Hamilton Day weekend packed with food tours, live music, night markets and more

Food tours, live music and night markets featuring all kinds of artisans and a DJ are all part of this year’s Hamilton Day. 

The city-wide celebration of over 1,000 local businesses features a jam-packed schedule of events and activities.

Kick-off activities will precede the Hamilton Day weekend, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 4.

A few of the kick-off events taking place today (Nov. 3) include a live mural print installation at Jackson Square from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the kick-off party with the Sonic Runway, Hamilton’s newest light-art installation, on the waterfront at Discovery Centre from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, there are markets such as the Fall Finds Market at the Grain and Grit Brewery (11 Ewen Rd.) from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. During the pop-up event, people can find local vendors selling their unique wares as well as food and beverages, including craft beer. The first 25 shoppers will get swag bags filled with goodies. 

There’s also the Kitchen Collective Night Market (811 King St. E.) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This market showcases artisans and food makers in an event organizers said will allow people to experiment, create and collaborate.

Adults, teens and kids alike can learn how to make a zine (a small magazine) in workshops at the Central Library (55 York Blvd.).

People can join savoury, sweet, Dundas and Ancaster food tours. The tours are self-guided and all-inclusive so people won’t pay anything more than the price of their tickets. 

There’s also a Beer/Cider and Markets Tour with The Beer Tour Co. at 11:30 a.m. at three venues. Tastings and pints at each venue are included with the price of tickets. People can purchase food or shop at the local markets.

For fans of nostalgia, the documentary titled 299 Queen Street West, The Much Music Experience will make its Hamilton premiere at the First Ontario Concert Hall at 1 Summers Lane at 7:30 p.m. The screening will be followed by a live “intimate and interactive” with iconic MuchMusic VJs. The documentary tells the story of the television upstart from the perspective of the VJs.

The weekend will wrap up Sunday, Nov. 5 with the Road2Hope Marathon.

Click here for the full schedule of events and activities.

Hamilton Day is an initiative by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.