Hamilton Day is an annual city-wide celebration of our community and local businesses – featuring over 1000 participating local businesses, pop-up markets, and entertainment activations across Hamilton, Ontario.

Hamilton Day weekend will begin with a jam-packed day of local programming on Saturday, November 2nd. Kick-off activities will take place on Friday, November 1st.

Hamilton Day is a city-wide event in Hamilton, Ontario. It will feature various activities throughout the city’s main downtown core and in its neighbouring municipalities including Stoney Creek, Binbrook, Dundas, Ancaster, and Waterdown.

So much activity is happening across the city on Hamilton Day! Visit our Discover Local page to see who’s participating, our Schedule page for a rundown of programming, and visit our Instagram page to see what the community is up to in real time.

Hamilton Day is a free event, however, there are some activities such as markets or concerts taking place throughout the weekend that may have a fee to participate. Be sure to check out our Schedule Page to see which events are free and which require tickets.

Of course! Hamilton Day is a family-friendly event for all ages to enjoy. 

TIP: Visit our Discover Local Page and select the ‘Family Friendly’ filter to find spaces and events specifically suited for kids and families. We have a wide range of exciting options to make it a memorable day for your entire family!

We welcome all out-of-town visitors to visit Hamilton! There are many options to drive into the city or take public transportation. See the Public Transportation FAQ below for more details about transit options. For driving directions, see below.

Coming from the East side of the GTA? This includes Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Oakville, or Burlington. If that’s you, you can get here via HWY 403 WEST.

Coming from the Niagara / St. Catherines area? Take the QEW to the KING ST. EAST exit to visit central and downtown Hamilton.

Coming from Guelph or the Kitchener / Waterloo area? You can take the ON-401E and HWY 6 SOUTH to Hamilton.

Coming from London? Take the ON-401 EAST and then ON-403 EAST to get to Hamilton.

We recommend you check your maps app to check traffic conditions before you leave to make sure you have plenty of time to take part in the festivities throughout the day!

Yes! There is metered on-street parking throughout Hamilton. Make sure to obey the posted street signage and local by-laws. As well, most side streets have 2-hour free parking. If you are visiting on Sunday, all parking across the city is free.

If you’re looking to park in a central location in downtown Hamilton, there are a number of municipal car parks and public parking lots available with metered or flat-rate parking including Jackson Square and several along James St. North. Just look for those marked with a Green P!

Of course! While Hamilton Day will have festivities, markets, and events taking place throughout Hamilton, we recommend staying in one of the many centrally located accommodations in Hamilton’s main downtown core. You will be within walking distance of bus stops that will make it convenient to get to neighbouring areas of the city.

You can check out which hotels are participating on our Discover Local Page.

Yes, there are plenty of options! No matter where you’re coming from or where you’re going, we’ve got you covered. 

If you’re traveling from outside of Hamilton, GO Transit trains and buses will get you here. Plan your trip with GO Transit and take advantage of the $10 GO weekend day pass! The two main GO stations in Hamilton are the Hamilton GO Centre, located in downtown Hamilton, and the West Harbour GO, located closer to the waterfront. Use the Go Trip Planner to find the best route from your nearest GO station.

There are also seamless and economical transfers between Hamilton’s HSR and GO. Provide a valid PRESTO card or tap your credit or debit card on a PRESTO device and ride for FREE when you travel to or from GO Transit using HSR. PRESTO automatically calculates your discount and will apply it to your PRESTO, credit, or debit account. The co-fare discount is valid for 2 hours if you start your trip on HSR and 3 hours if you start on GO Transit.

If you’re traveling within Hamilton, make use of the HSR, Hamilton’s local public transit system. Buses run every 10-15 minutes throughout the day and stop within walking distance of Hamilton Day festivities and participating local businesses in all areas of the city. Use the HSR Trip Planner or get the HSRnow mobile app to plan your route.

You can also ride to all your favourite local spots and discover new stops with Hamilton Bike Share! Hamilton Bike Share is a local non-profit with over 130 hubs from Dundas to Ottawa Street in the lower city. It’s the perfect way to travel around this Hamilton Day. To get your account set up, click here! The first ride’s on us! Use the promo code HAMILTON23 for a $5 credit to get rollin’.

You bet! Check out our Schedule Page to learn more about what activities are happening where and when.

So glad you asked! To participate in Hamilton Day, visit our Participate Page and complete the form. You’ll receive a confirmation email with a few attachments of downloadable items that you can use to promote your participation. 

Once you officially sign up, the rest is up to you! Consider offering a Hamilton Day special, launching something new, or collaborating with other local businesses. Another option is to check if and how your Business Improvement Area is participating, to see if you can tag team up with them! You can also check out our Business Participation Suggesions for inspiration and ideas.

Lastly, follow us on social media so the community knows you’re participating. Share your offering and your ‘I’m Participating’ graphic with your followers! Feel free to tag us for extra engagement.

Yes! Absolutely. Hamilton Day is a chance for shoppers to shop in person or hop online to support local.

When you register as a business on our Participate Page, be sure to select “Online Business”. All of our registered Online Businesses are listed on our Discover Local page under the map.

Hamilton Day is a rain-or-shine event. Fortunately, most of the activities will be taking place indoors (such as markets and concerts), and small businesses and restaurants will be open for indoor shopping and dining.

We’d be happy to hear from you! You can get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @hamiltondayofficial.

Follow us on Instagram @hamiltondayofficial to receive the most up-to-date information about the event, including updates on participating businesses, partner events, and fun opportunities to win prizes!