Your Weekend Weather

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/07/2011 (5481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I’m a believer, Winnipeg! And I think you should be a believer, too.

I didn’t always feel this way. For example, as The Weather Column drove to Weather Central Friday morning to sit in its tiny cubicle, the skies were overcast and it was hard to believe summer was really here.

Then something magical happened. As The Weather Column stared forlornly out the window, over the car radio crackled the unmistakable sounds of I’m a Believer, the sappy worldwide smash sung by The Monkees that shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on Dec. 31, 1966.

It eventually became the top-selling record of 1967, beating out the immortal Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron by The Royal Guardsmen.

For all you young people and anyone who has been in a coma since the late 1960s, The Monkees were a made-for-TV pop rock group in which some of the members actually played their own instruments and were famous for haircuts that at the time seemed hip but now look as if small woodland creatures crawled on top of their heads and died.

But the point is, I was greatly inspired by hearing The Monkees’ I’m a Believer, which contains the following moving weather-related lyrics: “What’s the use in tryin?/All you get is pain/When I needed sunshine I got rain/Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer/Not a trace of doubt in my mind.“

What do those heart-felt lyrics mean for your weekend weather forecast? Well, I personally don’t have a clue, but I suspect the general idea is that if I happen to be out somewhere and, by sheer accident, I see your face, then it will probably end up being a nice day.

So I will keep an eye out for you today because, according to Environment Canada, we can expect a few clouds with a 30 per cent chance of showers, risk of a thunderstorm late in the evening and a daytime high of (get ready to sweat) 33 C, way up from the normal high of 26 C at this time of year.

But don’t stop believing, Winnipeg, because the weather office says it’ll be sunny and muggy the rest of the week, with sunshine on our shoulders and above-normal temperatures hovering around 32 C every day.

Fortunately, there will be a lot of chances to show your face this weekend, especially at the circus-themed fringe festival, featuring an astounding 150 mainstage shows at 24 venues in and around Old Market Square.

Or pedal down to The Forks today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Bikefest, a day of free events celebrating all things cycling, including a photo booth where (why not?) you can have a picture taken with your bike, bike polo matches and, naturally, free yoga sessions.

Another fest option is Greekfest, an outdoor festival from noon to 10 p.m. today and Sunday at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. Admission is free.

And what goes with muggy weather better than frogs? I personally will be at the Frog Follies festival on Sunday in the amphibian-intensive village of St-Pierre-Jolys, a 50-kilometre hop south of Winnipeg. Myself and my beloved frog “Bob” will once again be leaping for stardom at the Canadian Frog Jumping Championship.

So remember, Winnipeg, it’s time for all of us to start believing in summer. If not, you might as well take the Last Train to Clarksville… “because I made your reservation. Don’t be slow, oh, no, no, no!”

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca