Part 22: Holiday Events | November 27, 2024
The countdown to the holidays has begun! Plenty of amazing businesses or organizations are getting into the holiday spirit, and they can help you get into the spirit too. One way to achieve this is through holiday-themed events or initiatives, and thankfully there are some amazing opportunities in the downtown core! Continue reading for a rundown on some of the holiday-themed events happening within the downtown core that you should add to your upcoming plans.
To begin, join the Downtown Hamilton BIA on Friday, December 6 from 5 to 7 pm in Gore Park for the annual Christmas Tree of Hope Lighting. The event will feature photos with Santa, an ice princess meet and greet, hot maple taffy, hot chocolate, live music, a carousel ride and more. The tree is lit up at 6:30, we hope to see you there! You can find more information about this event here.
For those looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate the holidays, Electric Diner (28 James Street North) is hosting Brunch with Santa. There are multiple dates to choose from, as it runs from 9 am to 4 pm on December 14 and then from 1 to 4 pm on December 21 at their Lister Block location. Santa will be walking around to greet guests before taking a seat in his chair so guests can grab photos. In lieu of tickets, Electric Diner will be collecting donations for McMaster Children’s Hospital, a cause very dear to their team. You can make a reservation here or email events@electricdinerhamilton.com. Additionally, Electric Diner is hosting Holiday Music Bingo every Monday until December 30, sure to get you into the holiday spirit. It is free to play, and there is a prize for every round. It begins at 8 pm each Monday, you can get a spot by making a reservation on their website. You can find more information about Electric Diner and make a reservation on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
If you are looking for a special gift for the foodie in your life, The Mule (41 King William Street) is currently running a special deal on their merch. They have 3 merch packs with different options included in each, making the gift-giving process easier. The mini pack costs $30 and includes 1 shoe charm, a The Mule branded fanny pack, The Other Bird cookbook and a $10 gift card to use at any The Mule or Burro locations. The mid-pack costs $50 and includes two shoe charms, a The Mule branded toque and t-shirt, The Other Bird cookbook and a $20 gift card to use at any The Mule or Burro locations. The mega pack costs $70 and includes 3 shoe charms, a The Mule branded toque, fanny pack and t-shirt, The Other Bird cookbook and a $30 gift card to use at any The Mule or Burro locations. You can purchase these packs in person at The Mule or Burro. You can find more information about The Mule through their website here, and then follow them on Instagram.
Looking to get some new photos for the holidays? Modest Booth Self Portrait Studio (101 John Street South) recently unveiled their new holiday setup for photos. They introduced their Minimal Christmas + Holiday setup to their Cloud room, with backdrops and props that will be perfect for the holidays. You can find more information about Modest Booth and book an appointment on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Another exciting event in the downtown core is St. Joe’s Youth Wellness Centre (38 James Street South) Holiday Market, which takes place on December 12 from 1 to 4 pm and is the perfect place to shop for presents. In addition to talented vendors selling their products, there will be a door prize where everyone who attends the market will be entered to win a raffle giveaway. You can find more information about the Youth Wellness Centre on their website here, and then follow them on Instagram.
Mystic Ramen’s (51 King William Street) Holiday Cheer Drag Brunch is sure to be a great way to kick off the holiday season in style. Happening on December 1 at 1 pm, the event includes performances by the talented drag performers Claudia Silva and Vanity a la Mode, a special menu that includes Khao Soi and house favourites Tantanmen and Spicy Miso (vegan options of both available), a Chashu Don with egg, special festive cocktails and alcohol-free adult beverages available as well. You can purchase tickets for this event here. You can find more information about Mystic Ramen on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
For those looking for an exciting and high-intensity way to celebrate the holidays, MANSION (54 King Street East) is hosting DIRTYHAPPY XMAS on December 19. This EDM Dubstep event will feature sound from DirtyHappy, with opening support from DEEP6, ALIAS and 3ASSX, with $150 bottles and $4 drinks before 11 pm. You can get tickets for this event here. You can find more information about MANSION on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Finally, CoMotion on King (115 King Street East 3rd Flr) is hosting Mingle & Jingle at King John on December 5 from 5:30 to 9 pm at the King John Building, located at 62 King Street East. The night will feature holiday cheer, festive fun and the opportunity for meaningful connections with other attendees, and attendees are encouraged to wear festive colours or their best ugly Christmas sweater. The event is open to both members and non-members of CoMotion, and attendees are asked to RSVP by December 4 here. You can find more information about CoMotion on their website here, and then follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Additionally, running from November 24 to December 24, there will be free two hour on-street parking across all participating BIAs in the city. This is the perfect incentive to spend your holiday season shopping local, so make sure you take advantage!
These are only some of the amazing holiday-themed activities or initiatives within the downtown core, as there are sure to be more announced as we enter December. Any of the above events are sure to be a great time and addition to your holiday plans, providing holiday spirit and joy!
If you are a Downtown Hamilton BIA member business and would like to be featured in a blog post, please email Emily Gilruth at operations@downtownhamilton.org.