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Winter Break 2025–2026 – Family Fun Things to Do During Christmas Holidays in Hamilton

Published by To Do Canada On December 19, 2025

Make this winter break memorable with a wide variety of activities and events happening across Hamilton and nearby areas. Whether you’re exploring dazzling light displays, visiting historic sites, or enjoying outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone in the family. Here’s your ultimate guide to winter fun from December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

Explore Magical Christmas Lights

Brighten your evenings with enchanting light displays at these locations:

 
  1. Simcoe Panorama: Twinkling lights at Wellington Park, running until January 1st. The lights will be on every night including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
  2. Lakeside Festival of Lights: The magical lighting displays set up at Spencer Smith Park runs nightly until January 6, 2026. The park will be lit on Christmas eve, Christmas Day, Orthodox Christmas, and New Years Eve.
  3. Winter Wonders at Hendrie Park: A magical trail at Royal Botanical Garden featuring dazzling lights, festive installations, and enchanting displays lit from 5–10 p.m. until January 4, 2026 (closed on December 24–26, 31, and January 1).
  4. Brantford Lights at Glenhyrst: Walk or drive through Glenhyrst Art Gallery gardens transformed into an illuminated wonderland nightly until January 1, 2026 (6–9 p.m.).
  5. Winterlit Trail and Enchanted Evenings: Explore illuminated trails from December 31 – February 16, with special activities on December 31.

Visit Local Attractions

Hamilton offers family-friendly attractions that combine education, entertainment, and history. Highlights include:

For those who enjoy historical explorations, visit sites like the Dundurn National Historic Site, Battlefield House Museum, or Whitehern Historic House and Garden, which host special holiday programming.

  • Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum: This cultural heritage center celebrates local history, fine arts, and natural heritage through exhibits, workshops, and events.
      • Winter Wonders– Enjoy hands-on archaeology activities and explore the Doris Farmer art collection, from December 23 – 24, 27 – 28, 30 – 31, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Whitehern Historic House & Garden National Historic Site: Guided tours showcasing the McQuesten family’s life from 1852 to 1968 can be enjoyed here.
      • Whitehern: A Christmas for the Ages – Experience Christmas through the decades at Whitehern, with toys, festive décor, and table settings from the 1850s, 1870s, and 1930s, from November 29, 2025, to January 4, 2026 (closed Mondays and select holidays).
  • Dundurn Castle and Whitehern Historic House: These sites offer Victorian Christmas tours and special holiday programs.
      • Victorian Christmas: Experience a mid-19th century Christmas at Dundurn Castle, beautifully decorated in Victorian style with cedar boughs, ribbons, and dried flowers, from November 24, 2025, to January 7, 2026 (closed Mondays, Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1).
      • Christmas Evening Tours at Dundurn: Experience Dundurn Castle’s evening Christmas charm with carol-singing, an extended tour of Sir Allan MacNab’s home, and traditional treats in the historic kitchen, on December 19 – 21, 2025
  • Battlefield House Museum & Park: Tour its historic homes, the 100-foot Battlefield Monument commemorating the War of 1812, an Indigenous art installation, and 32 acres of scenic parkland.
      • Winter Past Times: Step back in time to the early 19th century. Take a stroll through the picturesque landscape, followed by a guided museum tour to experience life during the winter on the Gage farmstead. December 10, 2025 – January 4, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology National Historic Site: See artifacts relating to Hamilton’s industrial past including two steam-powered beam engines.
      • Winter Break Activity Centre: The Science of Ice and Snow: Try out some ‘cool’ experiments, learn about the changing states of water, and make some icy arts and crafts. December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026

Exciting Indoor Entertainment

Beat the cold with thrilling indoor activities:

Winter Break Camps

Keep the kids entertained with engaging winter camps:

Christmas & Boxing Day

 
Christmas is an extra special day to spend with family. Check out our list of things to do on December 25 & 26 in Hamilton.

Christmas & Boxing Day in Hamilton

New Year’s Eve Activities

Ring in 2026 with family-friendly options and live entertainment:

2026 New Year’s Eve in Hamilton

Outdoor Winter Adventures

Enjoy Hamilton’s natural beauty and embrace winter sports (weather dependent):

  • Treetop Trekking: Explore forest canopies in a unique, adrenaline-filled adventure. Offering activities like zip-lining and aerial courses, Treetop Trekking is a perfect way to embrace the beauty of the season while staying active.
  • Ice Skating: Glide at the Hamilton Waterfront Outdoor Rink or community-operated rinks (weather permitting).
  • Tobogganing: Designated hills include Chedoke Golf Club and Dundas Driving Park.
  • Snowshoeing and Hiking: Snowshoeing can be enjoyed at King’s Forest Golf Course and Chedoke Golf Course. King’s Forest also features a 2.5 km scenic winter walking trail. Use the ParkFinder to find green spaces in Hamilton.
  • Birding: Grab a pair of binoculars, download a bird ID app, and try to name all the birds that you can spot. The Bayfront Trail and the Dofasco Trails are two bird hotspots in Hamilton. Use this guide to check out the birds in Birding in the Hamilton Area.
  • Geocaching: Search for hidden geocaches in the region.
  • Golfing and Disc Golf: Enjoy winter golfing at Chedoke – Martin Course or disc golf at King’s Forest Golf Club.

(Snow-related activities are weather dependent. Use your good judgment while enjoying these activities.)

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Live Music and Theatre

Celebrate the season with live performances:

Family-Friendly Events

  • ChristmasFest: Get ready for an amazing event with over 150 vendors, including SANTA, Kid Zone, amazing gifts, food, and more at Ancaster Fairgrounds. Sunday, December 21, 2025.
  • Visits with Santa at CF Lime Ridge: Capture holiday magic with Santa visits from November 15 to December 24.
  • Dickens of a Christmas: Enjoy four festive weekends featuring free hot apple cider, street entertainment, breakfast, photos and visits with Santa. Saturdays & Sundays, November 28 – December 25, 2025
  • Hamilton Christmas Bird Count: This annual event is held on December 26 (Boxing Day) and covers a 7.5-mile (12 km) radius, centred at Dundurn Castle.
     
  • Brantford Bulldogs vs. Erie Otters on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the TD Civic Centre.
  • Breakfast with Santa on December 20, 2025 at Southcote 53 Tap and Grill
  • Christmas Model Train Show on December 20 – 21, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology National Historic Site.
  • Family Camp Day on Friday, January 2, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Art Gallery of Hamilton

Sports

  • Toronto Rock vs. Las Vegas Desert Dogs on December 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM at TD Coliseum
  • PWHL Takeover Tour: Seattle Torrent at Toronto Scepters on January 3, 2026 | 2:00 PM at TD Coliseum

Winter Activities at Conservation Areas

 
From ice fishing and skating to cross-country skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing, there are many trails and countless opportunities to enjoy the snowy landscapes (weather dependent).

(Snow-related activities are weather dependent. Use your good judgment while enjoying these activities.)

  • Hamilton Conservation Areas:
      • Ice Fishing & Skating: Ice fishing is available at Fifty Point Marina and Valens Lake, while skating is permitted on the pond at Fifty Point and the reservoir at Valens Lake. Christie Lake and Dundas Valley are unsafe for any on-ice activities.
      • Trail Adventures: Trails are not cleared or maintained for snow and ice, but they offer exciting options for skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing. Key trails include Christie Lake’s south side, Dundas Valley’s Reforestation and G. Donald Trails, and Round the Lake Trail, which includes a dam crossing.
      • Ice Climbing: Tiffany Falls permits ice climbing for members of the Alpine Club of Canada or attendees of classes by OneAxe Pursuits (individual permits not available).
      • Winter Camping: Valens Lake offers cold-weather camping for those ready to embrace the challenge and discover their inner winter warrior.
      • Frozen Waterfalls: Visit conservation areas for a glimpse of icy cascades.
  • Conservation Halton Parks:
      • Cross-Country Skiing: Explore scenic trails at Crawford Lake, Mountsberg, and Hilton Falls for a great way to stay active and enjoy nature during the winter season.
      • Snowshoeing: Embrace the classic Canadian pastime of snowshoeing on trails at Crawford Lake, Mountsberg, and Hilton Falls, and make the most of your winter outdoors.

Winter Safety: Always check posted conditions and follow safety guidelines. Do not walk on ice unless it is declared safe.

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