Festival Guide

You can also check out our music listings here

Anything missing or wrong? Please email blueshamilton@gmail.com

2026

January

• January 16-February 1: Niagara Icewine Festival
• January 30-February 1: Hillside Inside (Guelph)
• January 31-February 16: Hamilton Winterfest

February

• January 16-February 1: Niagara Icewine Festival
• January 30-February 1: Hillside Inside (Guelph)
• January 31-February 16: Hamilton Winterfest
• February 12-13: Friday the 13th Festival @ Port Dover
• February 13: Artcrawl @ James Street North (Hamilton)
• February 17-20: Golden Horseshoe Music Fest @ Mohawk College, McIntyre Performing Arts Centre (Hamilton) $?
• February 19-March 15: Taste of Oakville (some live music)
• February 21: I Heart Beer & Taco Festival @ Convention Centre (Hamilton) $?
• February 24, Soupfest @ Convention Centre (Hamilton)
• February 27-March 8: Frost Bites (Hamilton)
• February 25, March 5: Roots En Route Arts Festival @ Music Hall (Hamilton) $?
• February 27-28: Because Brrr Craft Beer Sessions @ Bridgeworks (Hamilton) $?

March

• February 25, March 5: Roots En Route Arts Festival @ Music Hall (Hamilton) $?
• March 12-13: Friday the 13th Festival @ Port Dover
• Taste of Oakville (some live music)
• Roots En Route Arts Festival @ Music Hall (Hamilton) $?
• Because Brrr Craft Beer Sessions @ Brideworks (Hamilton) $?
• I Heart Beer & Taco Festival @ Bingemans Convention Centre (Kitchener) $?
• Artcrawl (Hamilton)
• Irish Life Festival (Kitchener)

April

• Eat and Drink Norfolk @ Norfolk County Fairgrounds (Simcoe)
• KW Wine & Food Show @ Kitchener Memorial Auditorium $?
• Elvis Festival @ Greg Frewin Theatre (Niagara Falls)
• Artcrawl @ James St. North (Hamilton)
• Hamilton Music Festival
• GritLIT: Readers & Writers Festival (Hamilton)
• Gainfest (Guelph)
• I Heart Beer & Taco Festival @ Sleeman Centre (Guelph)
• Doors Open Guelph

May

• ArtsEverywhere Festival (Guelph)
• Artcrawl @ James Street N (Hamilton)
• Why Not Wine, Wine Tasting Festival @ Lasalle Park (Burlington) $?
• Sew Hungry @ Ottawa St (Hamilton)
• Hamilton Music Festival
• Niagara Children's Festival
• Binbrook Ribfest @ Binbrook Fairgrounds $2/Kids Free
• Concession Street Sidewalk Sounds (Hamilton)
• Made in Dundas Festival @ Dundas Museum and Archives FREE
• Pelham Art Festival (Some Live Music)
• Open Ears Festival (Kitchener/Waterloo)
• Handmade Market (some Live Music) @ 13th Street Winery (St. Catharines) $8.50
• Meadows Music Festival @ Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex (Fergus) $?
• Paris Cheesecake & Taco Festival @ Paris Fairgrounds
• Hohner Avenue Porch Party (Kitchener)

June

• Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Mon - June-Oct)
• Tea 'n' Tales @ Guelph Enabling Garden
• Open Ears Festival (Kitchener/Waterloo)
• Paris Cheesecake & Taco Festival @ Paris Fairgrounds
• Downtown Guelph Exotic Car Show (Big Brothers Big Sisters Fundraiser) @ Prince Adventures
• Niagara Regional Exhibition (Welland)
• Handmade Market (some Live Music) @ 13th Street Winery (St. Catharines) $?
• Ag Day @ Hagersville
• Norfolk Night Market (Some Live Music)- Summer Edition @ Norfolk County Fairgrounds $5
• Concession Streetfest (Hamilton)
• Battle of Stoney Creek Re-Enactment (Some Live Music) @ Battlefield House Museum & Park National Historic Site (Stoney Creek)
• Ancaster Heritage Days
• Downtown Milton Summer Fest 
• Concerts on the Canal @ Merrit Park Amphitheatre (Welland) 
• ONTARIO CRAFT GIN FESTIVAL (some live music) @ Elora Centre for the Arts $?
• Greek Food Festival (Kitchener)
• Grand Porch Party (Waterloo)
• Hamilton Arts Week
• Art on Locke @ Locke Street (Hamilton)
• Sound of Music Festival @ Spencer Smith Park & Downtown Burlington 
• Mudcat Festival (Dunnville)
• Friday the 13th Festival @ Port Dover
• Artcrawl (Hamilton)
• Taste of Philippines Food and MUSIC Festival @ Gage Park (Hamilton)
• Multicultural Festival @ Riverside Park (Guelph)
• Cambridge Celebration of the Arts @ City Hall
• Boots 'n Benchlands @ Puddicombe Farms (Stoney Creek)
• Holi Festival of Colour @ Meridian Centre Lot (St. Catharines) FREE
• Georgetown Highland Games @ Georgetown Fair Grounds
• Norfolk County Fairgrounds Festival $?
• Sundays Unlocked @ Locke Street (Hamilton)
• Something Else! Festival of Creative Music (Hamilton) 
• Oakville Family Ribfest @ Sheridan College, Trafalgar Road 
• In the Soil Arts Festival (St. Catharines)
• FrancoFEST @ Gage Park (Hamilton) 
• Concession Street Sidewalk Sounds (Hamilton)
• Strawberry Fair @ Milton Fairgrounds
• Art on the Street (Guelph)
• KW Multicultural Festival (Kitchener) 
• Open Streets on King (Hamilton)
• Trail Mix: Live & Local Festival @ The Exchange (Niagara Falls)
• Oakville Film Festival 
• Niagara Jazz Festival
• Boris Brott Music Festival 
• Oh Canada Ribfest @ Memorial Park (Waterdown) 
• It's Your Festival @ Gage Park (Hamilton) 
• Knighton Real Estate Presents Party in the Park @ Lake Point Park (Stoney Creek)
• Pin -Up Picnic & Car Show @ Powell Park (Port Dover)
• Lakeside Long Weekend @ Lakeside Park (St. Catharines)
• Rock N Blues on the Battlefield @ Beaverdams Park (Thorold)

July

• Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Mon - June-Oct)
• Tea 'n' Tales @ Guelph Enabling Garden
• Lakeside Long Weekend @ Lakeside Park (St. Catharines)
• It's Your Festival @ Gage Park (Hamilton) 
• July 1: Burlington Canada Day Celebrations @ Spencer Smith Park
• July 1: Oakville Canada Day Celebrations @ Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park
• July 1: Canada Day Celebrations @ Charles Daley Park (Lincoln)
• July 1: West Lincoln Canada Day Celebrations @ Leisureplex Township Park (Smithville)
• July 1, Canada Day Celebration @ Thorold
• July 1: Brantford Canada Day Celebrations @ Lion's Park
• July 1: Cambridge Canada Day Celebration @ Riverside Park
• July 1: Kitchener Canada Day Celebrations @ Carl Zehr Square
• Brantford International Villages Festival
• Caledonia Ribfest @ Caledoina Fairgrounds $2
• The Little Kitchener-Waterloo Flamenco Fest $?
• Because Beer Festival @ Pier 4 Park (Hamilton) $?
• Hamilton Food Truck Festival (with live music) @ Gage Park FREE
• Artcrawl @ James Street North (Hamilton)
• Paris Brews & BBQ Festival @ Paris Fairgrounds $10
• Cruising on King @ King St bw Water & Frederick Sts (Kitchener)
• Kultrún World Music Festival @ Waterloo Park (St. Jacobs)
• Hamilton AfroJazz FEST @ Bayfront Park (Hamilton) FREE
• Folk Fest @ Homegrown Hideaway (Norfolk) $?
• Elora Festival
• Hamilton Fringe Festival
• Pelham Summerfest @ Downtown Fonthill
• Dances at the Bay @ Bayfront Park (Hamilton)
• The Stoney Creek Rib and Beer Festival @ Eastgate Square (Hamilton) $2 /Kids under 5 FREE
• Concession Street Sidewalk Sounds (Hamilton)
• Burlington Food Truck Festival @ Downtown Waterfront
• CallHome Music Festival @ Lion's Park (Brantford) $?
• Paris Night Market & Summer Fest @ Paris Fairgrounds $10 
• Hillside Festival @ Guelph Lake Island (Guelph)
• Cambridge Scottish Festival @ Churchill Park
• Kitchener Ribfest & Craft Beer Show @ Victoria Park
• Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival
• Norfolk Pro Rodeo @ Timmermans Ranch (Simcoe) $?
• Burlington Multicultural Waterfront Fete @ Spencer Smith Park
• Sundays Unlocked @ Locke Street (Hamilton)
• Welland Floatfest
• Lions Carnival @ Lion's Park (St. David's)
• Mackenzie Creek Music Festival @ 72 King St. N (Oakland) $?
• Bluz & Cruz @ Gathering Place on the Grand (Ohsweken) FREE
• Oakville Latino Festival @ Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park
• Milton Rib & Beer Fest @ Community Sports Park $2
• Freak Fest @ Niagara Artist Centre (St. Catharines) $22-$38
• Wayback Festival @ City Hall, Carl Zehr Square (Kitchener)
• Davids & DeLaat Downtown Block Party @ Downtown St. Catharines
• Thunder River Bike Fest (some Live Music) @ Niagara Military Heritage Museum (Niagara Falls) $?
• Grand River Pow Wow @ Ohsweken Speedway
• Boris Brott Music Festival (Hamilton)
• Party in the Park @ Rockmosa Community Centre (Rockwood)
• Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival (Port Colbourne) 

August

• Jalopy Jam Up @ Rockton Fairgrounds $?
• Halton Halton Emancipation Celebration Festival @ Spencer Smith Park (Burlington)
• Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival (Port Colbourne) 
• Festival of Friends @ Gage Park (Hamilton)
• St. Catharines Ribfest @ Montebello Park
• Simcoe Friendship Festival @ Wellington Park
• Brantford Beats & Eats
• Pirate Festival @ Marden Park (Guelph)
• Art in Park @ Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park (Oakville)
• The Past is Present Heritage Festival (some live music) @ NOTL Museum (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
• Guelph Fringe Festival
• Kitchener Blues Festival
• Artcrawl (Hamilton, Upper James)
• Hamilton Ribfest @ Limeridge Mall $2
• ArtsWest @ Westdale Village (Hamilton) 
• Jazz on the Plaza @ Burlington Performing Arts Centre
• Brantford Ribfest @ Brantford Civic Centre
• Fergus Scottish Festival
• South Coast Jazz (Brantford/Port Dover)
• Cambridge Ribfest & Craft Beer Show @ Riverside Park 
• Doors Open Burlington
• African Caribbean Food & Music Festival (Welland)
• Cops N' Rodders Car Show (with some live music) @ Bayfront Park (Hamilton)
• Acton Leathertown Festival
• Living Rock presents Arts of August (some live music) @ Gasworks (Hamilton) FREE
• Dundas Cactus Festival
• Hamilton Greek Fest @ Panagia Greek Church
• Hamilton Latino Festival @ Gage Park
• Concession Street Sidewalk Sounds (Hamilton)
• Boots in the Creek Country Music Festival @ Downtown Stoney Creek
• Paris Drinks Fest @ Two Rivers Stadium $?
• Jarvis Fest @ Lion's Park
• Norwich TNT Pull @ 365701 Evergreen St $?
• HipFest @ Harmony Square (Brantford)
• African Women Acting Festival @ Riverbrink Art Museum (Queenston) $25 online/$35 door
• Strummerfest (In memory of Joe Strummer) @ Waterloo Public Square (Waterloo)
• Port Dover Summer Festival
• Niagara Sunflower Festival for Ukrainian Relief @ London Born Wine Co (Lincoln) $20
• Waterloo Busker Carnival
• Winona Peach Festival @ Winona Park
• The Rock'n Roll'n Classics Car Show @ Dowtown Georgetown
• Worship in the Wild with some live music @ Church At The Falls (Niagara Falls)
• Niagara Irish Festival @ Firemen's Park (Niagara Falls) $?
• Guelph Ribfest @ Riverside Park 
• Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow and Traditional Gathering @ 2789 Mississauga Road (Hagersville)
• Wellesley Township Fall Fair 
• Classic Cars & Carnival @ Ireland House Museum (Burlington)
• AFROJAZZ FEST @ Milton Community Sports Park
• Burlington Latin Festival @ Central Park FREE
• Port Weller Community Picnic @ Club LaSalle (St. Catharines) FREE
• Schneider Creek Porch Party (Kitchener)
• Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Mon - June-Oct)
• Tea 'n' Tales @ Guelph Enabling Garden
• Canada's Largest Ribfest @ Spencer Smith Park (Burlington)
• Georgetown Ribfest @ Trafalgar Sports Park $2
• Niagara Greek Festival @ St. Katharine Greek Orthodox Church (St. Catharines)
• Stupercrawl @ Landsdale Fairgrounds (Hamilton)

September

• Tea 'n' Tales @ Guelph Enabling Garden
• Canada's Largest Ribfest @ Spencer Smith Park (Burlington) 
• Niagara Greek Festival @ St. Katharine Greek Orthodox Church (St. Catharines)
• Labour Day Parade and Picnic @ Bayfront Park (Hamilton)
• Arthur Fall Fair
• Cambridge Fall Fair @ Dickson Park $?
• Kerrfest @ Westwood Park (Oakville) FREE
• Georgetown Fall Fair $?
• Welly Cask Fest @ Wellington Brewery (Guelph) $?
• The West Niagara Fair (Grassie, ON)
• Birdtown Jamboree @ Homegrown Hideaway (Port Dover) $?
• Concession Street Cornfest (Hamilton)
• Misty City Music Festival @ Niagara Falls $?
• Afro-CariBrant Festival @ Lions Park (Paris)
• Barbershop Fest @ Gale Presbyterian Church (Elmira) FREE
• Tea 'n' Tales @ Guelph Enabling Garden
• Binbrook Fall Fair $?
• Supercrawl @ James Street (Hamilton) 
• In the Soil Arts Festival (St. Catharines)
• Guelph Jazz Festival
• Fergus Fall Fair $?
• Belmont Village Bestival (Kitchener)
• Head for the Hills Craft Beer Festival (Georgetown) $?
• See You in  September Car Show (some live music) @ Downtown Milton
• Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Mon - June-Oct)
• International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (some live music) @ West Lincoln $? 
• Ancaster Fair
• Niagara Falls Night of Art @ 5943 Sylvia Pl (Niagara Falls) FREE
• Concession Street Sidewalk Sounds (Hamilton)
• Grand River Arts Festival @ Glenhyrst Art Gallery (Brantford) $?
• Paris Night Market (Fall Edition) $?
• Hope in the Street (Guelph)
• Enchanta Forest @ CW Sportsplex Campgrounds (Fergus)
• Fest2Fall @ Dickson Park (Cambridge) $?
• St. George Apple Fest
• Harvest Pioneer Day @ Lincoln Museum
• The Crossing Community Heritage Day @ Knox Presbyterian Church Sixteen (Lions Valley Park) (Oakville)
• Sundays Unlocked @ Locke Street (Hamilton)
• Appleby Street Festival (Burlington)
• Culture Days (Across Canada): Burlington / Oakville / Milton / St. Catharines / Centre Wellington
• Niagara Grape & Wine Festival
• Caledonia Fair @ Caledonia Fairgrounds $?
• Milton Fall Fair @ Milton Fairgrounds $?
• Oktoberfest (Kitchener)
• Ottawa Street Sidewalk Sale/Craft Crawl (Hamilton)
• Flamborogh Chili Fest @ West Avenue Cider House
• Oakville Fall Celtic Festival @ Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (Halton County)
• Fall Harvest Festival @ Bronte Creek Provincial Park (Oakville)
• Nurturing our Roots Pow Wow @ Meridian Centre (St. Catharines)
• Taste Real Fall Rural Romp (Wellington Region)
• Beerstock (Port Dover) $?
• Open Streets Hamilton
• Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Mon - June-Oct)
• Apple Fest @ Stoney Creek Legion

October 

• Welland Foodfest @ Merritt Island
• Roseneath Fair (Norfolk)
• Cicada Music Festival @ Henley Island (St. Catharines)
• Telling Tales Festival @ Royal Botanical Gardens (Burlington)
• Culture Days (Across Canada): Burlington / Oakville / Milton / St. Catharines / Centre Wellington
• Oktoberfest (Kitchener)
• Norfolk Country Fair
• Artcrawl (Hamilton)
• Balls Fall's Thanksgiving Festival
• Rockton World's Fair
• Erin Fall Fair
• Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Mon - June-Oct)
• Canal Bank Shuffle Blues Festival @ Thorold $?
• Waterford Pumpkinfest
• Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Mon - June-Oct)
• Arts Dundas Weekend

November

• Artcrawl @ James Street North (Hamilton)
• Fresh Up R&B Festival @ Bridgeorks (Hamilton) $?
• art+music+food Festival @ Art Gallery of Hamilton
• Handmade Market (some Live Music) @ Niagara Falls Convention Centre $?
• Winter Festival of Lights (some live music) @ Niagara Falls 
• Winter Wonders (Live Music Tent) @ Royal Botanical Gardens (Burlington) $?
• Westdale Winter Wander (Hamilton)
• Let it Glow - A Celebration of Light (with some Live Music) @ St. Catharines & Port Dalhousie

December

• Winter Solstice Festival @ Corktown Park (Hamilton) 
• Winter Festival of Lights (some live music) @ Niagara Falls
• Let it Glow - A Celebration of Light (with some Live Music) @ St. Catharines & Port Dalhousie
• Winter Wonders (Live Music Tent) (Burlington)

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2027

January

• Winter Solstice Festival @ Corktown Park (Hamilton) 
• Winter Festival of Lights (some live music) @ Niagara Falls
• Let it Glow - A Celebration of Light (with some Live Music) @ St. Catharines & Port Dalhousie
• Winter Wonders (Live Music Tent) (Burlington)
• Artcrawl @ James Street North (Hamilton)