Sun screen? Check. Bug spray? Check. Campaign sign? Check.

The Barbecue Byelections are underway and while the press gallery is delighted to have something to write about in the dog days, the truth is the five votes set for Aug. 1 are a lot like summer literature - fun for a while but not of any great import.

Standings in the minority Legislature can't change significantly with the results and the most lasting impact the campaigns will have is a black eye for the party with the fewest wins.

But on they are and the schedule of events is rapidly filling up. Liberals Peter Milczyn and Mitzie Hunter were quick off the mark Friday, announcing weekend barbecues in their respective Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Scarborough-Guildwood ridings.

Milczyn will be grilling hotdogs Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at 5500 Dundas St. W., while Hunter hosts neighbouring cabinet minister Brad Duguid to her launch at the Markington Plaza two hours later at 1:30 p.m.

Scarborough may be barbecued out by that time though as FordFest 2013 goes Friday night at 6 p.m. at Thomson Memorial Park, near Brimley and Lawrence avenues. Milczyn's Etobicoke-Lakeshore rival Doug Holyday is a safe bet to attend Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's megamixer but it will be interesting to see which other right wing heavyweights pop by.

On the New Democratic side of the ledger, it's nomination meetings, not campaign events, being scheduled. The third party has been a bit leisurely in getting its byelections off the ground - with the exception of Percy Hatfield's energetic effort in Windsor-Tecumseh - and will pick three candidates over the weekend.

The Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP candidate will be named Friday evening, Ottawa South will pick between schoolboard vice-chair Bronwyn Funieciello and immigration services program director Wali Farah Saturday afternoon. A third meeting to settle on a hopeful in Scarborough-Guildwood will happen sometime before the weekend is done, party officials said.

Presumably, Hatfield is looking at early polls giving him a whopping lead in the Windsor race with an Adrian Dix-sized grain of salt.

Happening: Start your barbecues

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