Part 13: Summer Events | July 10, 2024
Happy summer everyone! June 20 marked the first day of summer, and we have been enjoying plenty of warm weather and sunshine ever since. Now that the weather is nicer, events across the city have been ramping up and there are more exciting opportunities within the downtown core for people to enjoy. Continue reading for some suggestions about amazing summer events currently running within the downtown core, and some that you should add to your schedule for later in the coming months.
Gore Park Summer Promenade: Join the Downtown Hamilton BIA for our outdoor concert series, the Gore Park Summer Promenade. This year it will run from 12 to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday each week, beginning on June 4 and ending on August 29. Designed to be a free, fun event for the whole family, the Summer Promenade will transform Gore Park into an inviting place to spend your lunch break. There will be delicious food vendors scheduled consistently throughout the summer so you can grab a treat while enjoying the music, and seating to enjoy. Life size games including connect 4, Jenga, checkers and ladder toss will also be available for visitors to play, and make sure you check out the new summer station for everything you need for a perfect day in the park. You can find more information about this event here.
HPO Downtown Summer Concert Series: The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) is thrilled to offer a free, bi-weekly concert series on King William Street in partnership with the City of Hamilton. Join them on the second and fourth Wednesday of June, July, and August at 12:15pm as they turn King William Street into the perfect afternoon patio with performances by HPO ensembles. In support of this concert series, King William Street will be closed to vehicles from James St N to Hughson St N from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and seating will be available for public use. Here is the schedule for the rest of the summer: July 24: HPO Brass Plays Broadway, August 14: Strings in the Summer, August 28: Brass goes to the Movies. You can find more information about this event here.
Summer Eats: Beginning on July 5 and running until July 21, visit The Diplomat (43 King William Street), The French (37 King William Street), and Aberdeen Tavern for Summer Eats and enjoy delicious pre-fixe menus. At the Diplomat you can enjoy three sharable items from their Summer Eats menu for $30., with options that include chili paneer skewers, goat cheese stuffed dates, stone fruit pavlova, and more. At The French you can choose from a 2-course lunch for $28 or a 3-course dinner for $43, with options that include salmon crudo, pork chop Milanese, cherry almond clafoutis, and more. You can find more information about The French and make a reservation through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X. You can find more information about The Diplomat and make a reservation through their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Live Music Friday: Calling all music fans! Visit Conversate Steak & Seafood (38 King William Street) each Friday for Live Music Fridays. Conversate Steak & Seafood is dedicated to serving their customers high-quality, delicious food, and live music from a talented musician is the perfect addition to what is sure to already be a great night. You can find more information about Conversate Steak & Seafood on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Patio Pre-Party: Join MANSION (54 King Street East) on their patio every Saturday for their Patio Pre – Party. Running from 8 to 10 p.m., attendees can enjoy $5 drink specials. This is the perfect way to kick off your weekend with fun, so plan your next visit soon. You can find more information about MANSION and the events that they host here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
UPCOMING
Hamilton Fringe Festival: This year the Hamilton Fringe Festival runs from July 17 to 28, and attendees can enjoy over 350 performances across the city, from over 50 talented companies. The lineup for 2024 is diverse and wide-ranging to ensure that everyone can find something that they like, and includes sketch comedy, improv, theatre, dance, puppetry, magic, musicals, and more. 2024 features an exciting new addition to the Hamilton Fringe Festival: Fringe on the Streets! This is a free walking tour that allows you to experience the city in a unique way, featuring performances along the King to James Street corridor. Make sure that you check out this new addition, as it is sure to transform the downtown core and leave you feeling excited and inspired! You can find more information about the Hamilton Fringe Festival and purchase tickets here. You can also follow HFTCo on Facebook, Instagram, and X to learn more about their variety of incredible and valuable programming.
Supercrawl: While it is still months away, make sure you mark your calendar for Supercrawl, which runs September 13 – 15 on James Street North. This festival has become an iconic staple of Hamilton’s art and music scene for both those who live within the city and outside of it, as it always brings fun and infectious energy along with it. For many people, the experience of attending a Supercrawl stays with them even after the festival itself has ended for the year, as they find a new favourite musician, artist, or experience that they treasure for years to come. 2024’s festivities will feature over 30 musical acts, in addition to art, fashion, dance, theatre, author talks, food trucks, craft vendors, and more. You can find more information about Supercrawl on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates.
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These are only some of the amazing opportunities within the downtown core during the summer. You can enjoy the warm summer weather and a fun event at the same time, so make sure that you plan your next visit soon!
If you are a Downtown Hamilton BIA business member and would like to be featured in a blog post, please email Emily Gilruth at operations@downtownhamilton.org.