With the festive season upon us, our city of Hamilton transforms into a winter wonderland, brimming with holiday cheer and an array of events that cater to all ages and interests. From the twinkling lights of festive markets to the joyous melodies of holiday concerts, the city offers many ways to celebrate the season. Whether you’re looking to embrace the chill with outdoor ice skating, indulge in seasonal treats at local craft fairs, or enjoy the magic of holiday-themed theatrical performances, Hamilton’s winter events provide a perfect backdrop for creating lasting memories. This vibrant city comes alive during the holidays, offering a blend of traditional festivities and unique local experiences that capture the season’s spirit in every corner.
To help you figure out some winter activities to do in Hamilton, we’ve compiled this list of some of the options and many of the events happening in the city throughout December and into the new year.
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The Botanical Train
This year, the Royal Botanical Gardens Centre has brought back the Botanical Train for the holidays. More than 2,500 plants make up a stunning seasonal backdrop as seven separate model train lines meander throughout. Follow the trains as they journey by scale models of iconic Canadian landmarks that have been created using only plant materials.
This drop-in, family-friendly event runs through December and is included in a GA pass or with an RBG membership. It’s a lovely, festive, and educational activity that anyone can enjoy and is especially great for families with younger children.
While you’re there, take advantage of the life-size RBG Express and go for a holiday ride around Hendrie Park.
Date: On now – January 7th (Closed Dec. 25,26 and Jan. 1)
Location: RBG Centre
680 Plains Rd. West
Holidays at the Hamilton Civic Museum
Made up of three National Historic Sites that collectively have witnessed over 100 years of Christmas, the Hamilton Civic Museum offers a fun and educational way to add some holiday mood to your December.
Explore Dundurn Castle, Whitehern Historic and Battlefield House Museum. These sites feature Christmas Evening Tours, the famous McQuesten Family Christmas (a look back in time to how Christmas used to be celebrated), and a depiction of a Victorian Christmas in Dundurn Castle.
There are also many fun daytime activities like Victorian Toy Makers and Winter Time Archaeology.
Christmas in the Woods
Spread some holiday cheer outdoors at the Westfield Heritage Village during the Christmas in the Woods celebration. Bundle up to enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, candies, treats and a roaring fire.
The village is decorated for Christmas like it would have been at the turn of the century. There’s Christmas baking, carolling, wagon rides, and a scavenger hunt, and the surrounding forest provides a lovely wintertime walk to warm the heart.
Dickens of a Christmas
In a time-honoured tradition, take the family and head out to Dundas for the Dickens of a Christmas festivities. Running until Dec. 17th, you can take a stroll through Downtown Dundas in all it’s holiday splendour. There are horse-drawn carriage rides, music, hot cider and lots of holiday shopping to be done.
It’s nice way to spend an afternoon with family, friends or even on your own for some last-minute holiday shopping.
Light Up the Hills!
Join the 16th annual Festival of Lights, running from December 1st to January 14th from 5 pm to 11 pm every day. It’s a walk-through captivating display of illumination that you won’t soon forget. Celebrate the magic of the season for a family outing, a romantic date night or a simple time outside to soak up some Christmas splendour.
Waffles with Santa
Head over to Temptation Kitchen in Brantford to celebrate Christmas in a fun way with Santa’s Workshop & Waffle House. Enjoy tasty treats while the kids meet Santa and his elves and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Dec. 16, 2023, from 12 pm to 4 pm
Temptation Kitchen Brantford
Holiday Theatre, Shows & Music
There are a lot of musical shows and events in the area this time of year that will help everyone get in the mood to celebrate the holidays.
Here are a couple of events at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre:
Home for the Holidays
Dec. 15, 2023, at 7 pm
Christmas Top 40
Dec.16 & 17, 2023
More events
JR Digs Acoustic Christmas Concert
Dec.23, 2023, at 8 pm
Location: The Music Hall
Canadian music icons rock out to your favourite Christmas tunes and invite you to join in and sing along. Grab your friends and join the fun at this holiday concert.
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra presents The Hockey Sweater
Dec.09, 2023 at 1:30 pm
First Ontario Concert Hall (Formerly Hamilton Place)
Witness an iconic Canadian story come to life as the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamilton Children’s Choir bring Roch Carrier’s beloved story to life with Abigail Richardson-Schulte’s musical composition.
The world premiere of this famous holiday musical is running at the Aquarius Theatre in Hamilton throughout December. It’s based on the 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter and tells an uplifting story where hope triumphs over adversity, and one young girl’s positive outlook changes the people around her.
Dec.06 to Dec. 23, 2023
Theatre Aquarius
Hamilton Concert Band Holiday Concert: Let the Bells Ring
A group of more than 70 musicians makes up the Hamilton Concert Band, so why not join the fun for some Christmas spirit in the form of music?
Dec. 16, 2023, from 7 pm to 9 pm
St. Andrews United Church
Chantal Forde and Tim Cadeny take you on a journey through this holiday tradition. It’s a pantomime experience about Rapunzel, the girl locked in a tower by her wicked mother, who wishes to discover the world outside and discover who she truly is.
Runs Dec. 22, Dec. 23, Dec. 28, and Dec. 29, 2023 with showings at 1 pm and 7 pm daily.
Oakville Centre For The Performing Arts
Holiday Markets
Stuffed! Stocking Stuffer Holiday Market
It will take place on Saturday, December 2nd, at the Collective Arts brewery location, the Stuffed! Market brings all your holiday shopping to one place. Join local vendors as they showcase handmade gifts, other items, food and drinks for everyone to enjoy.
The Craftadian Holiday Market in Hamilton
Drop by the McMaster Innovation Park and browse a curated holiday market setup with 150 selected artists, artisans and makers. Running for two days, different vendors each day showcase their talents.
Dec. 09 to Dec. 10, 2023
McMaster Innovation Park
Triple C Farm Christmas Market
Local handmade goods include clothing, artwork, pottery, and jewellery. This market is one you won’t want to miss this year.
Winter activities to do in Hamilton
Outdoor Ice Skating
Nothing embodies the winter season like some good old-fashioned outdoor ice skating. Set to open in mid-December, Hamilton has a host of outdoor rinks, including:
- Bernie Morelli – Serafini Family Outdoor Ice Pad
- Dundas Driving Park
- Freelton Community Park
- Waterdown Memorial Park
- Hamilton Waterfront Outdoor Rink – Pier 8
Winter Tobogganing
Not much is more fun (and provides amazing exercise) than some wintertime tobogganing on one of Hamilton’s many hills. Consider heading over to the following sites to take a rip on a sled and have a blast:
- Chedoke Golf Club
- Dundas Driving Park
- Garth and Stone Church Reservoir
- King’s Forest Golf Club
- Waterdown Memorial Park
Go Snowshoeing
There’s something magical about floating through some fresh powder snow on snowshoes, and luckily, Hamilton is a great place to do this activity.
Check out Cootes Paradise Trails for 18km of trails and ten lookouts, five boardwalks, and twelve creek crossings to add some variety to your outing.
The Waterfront Trail is also a good option after a snowfall before the municipality has cleared the snow.
If you don’t own snowshoes, you can rent them at the Adventure Attic in downtown Dundas during the winter months.
Try Cross Country Skiing
If you want to go cross-country skiing, we recommend heading to the Christie Lake Conservation area, where trails are multi-use and self-set.
For a more organized ski, check out the Valens Lake Conservation Area, which features over 10 kilometres of set trails for cross-country skiing.
Climb a Frozen Waterfall
If you’re in the mood for a real adventure and to test your fear of heights, then check out Tiffany Falls in Ancaster, where members of the Alpine Club of Canada or those enrolled in a climbing course can try their skills at scaling the frozen falls. It’s a real challenge and a lot of fun – highly recommended!
If you aren’t into climbing a frozen waterfall but still want to enjoy the majestic beauty, there are lots of wintry waterfalls to be discovered around Hamilton. Check out this Waterfalls Guide for the best locations.
Go for a winter hike
Living in Hamilton means easy access to the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve that meanders through our beautiful city. This means hiking opportunities galore, with an almost endless amount of forest trails to choose from. It’s a great exercise for the whole family (and pets, too) and even more majestic in the winter.
Living in Hamilton means there’s no reason to be bored or trapped in your home this holiday season. There’s lots to do, both event-based and outdoor activity-oriented, so get out there and let the winter weather and holiday cheer get you in the mood to celebrate this year.
Conclusion
If you ask us, Hamilton seamlessly blends the charm of its historical roots with the dynamism of modern urban living. The city welcomes the adventurous, the innovative, and those who want to be part of a community. Whether you’re seeking a connection with nature, an integration into economic diversity, or the feeling of “being home”, Hamilton can easily be considered as a place to put down roots. Hamilton is a welcoming city and makes it easy to find career growth, educational excellence, or simply a beautiful place to live.
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