Regina's friendly local roundup | Monday, August 3, 2026

Happy Saskatchewan Day, Regina! 👋

Queen City Ex wrapped up its five day run last night with fireworks over REAL District, and today is the August long weekend holiday, so a lot of the city is running on a modified schedule. The Roughriders picked up a road win in Edmonton over the weekend, and a WestJet strike is still affecting flights out of the Regina airport, so there is a bit to keep an eye on this morning.

Five stories to get you into the holiday, then your full events guide for Monday through Wednesday. Let's go.

In today's edition:

Backup quarterback Tommy Stevens scored three touchdowns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders edged the Edmonton Elks 28-26 in Edmonton on Saturday, evening the season series after last week's 36-34 loss at home. The win came in front of 31,757 fans at Commonwealth Stadium and moved Saskatchewan into sole possession of second place in the CFL's West Division at 5-2. The Roughriders played without three regular starters, including running back A.J. Ouellette, and leaned on rookie Quali Conley, who picked up 61 yards on 14 carries plus three catches for 36 yards.

Stevens' three rushing touchdowns tied a Roughriders record for a quarterback in a single game. The Roughriders return home to host the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium, looking to keep the momentum going in front of the home crowd.

A strike by roughly 4,400 WestJet flight attendants shut down the airline's mainline flights out of Regina International Airport starting Sunday, cancelling trips to Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax. Airport president and CEO James Bogusz said the disruption pulled 600 to 700 seats out of the local market in a single day. WestJet Encore's smaller aircraft kept flying to Calgary, along with Air Canada and United, but Bogusz cautioned that a working Encore flight can still connect to a cancelled mainline leg further down the itinerary.

If you have travel booked over the long weekend, check your full itinerary before heading to the airport, not just the first leg. WestJet says its latest offer to the union includes a 13 per cent wage increase this October plus retroactive pay, though talks were ongoing as of Sunday evening. Keep an eye on westjet.com and the Regina Airport Authority's site for the latest before you head out the door.

Today is Saskatchewan Day, and City of Regina services are running on a modified schedule. City Hall and all administrative offices are closed, and Regina Transit buses will follow their usual Sunday schedule, with the Information Centre and RIDELine closed for the day. Paratransit will operate from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on-street parking is free across the city since paid zones aren't in effect.

Garbage, recycling and food and yard waste pickup will run as usual. Outdoor pools are open for the holiday, while the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre is closed. At Riverside Memorial Park, the main cemetery office is closed but the gates stay open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Whatever you're doing with the long weekend, worth building these hours into your plans before you head out.

The Queen City Ex closed out its run at REAL District on Sunday night, with the Arkells headlining the Original 16 Grandstand Stage and fireworks capping things off. It was a busy final stretch for Regina's summer tradition, including the QCX Midway 5K Run, which sent finishers through the fairgrounds and Mosaic Stadium before gates opened Sunday morning. General admission this year ran $22 at the gate, with a family and friends pack of four passes priced at $77.

For a sense of how the fair has changed, a day at the Ex cost an average of about $35 per adult back in 1988, according to a CBC feature this week comparing prices then and now. If you missed it this year, the Queen City Ex is one of Regina's longest running summer traditions, and it will be back again next July.

The playground at the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre has been closed since July 27 for a resurfacing project, according to the City of Regina, with the new surface meant to improve mobility and accessibility for users. The spray pad, walkway and seating area remain open throughout construction, so families can still head out for water play while the playground itself is offline.

The work is expected to take two to three weeks in total, meaning it should wrap up sometime around the middle of August. The leisure centre is located at 3130 East Woodhams Drive and also houses the Regina Public Library's Sunrise branch. Once finished, the upgraded surface should make the play area easier to navigate for kids and caregivers of all abilities.

August 3 to 5

🎷 Monday Night Jazz & Blues | Bushwakker Brewpub, 2206 Dewdney Ave | 7:30–9:00 PM | Free | Live jazz and blues featuring Saskatchewan musicians, from solo acts to full big bands. Details →

Many venues, the library, and civic offices are closed for the holiday today. See our City Update above for the full list of what's open.

🚔 RCMP Depot Tours | RCMP Academy Depot Division, 5907 Dewdney Ave | Tues–Fri | Guided trolley tour of the Academy featuring historic landmarks, Cadet drill demonstrations and Heritage Centre gallery admission. Advance registration recommended. Details →

🎸 Wax Mannequin & The Kettle Black | The Exchange (Clubside), 2431 8th Ave | 8:00 PM | $15 | All ages and licensed. Details →

📚 Library Lemonade Stand | Sandra Schmirler Outdoor Spray Pad, 3130 Woodhams Drive | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM | Free | Ages 12 and under. A cool refreshment, a new book in the shade, and a fun outdoor activity. Details →

🛒 Regina Farmers' Market | Pat Fiacco Plaza, 2190 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM | Free admission | Back downtown for the 2026 season, with local produce, baked goods and more. Details →

⚾ Red Sox vs. Weyburn Beavers (doubleheader) | Currie Field | 6:00 PM & 8:30 PM | The Red Sox close out their regular season at home against Weyburn. Tickets →

🍺 Wednesday Night Folk | Bushwakker Brewpub | 7:30–9:00 PM | Free | Live folk, roots, bluegrass and alt-country from local and touring artists. Details →

🍺 Monthly ALES Homebrewing Meeting | Bushwakker Brewpub Basement Clubroom | 7:00 PM | First Wednesday of the month, new members welcome. Details →

📚 STEAM Lab | Central Library | Free | Drop-in science, technology, engineering, art and math activities. 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 | A 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 →

🚣 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 →

🎬 Kramer IMAX now playing | Saskatchewan Science Centre | Daily | Current documentaries and feature films on Saskatchewan's only giant screen, alongside 180-plus hands-on exhibits. Showtimes →

🌳 Outside enjoying the long weekend
🏒 Catching up on Riders highlights
✈️ Dealing with WestJet strike travel chaos
🛋️ Staying in and doing nothing at all

Hit reply and let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Enjoy the long weekend, Regina, and if you're travelling, give yourself extra time at the airport.

🗓️ Next edition: Wednesday, August 5.

-QCD