Surrounded by parks and historical sites, London hosts a number of festivals each year — all of which celebrate the outdoors. Not everything to do in London requires spending time outside, as the city also boasts museums, theaters, and 14 sports franchises.
Most London activities take place outdoors. The yearly Expressions in Chalk Street Painting Festival takes place in front of the John Labatt Centre on Talbot Street. Put on by the Imadon Street Painting Performance Group, the festival showcases 30 large pieces of detailed chalk art. One year it featured a scale reproduction of the center portion of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The International Food and Wing Festival is held every June in Victoria Park. It features food and music from many different cultures and also has amusement park rides, live entertainment, and a beer garden. The free admission makes it a great deal.
No list of stuff to do in London is complete without mentioning the many sporting events that take place in the city year round. Hockey, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, rugby, lacrosse, and even American football are all represented by London teams. The John Labatt Centre is the home of both the London Lightning NBL basketball team and the London Knights OHL hockey team. Soccer and football games are held at TD Waterhouse Stadium on the campus of the University of Western Ontario.
Family-friendly London attractions include the London Regional Children’s Museum at 21 Wharncliffe Road South and the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum at 750 Elizabeth Street. Exhibits at the London Regional Children’s Museum are interactive and involve exploring caves, digging for dinosaur bones, and learning about electricity. The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum is filled with military artifacts like guns, tanks, papers, and photos that date back to 1833.