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Celebrating all things Hamilton / Welcome Message
Arts + Culture

REVIEW: Theatre Ancaster’s A Chorus Line kicks up its heels

The entertaining and enduring Broadway classic is the first production on Theatre Ancaster’s 30th anniversary playbill for 2026-2027. Entering its final weekend of shows, Theatre Ancaster’s mainstage production of A Chorus Line provides a great opportunity to see a Broadway classic and be very well entertained by a…
Arts + Culture

It’s 10 years of the Bard under the stars for Tottering Biped Theatre

Hamilton’s Tottering Biped Theatre celebrates a decade of staging summer Shakespeare with its most ambitious season yet – three 2026 productions and many returning artists. Ten years is a milestone few indie theatre companies can boast. Amid economic challenges, competing entertainments, and changing audiences, making theatre as an…
Made in Hamilton

Saving the strays at Ladybird Animal Sanctuary

After rescuing nearly 1,900 animals over 16 years, Hamilton-based Ladybird Animal Sanctuary is close to creating a farm that will be a refuge for animals in desperate need. It all started with three friends working together for one unforgettable cat. Sweet Oliver the cat was the first…
Made in Hamilton

Made in Hamilton: The Mabel’s Labels Story

A frustrating parenting problem, a vision to solve it, and some tenacity helped a quartet of moms create an enduring brand. Read on for co-founder Julie Cole's six business lessons learned. Over 23 years ago, my sister and two friends, all of us former students…
City Life

Wesley: Never standing still

The made-in-Hamilton non-profit began its work in a church basement 71 years ago. Focused on poverty, homelessness, and the complex social challenges at the root of those issues, Wesley’s more than 300 staff lead critical social programs in 17 locations in Hamilton and beyond. Ryan S. was…
City Life

Kenadie, how do I talk to pretty girls?

Welcome to the monthly column from Hamilton drag queen Kenadie St. James! Read on for the best bad advice you’ve ever had! Hamilton, your problems are officially about to get WORSE. 💋 Local drag legend Kenadie St. James is serving up catastrophically bad life advice in her new HAMILTON…
Arts + Culture

Now THAT was a Festival of Friends!

A huge summer storm threatened to derail an all-star 50th anniversary concert on Sunday. But resilient Canadian musicians, led by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, refused to give in, and delivered an epic, memory-making show. That capped off three great days of music, markets, midway and food at Gage…
Arts + Culture

IN PHOTOS: Festival of Friends 2026

The Festival of Friends – its 50th year! – is in full swing at Gage Park. Featuring dozens of musical acts, market vendors, and lots of delicious food options, the festival wraps up with an all-star concert of local and Canadian acts on Sunday night! PHOTOS BY BOB…
Arts + Culture

Festival season: Summer on parade

Here is your hot 2026 summer festivals guide for Hamilton and Burlington. You’ll find everything from inaugural events to two local traditions that are turning 50 years old this year! Our summers may be short but fortunately for us, the list of local festivals is long. Spend warm-weather…

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HAMILTON CITY Magazine’s mission is to tell the stories that celebrate the city’s past, present and future by featuring stunning photography, illustrations and world-class writing. It’s your city. It’s your magazine.


Arts + Culture

JUNOfest: 8 stages, 65 acts!

From up-and-comers to industry veterans, check out local, regional and national artists across all genres over two musical nights in the city's JUNO Week. The JUNOS are back, and this year they’re Hamiltonian! In addition to the JUNO Kickoff Concert, JUNO Comedy Show, JUNO Songwriters’ Circle, JUNO Stories…
Arts + Culture

IN CONVERSATION: Allan Reid, head of The JUNOS

Here, the CARAS president and CEO talks about his memories of past JUNOS in Hamilton, what he looks forward to about this year's event, and why Canada's national music celebration matters more than ever. Allan Reid, president and CEO of CARAS (Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences),…
Arts + Culture

Theatre Aquarius releases video from upcoming musical

‘New Orleans is Sinking’ is the first glimpse of music from the upcoming It’s a Good Life if You Don’t Weaken. Be among the first to experience “New Orleans Is Sinking,” the first song released from the highly anticipated world-premiere musical It’s a Good Life If You Don’t…
Arts + Culture

Musicians for Water rallies voices for clean water

March 25 benefit concert for the northern GTA will feature acoustic performances by Burlington’s Sarah Harmer, Serena Ryder, and Metric's Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw. One of my earliest memories of seeing Sarah Harmer perform was on a daytime talk show on CTV, where she played her now…
City Life

New York Islanders affiliate coming to Hamilton

AHL team will begin play at TD Coliseum next season.  Hamilton is getting an NHL affiliate for the next hockey season. The New York Islanders’ AHL team will move from Bridgeport, Connecticut to TD Coliseum for the 2026-2027 hockey season, the team and Oak View Group announced…
Food + Drink

DINING DISTRICTS: Making Concessions

Hamilton Mountain’s most northerly street is an important and eclectic city dining destination. My Hamilton roots centred around the Delta until we joined those moving up to the Mountain. Prior to researching this article, I had not known that, about a century ago, the north side of Concession…
Arts + Culture

Undercovers: A who’s who of Canadian talent

March 25 show at The Westdale will raise money for the Unison Fund to aid musicians. Fans of the pioneering MuchMusic VJ Erica Ehm will have a chance to hear some fascinating stories about her incredible career since leaving the iconic music channel, while seeing some fantastic music…
Arts + Culture

Two stages, all ages

Theatre Ancaster’s Classics theatre program for performers ages 55-plus presents Generations, a multi-generational play by local playwright Lois Gordon, and Curtain Call Performing Arts Company’s teen program is putting on the lively musical Legally Blonde Jr. Theatre, that most social of art forms, represents the human condition…