Guelph has plenty to offer for its not-yet-legal-aged student base
Mike Treadgold
University life has a longstanding reputation as the jumping off point in the social lives of young adults. Party opportunities are endless.
Guelph has an amazing social atmosphere, not only for those of legal age, but also for those who have yet to reach their prestigious 19th birthday. So here’s a look at what Guelph has to offer for nightlife for the group of sub-19s that will likely comprise the majority of the frosh base.
Movies. Seriously, who doesn’t like movies? Guelph has a number of theatres, large and small, offering everything from independent films to Hollywood blockbusters.
Guelph’s most popular theatre is the Galaxy, a division of Cineplex Odeon, which is located on Woodlawn Rd just west of the Hanlon Expressway. In your first year, you’ll learn to live and die by your universal bus pass. From the University Centre, your best bet is to take the 70B Perimeter bus, however, if your starting point is downtown Guelph, the ’24 Industrial’ will also do the trick.
There are two other relatively well-known theatre locations in the area. First is the Bookshelf in downtown Guelph, which plays one or two films every evening, ranging from popular Hollywood films to some of the lesser known independent films. The second option, is the Sunday Cinema, a weekly event every Sunday night in War Memorial Hall at the northwest corner of campus. War Memorial Hall is traditionally used as a lecture facility, however, its unique set up makes for a great theatre, where students can see recent popular films for a very minimal fee.
“The Sunday Cinema was a service that the CSA started offering a little while ago to provide students with an opportunity for something to do on a Sunday,” said Gavin Armstrong, the outgoing CSA commissioner of communications and corporate affairs. “It’s a really popular service that we advertise every week and get great ticket sales.”
Guelph is renowned for its arts culture and just because you may not yet be of legal age, this won’t keep you from getting to experience the Royal City’s cultural scene. A number of downtown bars offer all-ages shows, namely the Jimmy Jazz and the E-bar.
“We have free noon hour concerts in the University Centre that we try to run every other week,” added Armstrong. “We also have open mic events at the Bullring (on campus), as well as karaoke, all ages dances and other events.”
Woodlawn Bowl, also located on Woodlawn Rd in the north end of Guelph offers a great atmosphere for all ages. If you haven’t been bowling since your elementary school birthday party, give it another try as a university student. It’s still incredibly fun.
It’s important to recognize that coming to university as a not-yet-19-year-old does not have to limit your social opportunities. Bars and clubs can make for great entertainment, but can also rapidly drain your savings and add awkward and compromising situations to an otherwise fun night out. An amazing number of social events and opportunities are available for the sub-19 club in Guelph. Take advantage while you can.
Loading ...
