Back-to-School Event Guide: All-ages activities are just around the corner

The new school year is starting, and for many this is also the time to think about getting involved in clubs, sports, or other activities. And if you live in South Dartmouth and like to “shop local,” then there is no shortage of new skills to learn, great groups to join, and much fun to be had.

The North Woodside Community Centre on 230 Pleasant St. has offerings for young and old. School-age activities this fall include paint classes, hip hop dancing, cooking, and floor hockey, as well as a regular youth night on Friday evenings. For adults, there is pickleball, ukulele, yoga, French conversation, line dancing, zumba, and tai-chi, to name but a few. More program offerings can be found on the community centre website.

In addition to the community centre’s own programs, a variety of groups use the centre for their activities, but you would need to sign up with each individual group rather than the centre directly. Activities offered in this way include boxing, Irish Dance, martial arts, choir singing, dog scent classes, and many more. The full listing of groups using the community centre can be found on the website.

With the outdoor sports seasons coming to an end, the Strength & Wellness Studio on 261 Pleasant St. might be the place to keep you fit throughout the winter.

Further along Pleasant Street, HFX Games (380 Pleasant St.) offers regular gaming events weekly, while the South Woodside Community Centre (5 Everette St.) hosts square dancing. There is also weekly sewing for adults at the South End Baptist Church (60 Hastings Drive), and children and adult singing, guitar, and piano lessons are offered at Accents Music Learning Centre operating out of St. James Church on 183 Portland St. A very active scout group for youth of all ages also has their regular weekly meeting place at St. James.