The Vibe Hamilton - Dec 19th - 25th
Discover the unexpected – celebrate the pulse of the city
🔨 Things to do in Hamilton - Dec 19th - 25th
Hello Neighbours!
Although many places are closed on the 24th and 25th there is still plenty to do.
Celebrate the longest night of the year at the Winter Solstice Festival in Corktown Park or enjoy a night of storytelling with The Hamilton 7 at the Mule Spinner. And Canada’s Drag Queen winner Priyanka is at Mills Hardware tonight (Thursday).
With 2025 fast approaching, we have also created a special New Year’s Eve section to help with your plans and start planning January with the On Our Radar section.
Did you Vibe any events last week? We went to a heartwarming Christmas light display in Freelton (click on the Instagram post below). We also enjoyed Justin Shaw’s Holiday Story at Shawn & Ed’s Brewing, and the Art Gallery of Hamilton Members Holiday Reception to hear about their exciting plans for next year. And were inspired by Elizabeth Renzetti speaking at The Westdale.
Thank you for reading and sharing. Wishing you and your loved ones joy this holiday season.
~ Paul - ❤️
P.S. We will be publishing issues over the holidays on our normal schedule. If you are resisting checking email you can always go to https://www.thevibehamilton.com/
Table of Contents
📆 THE WEEK AHEAD
Thursday - December 19th
🧑🌾 Dundas Farmers Winter Market - Shawn & Ed Brewing - 12 noon
🍽️ Winter Solstice Community Meal - Hamilton Community Food Centre - 4.30 pm - Free
✏️ Mindful Drawing - Art Gallery of Hamilton - 7 pm - $5
🎤 Light Lounge vol 6 Open Poetry Mic - Into the Abyss Records - 7 pm - $5 or PWYC
👕 Clothing Swap - Farside Bar - 7 pm
❓️ Trivia Night - Clifford Brewing - 7.30 pm
💄 Priyanka - Sleigh My Name 2 - Mills Hardware - 7.30 pm - From $40
❓️Trivia Night - Thirsty Cactus - 8 pm
Friday December 20th
🤣 Derailed Comedy Act and Open Mic - Hamilton Prop House - 7 pm - $25
🤣 Graham Chittenden - Levity Comedy Club - 8 pm - $20
Saturday December 21st
🦢 Decembirding with Hamilton Naturalists - Princess Point - 12 noon
🌕️ Winter Solstice Festival - Corktown Park - 6 pm - Free
🐝 Winter Solstice Bee Ball - The Mule Spinner - 6 pm - $20 or PWYC
🤠 Line Dancing - Waterdown Legion - 7 pm - $15
💃 Salsa Soul Saturday - Main Stage - 7.30 pm - $20
🤣 Graham Chittenden - Levity Comedy Club - 8 pm - $20
Sunday December 22nd
🎤 Hamilton 7: That Thing I Bring to the Party - The Mule Spinner - 7.30 pm - $15
💪 GETTING ACTIVE
Learn about your City, and be active at the same time
⛸️ Free Open Arena Skating - Various Locations - Dec 21st to Jan 4th - Free
🦅 Decembirding with Hamilton Naturalists - Princess Point - Dec 21st
🏃♀️ Boxing Day Runs - YMCA Downtown Hamilton - Dec 26th
⛸️ Outdoor Ice Skating - Various Locations - Daily - Free
⛳️ Winter Golf - Chedoke’s Martin Golf Course - Daily - $25
🪩 Disc Golf - King’s Forest Golf Course - Daily - From $7
❄️ Snowshoe Trail - King’s Forest Golf Course - Daily - Free
🛷 Tobogganing - Various Locations - Free
🪶 2024 Hamilton Christmas Bird Count - Hamilton Naturalists - Dec 26th - 8 am
🎄🎅 CHRISTMAS FUN AND HOLIDAY MARKETS 🛍️ ⛄️
Thursday, December 19th
👕 Kids Christmas T-shirt & Sticker Workshop - Valley Park Community Centre - 6.15 pm - $40
❓️ Jose Trivia - A Feliz Navidad Especial - Collective Arts - 7 pm - $7
🎠 Christmas Carousel - Gore Park - Free
Friday December 20th
🧷 Last Chance Punk Rock Flea Market - Hamilton Farmers Market - 12 pm
☃️ Kringle in the Creek - Downtown Stoney Creek - 4-8 pm
🎠 Christmas Carousel - Gore Park - Free
🎤 Christmas Carol-oke - The George - 6 pm
♠️ Progressive Euchre Christmas Party - Melrose Church - 6.30 pm - $5
🕯️ Candlelight Christmas Tour - Whitehern - 7-9 pm - $25
🪄 12 Tricks of Magic Christmas Show - The Westdale - 7 pm - $30
🎸 Guitar Magic Christmas Concert - Rock on Locke, St Johns - 7.30 pm - $35
🎭️ Super Sketchy Collective Comedy Christmas Show - Centre for Talking Arts - 7 pm - $20
Saturday December 21st
🐴 Carriage Rides - Downtown Dundas - Free
❄️ Ornament Craft - Hamilton Farmers Market - 10 am - 2 pm - Free
🎅 Christmas Party - Hamilton Prop House - 7 pm - Free
Sunday December 22nd
🐴 Carriage Rides - Downtown Dundas - Free
🎄Christmas Fest Market PLUS Stuff The Bus Food Drive for Community Services - Ancaster Fairgrounds - 10.30 am - 4.30 pm - Food donation
🍽️ Community Dinner - Hess Village - Gown & Gavel - 12 noon - Free
🎄 A Charlie Brown Christmas Live - Fairweather Brewing - 7 pm - $20
Also going on……
🏮Christmas Land Charity Lights Display - 5.30-9.30 pm - to Dec 31st
🗓️ Strathcona Neighbourhood Living Advent Calendar - Map - Dec 1st - 24th - Various Days - Strathcona Pantry Collection
🏮Christmas Light Displays in Hamilton & Burlington - Interactive Map
🗓️ Westdale Living Advent Calendar - to Dec 25th
🚂 RBG Express - Royal Botanical Gardens, Hendrie Park - until Jan 5th - $10 per car
❄️ Winter Wonders - Royal Botanical Gardens - to Jan 5th (Thurs thru Sun) - From $10
🧸 Toy Mountain - Lime Ridge Mall - until Dec 24th - drop off your new unwrapped toys, gift cards, and monetary donations!
🪀 Toy Drive - CHCH - Various locations - until Dec 20th
🚃 Toy Drive - Odds Bar - New toy, receive $10 gift card - until Dec 20th
🏰 Victorian Christmas - Dundurn Castle - until Jan 5th - From $9.50
⚔️ Winter Past Times - Battlefield Museum - until Jan 5th - From $9.50
🎄 A Christmas for the Ages - Whitehern - until Jan 5th - $9.50 - $15.50
🚂 Botanical Train Display - Royal Botanical Gardens - until Jan 5th - From $11.50
🖌️ Winter Solstice Open Studio - Red Tree Artists Collective - until Dec 21st - M-F 1-5 pm - Free
👻 Ghosts of Christmas Future - Seance & Mentalism Show - George St - Dec 27th - 9 pm - $25
🤣 O Christmas Tea - Theatre Aquarius - Dec 28th - 3 pm & 7.30 pm - From $35
🔨 READERS VIBEING
Many of you tell us you cannot believe how much is happening in Hamilton. Even better is when you tell a friend and make a night of it. Use your referral link and win cool Vibe merch for telling your friends.
📸 Out VIBEing? Snap a picture! We are seeking photos of local events to feature here. Send us yours, including date & event details, by email to: [email protected]
📡 ON OUR RADAR
Some events coming up, 2 weeks to a few months out, that you might be interested in;
🍭 Winter Break Activity Centre: Sweetland - Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology - Dec 21st - 24th, 27th-31st, Jan 2nd-5th
⛏️ Winter Break: Dig It! - Archeology 101 & Felt Art - Children’s Museum, Fieldcote - Dec 24, 27,29,31 & Jan 2-4th
🕯️ Candlelight Concerts: Various Artists & Genres - Cotton Factory and The Westdale - Various Dates - From $53
👰 Wedding Show - Ancaster Fairgrounds - Jan 11th - 11 am - Free
♠️ Night at the Amino Casino - Carmens Banquet Hall - Jan 23rd - 7 pm - $40
🧗 Hamilton Adventure Expo - Ancaster Fairgrounds - Jan 25th - 10 am
☕️ Just Java - Bridgeworks - Jan 26th - 10 am - From $20
👰 Wedding Expo - Michaelangelos Banquet Hall - Jan 26th - 11 am - Free
🍺 In the Dead of Winter Beer Dinner & Celebration 2025 - Merit Brewing - Jan 26th - 6 pm - $99
😵💫 Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis - McIntyre Centre for Performing Arts - Feb 5th - From $50
🤣 Comedy Caravan Tour - First Ontario Centre - Feb 7th - 8 pm - $30
👗 Hamilton Fashion Week - Stelco Tower - Feb 15th - From $25
🎸 LIVE MUSIC
Thursday - December 19th
Music to Our Beers - Shawn & Ed Brewing - 6.30 pm - No cover
C+C Surf Factory - The Return - The Casbah Main Hall - 7.30 pm
The Approximators - Live Band Karaoke - Corktown Upstairs - 8 pm
Chris Caddell, Jesse O’Brien, Dave McMillan, Craig Lapsley - Stonewalls - 8 pm - $12
Dirty Happy - Mansion - 10 pm - $15
Friday December 20th
Irving Army - Anchor Bar - 6 pm
Jamie Shea & The Gentle Reminders - The Casbah Lounge - 6.30 pm
Killing Cosmos w/Unfathomed and Elk Puncher - Vertagogo - 7 pm
TBA - Fundraiser for Indwell - Dundurn Market - 7.30 pm - PWYC
Open Mic - The Staircase - 8 pm
Freedom Train Holiday Rock Xmas Bash - Stonewalls - 8 pm - $20
The Mighty Sandman - Metallica Tribute - The Casbah Main Hall - 8 pm
Rythem Wprls - Brown Barrel - 8 pm
Orangemen - Pub Fiction - 8.30 pm - $10
Hammer Tones - Iron Horse - 9 pm - Food Drive
Koopa Troop w/Conor Gains & Codi Zaks - Corktown Upstairs - 9 pm - $15
Dirty Lowdown Mojos and Blind Mule - Corktown Main Stage - 9 pm
Sonic Curators - B-Side Social - 10 pm
Dirty Pioneers - The Powerhouse - 10 pm
IWAATA Live from Jamaica - Zen Lounge - 1.30 am - From $40
Saturday December 21st
Dyke Takeover - Merry Krampus - Vertagogo - 4 pm - $10
Rockabilly Christmas - The Trebletones, Ginger St James, Sammy Squid - Clifford Brewing - $10 or PWYC
Rarity w/Mil-Spec, Seventh Dose, Temper Tantrum, Wrought - Doors Pub - 7 pm - $14
Teeth w/Spaced, Scorching Tomb, Fight on Sight,Last Retch - Corktown Upstairs - 7 pm
Lovetown Records Showcase: Moonbean, Juice Joint, Amanda Movio, Bitter&Broke and Sunshine Makers - Collective Arts - 8 pm - $17
Orangemen - Non-Stop Retro Xmas Dance Party - Stonewalls - 8 pm - $15
Sean Royle - Thirsty Cactus - 8.30 pm
Dianne Ryder Country Band - Pub Fiction - 8.30 pm
Bob Marley Tribute w/Riddim Riders - Casbah Main Hall - 9 pm
DJ Mark - The Capitol Bar - 9 pm
A-Side / B-Side - The Casbah Lounge - 9.30 pm - No cover
Time Machine - The Powerhouse - 10 pm
Sunday December 22nd
The Goldfish Presents: Punk Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree! - Vertagogo - 1 pm
Tim Gibbons & The Swampbusters w/Dave Rave - Stonewalls - 3 pm - $10
Dan Walsh - Cat & Fiddle - 3 pm
Haunted Hammer: Alternative Drag Show - Jessie James w/Oxy Moron - Doors Pub - 7 pm - $15
Rarity’s Hometown Heater w/Chastity, Bad Bet - The Casbah - 7.30 pm
Monday December 23rd
Tuesday December 24th
Dsptch - Casbah Lounge - 7 pm - No cover
🥂 NEW YEAR’S EVE
Tour & Crafts - Hamilton Children’s Museum at Whitehern - 10 am - 3 pm - $4
Old Country Time - Golden Keys Band - Germania Club - 1.30 pm - From $75
Dinner - Reflexion - Carmens Event Centre - 6 pm - $150
Comin’ Alive in 2025 Gala - Panagia Community - Liuna Station - 6.30 pm - $160
Rock City - Stonewalls - 7 pm - $20
Back Trax - Stoney Creek Legion - 7 pm - $25
Hello 2025 - Hamilton Latino Radio - Main Stage - 7 pm - $85
NYE Buffet - Southcote 53 - 7 pm - $100
NYE Party - The Powerhouse - 7 pm - $100
Ronnie & The Corvairs - Waterdown Legion - 7 pm - $20
Jack DeKeyzer - Leader Boat Club - 8 pm - $35
Wing Night - Collective Arts - 8 pm - $50
Dinner and Comedy Show - Levity Comedy Club - 8 pm - From $60
Thrifted Hearts - Corktown - 8.30 pm - $10
Fur-ry New Year - Quarter Past Y2K - The Casbah - 9 pm - $25
Dayglo Abortions! w/Blackout!, Gag Order!, AxDxDx - Vertagogo - 9 pm - $20
Open Bar NYE Party - My Father Was Famous - 9 pm - $125
LUSH - The Ultimate NYE Masquerade Gala - Zen Lounge - 9 pm - From $25
Born in the Eighties with DJ Todd G of Da Bomb - Mills Hardware - 9 pm - $90
John Atlee Band - The Columbus Club - 9 pm - $40
12Twelve Ultimate NYE Party - Mansion - 9.30 pm - $30
Whiskey Chasers - Barton Touchdown Pub - 9.30 pm
Oyodass - The Lobby - 10 pm - From $75
🫶 FROM THE ‘HOOD
Food banks need your help now more than ever. Please help put food on the table for neighbours who need it by dropping off non-perishable items. The Food Access Guide lists donation organizations and drop-off points in Hamilton.
🎭️ THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES
A Christmas Story - Theatre Aquarius - Runs to Dec 21st - From $28.25
🖼️ CURRENT EXHIBITIONS - Art & More
Celebrating 150 Years of HSR - Tourism Centre, James St North - to Dec 21st
In Each Moment - Earls Court Gallery - to Dec 21st
Touched by Devi: Radha S. Menon - Art Gallery of Hamilton - to Jan 5th
Soul Power: Jan Wade - Art Gallery of Hamilton - - to Jan 5th
Directors Collect: 110 Years - Art Gallery of Hamilton - to Jan 5th
Corine Duchesne - CoWork Gallery - Cotton Factory - to Jan 15th
Heart of the Forest - Dundas Valley School of Art - to Jan 19th
The Fairest Order in the World: Sameer Farooq - McMaster Museum of Art - to Feb 28th, 2025
🗓️ If you want to see your event included here, please email us! [email protected]
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