Things to do this August Long Weekend in Hamilton
Friday, August 1 – Monday, August 4, 2025
August long weekend events & activities including free, fun family & kids’ activities, live music, theatre & performing arts, sports and exhibitions.
I. Family & Kids Activities this weekend
Festival of Friends
The Festival of Friends is back for three full days of music, food, arts, crafts, and more! 2025 lineup includes Sister Sledge, Brett Kissel, The Sugar Hill Gang, The Trews, and Dan Mangan. Details
August 1 – 3, 2025
Gage Park, Hamilton
Free
Lucky Lion Night Market
Come hungry! Bring the entire family to Hamilton’s annual Lucky Lion Night Market and celebrate Asian culture and cuisine. Details
August 1 – 3, 2025
Bayfront Park, 200 Harbour Front Dr., Hamilton
Free
Sunflower Fest at Brantwood Farms
August 2 – 4, 7 – 10, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Brantwood Farms, 251 Powerline Rd, Brantford
$13 + tax per person; children under 2 enter free
Dairy Delicious
Join Westfield Heritage Village for a tasty, immersive, and hands on experience at Dairy Delicious. At this new and unique event, visitors can explore the history, science, and technology of the many delicious dairy products made in Ontario from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. At the heart of this Dairy Delicious event will be interactive, dairy-themed activities and experiences, including exhibits, games and hands-on activities.
August 3 – 4, 2025 | Two-hour time slots 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Westfield Heritage Village 1049 Kirkwall Road, Rockton
All visitors, including HCA Membership Pass holders must pre-register for the event. This event is free for HCA Membership Pass holders, but required to pay $10 Reservation fee.
Non-HCA Members $10.00, Vehicle Fee: $11.00, Per Person Fee: $5.00 per person. Ages 5 and under are free.
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Emancipation Day at Fieldcote
Celebrate Emancipation Day at Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum!
Every year on August 1st we celebrate the abolition of slavery across the British Empire. Join us as we recognize this important day and honour the life and legacy of Enerals Griffin, of Griffin House National Historic Site.
Friday, August 1, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum, 64 Sulphur Springs Road
Free outdoor activities.
Historic Kitchen Garden Pop-Up
Hamilton Children’s Museum will be popping up at Dundurn National Historic Site in the Historic Kitchen Garden. Bring your young family and friends for free nature-based activities in “Sophia’s Garden”, a child-focused interactive space. This area of the garden was inspired by excerpts from The Diary of Sophia MacNab, as Sophia describes playing in the kitchen garden and growing a small plot of fruits and vegetables with her younger sister. This new garden features plants selected to inspire kids to touch, smell and interact with nature.
August 2 – 3, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Boulevard, Hamilton
Free outdoor garden event.
Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas
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Other Activities
- There are lots of activities at the Hamilton Public Library every weekend. Don’t forget to check them out!
- Visit the Twin Valley Nature Park
- Explore African Lion Safari
- Visit Clovermead Adventure Farm
- Enjoy Yoga with Goats
- Visit the Whistling Gardens
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II. Live Music
Free Outdoor Summer Concerts in Hamilton
Enjoy free outdoor concerts at various locations in and around Hamilton.
Free Outdoor Summer Concerts in Hamilton
Postcards from the Sky by candlelight
Step into one of Hamilton’s hidden architectural treasures—a breathtaking 175-year-old church bathed in the gentle glow of candlelight. This is music that floats, drifts, and dreams—this immersive experience invites you to pause, reflect, and be carried skyward.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Church of the Ascension, 64 Forest Ave, Hamilton
$35 – $45
Brott on the Waterfront
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 12:00 PM
Waterfront Stage, Pier 8 | Discovery Drive @ Williams Fresh Café
Free
Candlelight: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Hamilton. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Queen and The Beatles at The Westdale under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 6:30 PM
The Westdale, 1014 King Street West, Hamilton
$33 – $65
Candlelight: Best of Metal
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Hamilton. Get your tickets now to discover the music of metal at The Westdale under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 8:45 PM
The Westdale, 1014 King Street West, Hamilton
$31.50 – $65.50
Concerts in the Park
Enjoy a Tribute to the music of The Beatles. Details
Sunday, August 3, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Central Park Bandshell, 2311 New Street, Burlington
Free
Music on the Waterfront
Listen to live music at the Hamilton Waterfront on Thursdays in the summer. Details
Thursday, June 5 – August 28, 2025 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Waterfront Stage Pier 8, Discovery Drive, Hamilton
Free; Donations appreciated
III. Sports
Hamilton Cardinals
Baseball For All – Celebrate the game that brings us all together! It’s Baseball for All Night, a special evening dedicated to inclusivity, diversity, and the love of the game. Join us as we recognize that baseball is for everyone, with a night full of community, celebration, and exciting Cardinals action on the field.
Baseball For All vs. Guelph Royals on Friday, August 1, 2025 | 7:35 PM
Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium, 1100 Mohawk Rd E, Hamilton
$8 – $12
Yoga at the Gardens
Saturdays, June 28 to September 27, 2025 | 7:30 PM
Hendrie Park, 680 Plains Rd W, Hamilton
Single Session: $20 + HST & $2 Service Fee
Yoga with Goats
Come enjoy a gentle yoga flow while hanging out and cuddling with cute and adorable goats! Details
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 11:30 AM & 1:00 PM
Triple C Farm, 500 Carluke Road West, Ancaster
$25 – $35
Forge FC
Cheer on Hamilton’s Forge FC at Tim Horton’s Field. Details
vs. Valour FC on Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton
$28 & up
IV. Exhibitions and Other Events
Steel City Swing Dancers
Join us down at the waterfront at Pier 8 for vintage swing dancing at sunset every Sunday from July 6 to August 31.
Our outdoor dances are DJ’d with the loveliest swing dancing tunes. Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Shag… all are welcome!
Sunday, July 6 – August 31, 2025
Free Lesson | 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Dancing | 7:00 PM
Pier 8 – Waterfront Stage, 47 Discovery Drive
Dance and lesson is by donation
HBHAS Emancipation Month Kick-off & Fundraiser Gala
The Halton Freedom Celebration Festival brings together musical acts, children’s and youth activities, cultural art, food, crafts; heritage, historical, and genealogical vendors promoting inclusivity and community integration. Details
Friday, August 1, 2025 | 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St, Burlington
Adult $50; Student $25
Dundas Ghost Walks
Ghosts, murders, mobsters and the infamous Death Pact in the beautiful town of Dundas. Featuring the Collins, Shawn & Ed Brewery, and a sinister history of old hotels. Plus more… Details
Friday, August 1, 2025 | 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Grafton Square, 2 King St West, Dundas
$14.00 to $16.00
Heritage Week 2025: Opening Ceremony
Join Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Indigenous Spiritual Healer White Eagle, Town Crier David Vollick, Art Gallery Executive Director Emma Quin, and other special guests as we launch Heritage Week at the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The ceremony includes recognition of organizations and businesses marking significant milestones, live music from the Burlington Symphony Orchestra quartet, and light refreshments.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 10:0 AM – 11:00 AM
1333 Lakeshore Rd., Shoreline Room, Burlington
Registration not required
Heritage Week 2025
Heritage Week 2025 is a time to celebrate the many aspects of Burlington’s various heritages. This special week brings together over 35 individuals and organizations who have collaborated for months to offer residents and visitors a unique program of heritage events.
August 2 – 9, 2025
Various locations across Burlington
All events offer free admission, though some require pre-registration, and have refreshments available for purchase. Non-perishable food donations for the Burlington Food Bank will be accepted.
Making Freedom Fly
Making Freedom Fly tells inspiring stories from the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian home front during the Second World War. Using the museum’s archival collection, technology combines with the past to bring historic moments alive. The common thread that weaves throughout the exhibition is Canadians’ efforts and determination to preserve democracy. Details
Ongoing
Wednesday to Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Road, Mount Hope
Exhibition is FREE with admission. Regular admission rates are Adult (18 – 64) $14.25, Senior (65+) $12.50, Student (13 – 17) $12.50, Youth (6 – 12) $9.75. Free admission for museum members and children 5 & under.
Waterdown Farmers’ Market
The outdoor Saturday morning Market is open for its 11th season. Visit your favourite returning vendors and meet new vendors. Details
Saturdays, until October 18, 2025 | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 551, 79 Hamilton St North
Free
Discovery at the Fishway
Watch RBG ecologists at work as they assist migrating fish to their spawning grounds in Cootes Paradise Marsh! The Fishway is located at the outlet of Cootes Paradise Marsh, a short walk from Princess Point accessed along the Desjardins Trail. Details
Monday, Wednesday & Friday, July & August 2025 | 2:30 PM
The Fishway RBG, 680 Plains Rd W
FREE to attend, on-site parking fees apply at Princess Point (parking free of charge when displaying a member parking pass).
FREE to attend, on-site parking fees apply at Princess Point (parking free of charge when displaying a member parking pass).
Paddling in Paradise: Summer Canoe Tours
Explore Cootes Paradise by canoe to get a glimpse of the astounding life that depends on a healthy marsh for survival.
Thursdays and Saturdays, July 17 – August 23, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
RBG – Arboretum, 16 Old Guelph Road
Pre-Registration Required; $45 per session (+ HST & $2 Service Fee) – Members 10% off
Wake Up The Wild
Get EVEN closer with unrivaled access during a privately guided tour with a Game Warden to witness a pride of lions at their most active time of day and as they devour their morning meal on African Lion Safari’s Wake Up The Wild! Then, head off road in an open-air truck to come within a metre of the endangered rhino, zebra, ostrich, as well as the opportunity to hand feed Canada’s largest herd of giraffe. Details
Available on select dates from June – September, 2025
African Lion Safari, 1386 Cooper Road, Hamilton
$119 – $159
Talons and Tailfeathers
If you’re looking for a closer encounter with the Mountsberg Raptors then you’ll love Talons & Tailfeathers. Learn all about the amazing features of raptors and meet a few of our resident raptors up close. Details
Select dates, until August 31, 2025
Mountsberg Conservation Area (Reservations Required), Milburough Line, Campbellville
$10 per person + Gate fee
Visit the Twin Valley Nature Park
Brant-Brantford Twin Valley Nature Park is a 25-acre, family-run, wildlife park, home to over 80 species of animals including; Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Birds, Bears, Deer, Alpaca, Primates, and so much more! Details
April 26 – November 2, 2025
Twin Valley Nature Park, 84 Langford Church Rd, Brantford
$12.50 – $24
The World of Bees Show
Spend some time with the beekeeper and see and learn some unique bee things. Try pumping the bellows of the bee smoker, or perhaps, if you dare, you can touch a stingless drone bee. Meet the queen, listen, and smell a hive up close. Slide your hand into a warm beehive. Details
Monday – Saturday, July and August 2025 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Clovermead Honey Shop & Adventure Farm, 11302 Imperial Road, Aylmer
$22 + HST
African Lion Safari
Canada’s Original Safari Adventure – Get Closer Than You Ever Imagined to lions, giraffes, cheetah, rhinos, and over 1,000 other exotic birds and animals! Details
Daily, May 3 – September 14 & Select Dates, September 17 – October 12, 2025
African Lion Safari, 1386 Cooper Road, Hamilton
$24.95 – $49.95
Let’s Go Birding! (for beginners)
Would you like to learn about Ontario bird species and how to identify them in the field? Are you interested in taking up birding as a hobby? If either of these questions resonate with you, then “Let’s Go Birding” is the program for you!! Details
Saturday August 2, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
RBG Nature Sanctuaries
$25 per session + $2 Service Fee & HST (Members 10% off); Pre-Registration Required
Game Changers
Get your game on. Discover how innovation has shaped the video game industry. Game Changers takes you on a fascinating journey, exploring the past and examining how the intersection of audio, storytelling, graphics, and gameplay creates the immersive environment of current video gaming systems.
May 10 – September 13, 2025
Joseph Brant Museum, 1240 North Shore Blvd E, Burlington
Regular admission
Visit the Whistling Gardens
If you haven’t been to the Whistling Gardens before, plan a trip and see why Whistling Gardens is voted as one of Canada’s Best Botanical Gardens. Details
Wednesday through Sunday, until Thanksgiving Monday
Whistling Gardens Ltd., 698 Concession 3, Wilsonville
Regular admission
Maple Leaves and Tulips: Then and Now
This temporary exhibit commemorates the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe and highlights the major role played by Canadians during the Liberation of the Netherlands in the final nine months of the Second World War. Historical moments are evoked to illustrate the strong ties that united the two countries during the terrible winter of 1945.April 17 to December 31, 2025
Wednesday to Sunday – 9 am to 5 pm
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, 9280 Airport Road, Mount Hope
Exhibit is FREE with admission. Regular admission rates are Adult (18 – 64) $14.25, Senior (65+) $12.50, Student (13 – 17) $12.50, Youth (6 – 12) $9.75. Free admission for museum members and children 5 & under.
Escape the Ghost Ship
Prepare to weigh anchor and set sail in a brand-new immersive escape adventure! Tonight’s the night you and your crew plan to steal a ship for your very own–but no one expects the abandoned ship in the harbour to be the cursed ghost ship of Bethany Bishop! Now, in order to secure the ship (and your immortal souls), you’ll need to help free the ghosts of Bethany Bishop and her crew, before the curse claims its next victims…
Thursday through Sunday | 5:45 PM, 7:45 PM & 9:45 PM
200 Harbour Front Drive, Hamilton
$59.00 Per Person
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Exhibition Tours
Guided tours are an excellent way to explore the exhibitions on display and gain a deeper understanding of the work. Drop in to hear more about the artist’s ideas and process, and have a chance to converse with others about what you see. Details
Saturdays and Sundays | 1:00 pm
Art Gallery of Hamilton, 123 King Street West, Hamilton
Regular admission
Go Hiking or Visit Nature Areas
- 25 of the Best Hiking Trails in Hamilton
- 25 Must Visit Nature Attractions and Parks in Hamilton
- 25 Scenic Waterfalls to See During Winter
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there may be typographical/oversight errors or events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned event Websites/officials.
Bookmark this page and check back next week for more weekend activities.
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