All year long, Hamilton is buzzing with festivals that bring together music, food, art, and great vibes. Whether you're into county fairs, indie films, or street festivals that take over downtown, there's always something happening. To make planning easy, we've rounded up Hamilton's best annual festivals by season, so you'll never miss out on the fun.
Hamilton's turning up the volume for our Year of Music celebration! Keep an eye out below for our City of Music logo, highlighting can't-music festivals and events happening across the city all year round.
Winter Festivals & Events
HPO Season
Year Round Beginning November
Experience world-class music in the heart of the city. From timeless classics to bold new works, each performance brings the best orchestral music to life for audiences to enjoy.
Fresh Up Festival
Year Round
Experience Hamilton’s freshest R&B, hip-hop, soul, and roots year-round at venues across the city.
AGH art+music+food
Mid-November
Art, culture, culinary creativity, and community come together at this event where you can enjoy immersive art installations, live performances, local food, and hands-on workshops.
Brott Music Festival
Early December
Get into the spirit of the season with the Brott Music Festival's Holiday Series. Featuring festive classics, beautiful orchestral performances, and a touch of holiday magic.
RBG Winter Wonders
Late-November to Early-January
Embrace the magic of the holiday season and experience Royal Botanical Gardens transform into a twinkling wonderland. Wander through glowing lights, explore beautiful displays, sip on a seasonal drink, and enjoy live music.
Winterfest
Early-February
This citywide festival celebrates the season with art, music, and community. With outdoor installations, live performances, pop-ups, and workshops, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Because Brr
Late-February
Raise a frosty glass to craft beer and cider from local breweries at this winter festival. Enjoy beer and cider from local breweries and ciders, grab some tasty bites, and hear from some great musical acts.
Spring Festivals & Events
Sew Hungry
Early May
If you’re a food lover, you don’t want to miss the city’s biggest food truck and restaurant rally on Ottawa Street. Bring your appetite as you taste your way through local restaurants and tons of food trucks serving up sweet treats, savoury bites, and all the classic food truck fare.
Soaring Spirits Pow Wow Festival
Late June
Experience a powerful celebration of Indigenous culture, community, and tradition with ceremonies, drumming, singing and dancing alongside local food and artisan vendors.
FrancoFEST
Late June
Summer Festivals & Events
Brott Music Festival
Late June to Late August
Celebrate summer with Canada's largest orchestral music festival. Enjoy live performances ranging from classical favourites to innovative new works, all performed by some of the country's top talent.
Zula Presents Something Else!
Late June
Showcasing local and international talent in jazz, improvised music, avant-garde, experimental sounds, and adventurous art forms from all disciplines. This annual festival is a must for fans of creative sounds.
It's Your Festival
Early July
Celebrate Canada Day weekend with live music, cultural performances, food from around the world, and family-friendly fun.
Because Beer
Mid-July
Raise a glass to craft beer and cider at this waterfront event featuring some of Ontario’s best breweries and cideries, local eats, entertainment, and live music.
Fringe Festival
Mid-July
For two weeks this performance arts festival takes over with creative, bold, and unconventional performances in different venues across the city. From theatre and dance to comedy and improv, you can always expect the unexpected.
Hamilton World Music Festival
Mid-July
Celebrate global music and local talent at this outdoor music festival. Bringing together diverse artists, performances, community spirit, and a weekend of music that connects cultures.
Festival of Friends
Early August
This long-running festival in Gage Park brings together live music performances, local makers, food trucks, and fair rides for a weekend of good vibes.
Pride at the Pier
Early August
Celebrate love, inclusion, and community featuring live performances, food trucks, vendors and plenty of pride. It's a great celebration of Hamilton's 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies.
Lucky Lion Night Market
Early August
Go on a culinary adventure and celebrate the sights, sounds, and flavours of Asia. With street food, vendors, glowing lanterns, and entertainment it's a vibrant summer festival you won't forget.
Dundas Cactus Festival
Mid-August
Enjoy downtown Dundas as it transforms into a lively street festival with multiple stages of live music, artisan vendors, food trucks, entertainment, and plenty of family fun.
Boots in the Creek
Mid-August
Get your country on at this outdoor festival in Stoney Creek and enjoy live music, local food, vendors, and maybe even some line dancing.
Winona Peach Festival
Late August
Sweet summer vibes and all things peach are what you'll find at this iconic festival. Enjoy live entertainment, craft vendors, food trucks, rides, and of course, delicious peach treats—don't miss the famous peach sundae!
Supercrawl
Early September
Cap off the summer at Hamilton's biggest street party. Every September, Supercrawl shuts down James Street North for three days of live music, art installations, theatre, dance, fashion, food, and fun.
Fall Festivals & Events
Binbrook Fair
Mid-September
Experience all the fair fun with agricultural displays, live music, rides, fair food, and the legendary demolition derby.
Strangewaves Festival
Mid-September
Expect the unexpected at this annual music festival. With indie, alternative, and experimental sounds filling venues across the city, it's a multi-day festival that's fun, funky, and unforgettable.
Ancaster Fair
Late September
A can’t-miss fall tradition, this annual fair celebrates local agriculture with livestock competitions, fair food, live music, and a midway that lights up the night.
Telling Tales
Early October
This two-day children's literary festival celebrates Canadian authors and lets kids’ imaginations take the lead with story readings, creative workshops, story walks, meet and greets, and live music.
Rockton Worlds Fair
Thanksgiving Weekend
The Rockton Worlds Fair is an iconic Thanksgiving weekend tradition, and one of Ontario's oldest country fairs. It's the perfect way to celebrate fall with livestock shows, midway rides, local food, and family fun.
Hamilton Film Festival
Mid-October
Film lovers will enjoy this festival showcasing local, Canadian, and international films in some of the coolest and most historic theatres across the city.