50 years - Hamilton City Magazine

Now THAT was a Festival of Friends!

By Dylan Hudecki Aug 4, 2026

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…

Made in Hamilton

IN PHOTOS: Festival of Friends at 50

By Meredith MacLeod Jul 14, 2026

Check out these galleries featuring 50 years of images from the iconic Festival of Friends, a Hamilton summer music tradition. Click on any image for a full-size slideshow and be sure to read a deep-dive into the festival's history…

Arts + Culture

Festitalia: ‘We will cover Hamilton with Italy’

By Meredith MacLeod May 27, 2025

City’s Italian celebration is marking its 50-year anniversary this year with a cultural expo and a street festival in June and its traditional events in September. For 50 years in September, Festitalia has brought Italy to Hamilton with dinners, dances, art shows, and grape stomps. This year,…