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Celebrating all things Hamilton / Welcome Message
Arts + Culture

‘I’m an Anna through and through,’ says Frozen star

It’s a challenging role and a demanding run of 45 shows in 40 days, but Jessica Gallant feels she was born to play the awkward and intrepid younger sister in the musical adaptation of the Disney hit. Editor’s note: Check out our Instagram on Wednesday, Dec. 17…
City Life

Reason for the season: Where you can help those in need during the holidays

There are many worthy local organizations dedicated to ensuring every child, adult and senior can experience some joy and hope this season. Giving Tuesday on Dec. 2 is the perfect opportunity to donate.  It’s that time of year again, when our hearts are full with the magic…
Arts + Culture

Drury Lane’s Cinderella is a holiday treat

There is a lot to like about this Christmas pantomime. From zany slapstick to on-point choreography, this community showcase is fun for the whole family. A holiday tradition across the world, Cinderella pantomime shows have a lengthy tradition going back centuries. Featuring outlandish costumes and slapstick comedy while…
City Life

Deeply affordable 412 Barton opens

The $8.3-million project led by St. Matthew’s House will offer housing to 15 people facing homelessness, with a special focus on Black and Indigenous seniors and women. Two years ago, on another blustery December day, ground was officially broken at the site of a dream to house 15…
Food + Drink

The Iron Cow brings something that’s been missing to downtown

Part elevated British pub, and part sports bar, Matty Matheson-led eatery delivers with a creative and well-executed menu in a welcoming space. Holy Cow!  There is a new restaurant in town, part of the recently renovated and reopened TD Coliseum complex.  My dining experience as a media…
Arts + Culture

THE PLAYLIST

Dylan Hudecki is a Canadian indie-rock vet having played in many different bands, including By Divine Right, Cowlick, Slow Beach and The Dill. He’s a proud Hamiltonian who covers local album releases for HAMILTON CITY Magazine. COTS – Disturbing Body & Moonlit Building Hamilton has long been fertile…
Arts + Culture

Hamilton Reads — KidLit Holiday Edition

From picture books about difficult subjects such as homelessness, and grief, to collections of letters and art by Indigenous voices, laugh-out loud read-alouds, and spine-tingling poems, there are many choices this holiday season for the young reader on your list. As a parent, you think you’re supposed…
Arts + Culture

REVIEW: Frozen is heartwarming and magical

You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer and you’ll be transported as Theatre Aquarius's production brilliantly brings animated Disney classic to the stage. Frozen, The Broadway Musical at Theatre Aquarius is pure magic. That is true in both the literal and the figurative senses. If you’ve ever wanted to escape…
Arts + Culture

INTO THE GROOVE

Take a step inside Hamilton’s vibrant independent record store scene, and be sure to check out these neighbourhood hotspots when buying for the music lover on your list. Hamilton is home to an active network of independent record stores, each offering a mix of…
Arts + Culture

Joni Mitchell, Nelly Furtado to be honoured at 2026 JUNO Awards

Hometown rockers Arkells will perform when Hamilton hosts Canada’s national music awards in March. The stars are beginning to align for Hamilton’s turn to host the 2026 JUNO Awards.  Hamilton legends Arkells will perform, pop superstar Nelly Furtado will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame,…
Arts + Culture

A bold new era for Hamilton’s downtown

TD Coliseum offers a world-class experience for artists and fans in a reimagined, music-first venue that no longer feels like an arena. What has changed inside and what will it mean for the city? The media tours are done. The ceremonial ribbon has been cut. And…
Arts + Culture

HAMILTON’S CELEBRATION OF SOUND

2026 will be a history-making year in the city’s music sector and will chart the course for an amplified future. Hamilton is a city of music and 2026 will be a history-making year that will give music lovers plenty of reasons to celebrate.   It all begins with the…
City Life

OPINION: York Boulevard is a grand vision gone wrong

Hamilton’s gateway entrance from the west was once to be modelled after great European streets. But instead of being the ‘Champs Elysee of North America,’ the City caved to private interests and what was built is the architectural horror story it is today. There is a nearly 50-year-old…
Arts + Culture

Hamilton music makers you should know

This city is a musical powerhouse. Here are a few local standouts sharing what they love about the place they call home. Killotine Photo: Rae Chatten Who: Metal band, represented Canada at Wacken Open Air 2025. Members: Matt Fraser (vocals and rhythm guitar), Jesse Luciani (lead guitar), James…
City Life

Hounds of Hamilton

We need a big dose of dogs these days so HAMILTON CITY Magazine's new feature celebrates the city's canines. Send in your dogs (and cats)! Is there any better escape from the relentless news cycle, doom scrolling and polarizing politics, and any simpler way to…

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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

New Hamilton theatre company presents play in a play

Hilarious one-act family-friendly Play That Goes Wrong is the first production of BIG HEARTS little theatre based on the Mountain. BIG HEARTS little theatre is a new performing arts company based on Hamilton Mountain, fuelled by the passion and artistic direction of long-time local educator Erin Newton. BIG…
City Life

Going out with the gold

The City of Hamilton is wrapping up its gold recycling box program as the province moves to end blue box processing. How the individual producer model will roll out still hasn’t been announced. On a scorching hot Monday in August, my wife came to pick me up from…
Arts + Culture

A new era of joy for Brott Music Festival

As Canada’s largest orchestral festival wraps up its first season under artistic director Tania Miller on Aug. 15 with a concert dedicated to Boris Brott, she shared her reflections with HAMILTON CITY Magazine about the legacy of Brott and her role in taking the festival into…
Food + Drink

Hamilton Farmers’ Market is a dining destination of its own

The downtown market offers a large and delicious array of homemade options inspired by delicacies from all around the world. This is part of an ongoing series looking at the local array of dining districts. So far, our dining districts series has focused on streetscapes and dining-in. Apart…
City Life

Reclaiming LRT

A rapid transit line crossing Hamilton holds tremendous promise and purpose and we can’t forget that as this project drags on. It has been over three years since the announcement that Hamilton light rail transit (LRT) was back on track. The mood on May 13, 2021 was one…
Arts + Culture

Young performers showcased in two very different local productions

Theatre Ancaster’s Spring Awakening is a bold rock musical that may cause some discomfort, while The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical from Curtain Call Performing Arts Company is a whimsical, all-ages fantasy. Although many theatre companies will launch their seasons next month, two area organizations…
Arts + Culture

The Shakers are rocking again

Legendary Hamilton rock ’n’ roll quartet have reunited and will soon release their first album of new material in more than 40 years. The Shakers are back, and they’re ready to “Shake Some Action” again, to reference the title of the classic garage rock song by The Flamin’…
Arts + Culture

In photos: Festival of Friends

For 48 years, Festival of Friends has been welcoming crowds and this year's event featured hot weather and even hotter bands. They included David Wilcox, Monte Carlo Band, Chris Chambers Band, Sabian, War, Ray Materick and Midnight Matinee, Joshua Pascua, Crash Test Dummies, Pip the Band, Blood Roses,…