment would otherwise require an 11.9 per cent increase, but expected revenue growth of $17.7 million helps close much of that gap. A final decision on the 2027 budget is still months away, with more detailed proposals to come later this year.

For almost four decades, the South Zone Community Garden on University of Regina land has been where neighbours grow food side by side and build friendships across cultures. Now the garden's board is looking for a new home after the university notified them of future redevelopment plans for the site, though no firm timeline has been set.

Board president Dale Hjertaas said relocating was always a possibility under the garden's lease with the university, and the group has kept a financial reserve on hand specifically to cover the cost of a move. The search for new roots is already underway, with the same community spirit that's carried the garden for 40 years now driving the next chapter.

July 29 to 31

🎡 Queen City Ex Opens | REAL District | Noon–Midnight, through Aug. 2 | Rides, food, and nightly concerts kick off Saskatchewan's summer fair. Details →

🎤 Billy Dean & Collin Raye | Confederation Park, REAL District | 8:30 PM | A night of 90s country on the Original 16 Grandstand Stage. Details →

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

🎸 Steve Benoit | Bushwakker Brewpub, 2206 Dewdney Avenue | 7:30–9:00 PM | Free | Wednesday Folk Night featuring Canadiana folk artist Steve Benoit. Details →

🦉 Owlathon Owl Skills Challenge | Royal Saskatchewan Museum | 2:00–3:00 PM | Included with admission | Interactive owl-themed challenges for ages 8 to adult. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: Ghost World | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00–8:55 PM | Free admission | The 2001 coming-of-age comedy directed by Terry Zwigoff. Details →

🎨 Art in the Park: Buttons and Magnets | Victoria Park | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM | Free | Create personalized buttons and magnets, great for all ages. Details →

🎡 Queen City Ex | REAL District | Noon–Midnight | Details →

🤘 Helix & Quiet Riot | Confederation Park, REAL District | 9:00 PM | Classic rock takes over the Grandstand Stage. Details →

👻 YQR Haunts Walking Tour | Meets at Legislature Building, 2405 Legislative Drive | 7:00–9:00 PM | A 4-km storytelling walk along Wascana Lake through Regina's history and lesser-known tales. Details →

🎸 Field Guide with Burrow | The Artesian on 13th, 2627 13th Avenue | 8:00 PM | Winnipeg singer-songwriter Field Guide brings his folk-pop sound to Regina. Details →

🧵 STEAM Challenge: Friendship Bracelets | Central Library | 6:30 PM | Free | A hands-on drop-in craft session. Details →

🍋 Library Lemonade Stand | Central Library | Free | Ages 12 and under, a cool refreshment and a fun outdoor activity. Details →

🚔 RCMP Depot Tours | RCMP Heritage Centre | Tuesday to Friday, through Aug. 28 | Guided trolley tours of the RCMP's training academy. Details →

🎡 Queen City Ex | REAL District | Noon–Midnight | Details →

🎸 Geordie Kieffer & Down With Webster | Confederation Park, REAL District | 9:00 PM | The Grandstand Stage wraps the work week with a high-energy double bill. Details →

🎤 Collective Soul | Conexus Arts Centre | 8:00 PM | $69.46–$288.71 | The Atlanta rockers behind "Shine" and "December" play Regina. Details →

🦉 Twit-Twoo Craft Crew | Royal Saskatchewan Museum | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | Included with admission | A new drop-in craft project, designed for ages 5 to 8. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: The Way Way Back | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | Free admission | This week's feature at Regina's independent cinema. Details →

🀄 Social Mah Jongg | Central Library | Free | Drop-in Mah Jongg for all skill levels. Details →

🖼️ Strange Dark Memory | MacKenzie Art Gallery | Free, through Aug. 9 | Maia Stark's first major solo exhibition. Exhibit info →

🖼️ Death Boat and Other Stories | MacKenzie Art Gallery | Free | Long-term exhibit of Indigenous art. Exhibit info →

🔭 Kalium Observatory Free Public Observing | Kramer IMAX Theatre | Ongoing through Dec. 11 | Free public stargazing sessions. Details →

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Fun Thursdays in Wascana | Wascana Centre | Through Aug. 27 | Free family programming every Thursday. Details →

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

🕵️ Society of Wonders Outdoor Escape Room | Warehouse District | Through Oct. 31 | A self-guided puzzle adventure through the neighbourhood's historic streets. Details →

⚾ Regina Red Sox Baseball | Currie Field | Through Aug. 5 | Home games continue as the WCBL regular season winds down. Schedule →

🎡 Hitting the midway on opening night
🎸 Picking a Grandstand Stage show to catch
🥕 Sticking to the Farmers' Market and staying cool
🌻 Volunteering some time at a community garden

Hit reply and let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Stay cool out there, and enjoy the fair.

🗓️ Next edition: Friday, July 31, with your full weekend guide.

-QCD