Over 70 events, including pop culture exhibit, coming to Hamilton this winter

Hamilton Entertainment Festivals & Events

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Published January 10, 2024 at 12:49 pm

February blahs? Not in Hamilton, where Winterfest 2024 brings an eclectic mix of events for the entire family from February 2-19.

The City of Hamilton, Cobalt Connects Creativity and dozens of community-led organizers are coming together once again for Hamilton Winterfest, with more than 70 events across the city, from Dundas to Stoney Creek and from the mountain to the waterfront.

Headquarters for the entertainment showcase will be Jackson Square, with Winterfest/POP – a 10,000 square foot indoor exhibition of pop culture from pinball to plush toys, videogames to mini putt, pizza, cotton candy and more happening inside Jackson Square – and Winterfest/HUB, featuring free live concerts, the Frost Kings Drag Show, light installations, food vendors and more, all on the rooftop plaza in downtown Hamilton.

On Family Day, the final day of the extravaganza, the action will be at the HUB with a free full day of fun in partnership with the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Hamilton Public Library. Live music, kids activities, pancakes, pizza and loads of interactive experiences make Family Day a hit for kids of all ages.

Last year the festival, which has been must-see event in the city for more than 45 years, became a Festival & Events Ontario TOP 100 Festival Award winner.

Most events are free, though Winterfest/POP and Love in Lights, the festival’s signature Valentine’s Day party, are ticketed events.

Other events include:

Art Crawls and Exhibitions

  • James Street Art Crawl on Feb. 9 (6-11)
  • Art Gallery of Hamilton Family Fun Day on Feb. 19 (10-5)

Crafts & Workshops

  • Banner-making workshops with Becky Katz on Feb. 10 (1-4) and Greg Smith on Feb. 17 (1-4); both at Worker’s Arts and Heritage Centre

Concerts

  • Aiofe-Louise Doyle at the HUB on the Jackson Square rooftop on Feb. 9 (5-10)
  • Wax Mannequin at the Hub on Feb. 10 (5-10)
  • LT the Monk at the Hub on Feb. 17 (5-10
  • HPO presents Mozart, Strauss & Evangelista at the First Ontario Concert Hall on Feb. 10 (3-5)
  • Comes Love at the Staircase (ticket event) on Feb. 17 (7-9:30)

Theatre & Dance

  • gritLIT Open Mic at Cannon Coffee on Feb. 2 (7-8:30)
  • Love and All That JAZZ AT Laidlaw United Church on Feb. 3 (2-4)

Neighbourhood highlights include a free pancake breakfast at Eva Rothwell Resource Centre on Feb. 10 (10-noon), the Gourley Park Winterfest on Feb. 11 (noon-2) and the Inside/Outside Family Day Festival on Feb. 19 at Dundas Museum and Dundas Driving Park (11-4).

The Because BRRR Craft Beer Festival – the winter version of the popular Because Beer Festival – will also be going on during Winterfest to help you chase away the February blues and whatever may ‘ale’ you in the coldest month of the year.

The beer fest, featuring seven breweries (five of them local) and two cideries, will be held at Bridgeworks, a 500-capacity multi-arts venue located in an historic industrial space on Caroline St. N., in a session format.