When And Where to See Santa Claus in Hamilton Ontario 2019
Tis the season to repeatedly take pictures of your little ones with the jolly dude in red! To save you the Googling (or Bing-ing, or Yahoo-ing, or Ask Jeeves-ing etc), I looked into where to see Santa Claus in Hamilton, Ontario this year, and summarized my findings. Check it out!
HAMILTON SANTA CLAUS PARADE
November 16, 2019 – 4:30 PM
Parade details:
Starts on Barton St W & Bay St N
South on Bay St N to York Blvd
East on York Blvd to James St N
North on James St N to finish at James St N and Barton St W
Don’t forget to bring some non-perishable goods for the food drive.
Note: If you’re reading this and it’s too late (word to Drake!), the Stoney Creek Santa Claus Parade takes place December 7 at 2pm, in downtown Stoney Creek at King Street East.
LIMERIDGE MALL
Start Date: Sat Nov 16, 2019
End Date: Tue Dec 24, 2019
Unlike years past, you need to pre-register to experience Santa. Walks-ups will only be accepted if there are open spots.
The free Meet and Greet is where you can take your own photos. Each child will receive a ME to WE colouring sheet and a surprise email from Santa on Christmas Eve.
For $17, kids can take part in Storytime with Santa.
Santa will read a special holiday book, “A Magical Canadian Christmas”. After storytime, Elves will invite each child individually for a visit and photo with Santa. Each child will receive three professional digital photos, a copy of “A Magical Canadian Christmas” and a surprise email from Santa on Christmas Eve. Families will also receive a Leon’s tote bag that includes a voucher for a free memory foam pillow redeemable in-store ($29 retail value).
EASTGATE SQUARE
Santa arrives to Centre Court November 17 at 2:00pm with some special guests and a performance!
November Hours:
Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Extended Holiday hours begin November 30:
Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Black Friday (November 24)- 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve (December 24) – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Special events:
Friday November 29 – 8am to 3pm is a Babies’ First Christmas Event. Donate a new unwrapped toy or a gift card for the CHCH Christmas Toy Drive and receive a preselected FREE photo with Santa (Newborn babies until age 12 months).
Dog & Cat Photos with Santa:
Saturday, November 23rd – 3pm to 6pm
Saturday, December 7th – 7pm to 9:30pm
Tuesday, December 10th – 7pm to 9:30pm
Regular Santa photo charges apply. Children are welcome without a pet, too, provided they do not have a pet allergy. $5 will be donated to the CHCH Christmas Toy Drive from each pet photo package purchased.
MAPLEVIEW MALL
(Yes, I know that I am cheating by including Burlington in a post about seeing Santa Claus in Hamilton Ontario. Oh well. Add me to the naughty list).
Free 5″x7″ photos here! Just bring a donation in support of McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation.
NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1
Saturday 10 AM – 8 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM
DECEMBER 5 – 8
Thursday to Saturday 10 AM – 8 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM
DECEMBER 12 – 23
Monday to Saturday 10 AM – 8 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM
BURLINGTON CENTRE
Santa will be arriving on Saturday, November 23 at 9:30am via a freakin’ helicopter! Children will receive a gift from Santa upon arrival while enjoying a warm refreshment from Starbucks and Christmas cookies from Denningers. Once Santa arrives, he will be paraded into the Centre.
November hours are:
Monday to Friday 10am – 9pm
Saturday 9:30am-6:00pm
Sunday from 11am – 6pm
Holiday Hours:
Monday, Dec 2 – Sunday, Dec 15:
Monday 9am – 9pm
Tuesday – Friday 9am–9pm
Saturday 9am–8pm
Sunday 10am–6pm
Monday, Dec 16 – Sunday, Dec 22:
Monday 9am – 9pm
Tuesday – Friday 9am–9pm
Saturday 9am–8pm
Sunday 10am–6pm
Monday, Dec 23 – Thursday, Dec 26:
Monday 9am – 9pm
Tuesday – Wednesday 9am–9pm
Monday 9am – 9pm
Tuesday Christmas Eve 9am–5pm
Wednesday Closed for Christmas Day
Thursday 9am–6pm
ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
The RBG, as usual, has lots of holiday themed events going on, among the usual cool stuff to see and do there. Visits with Santa are included with your admission on these days, though:
Tuesdays, November 19 to December 17
Friday November 22 and 29
Tuesdays; 5 to 8 p.m.; Hendrie Park
Nov 22 and 29; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Hendrie Park
Train rides out to Santa’s Cabin are available for $2 per child (12 and under) and $4 per adult.
Finally, Santa probably won’t be at these two events, but they’re worth busting out your festive sweaters for, anyway, to get you in the holiday spirit (if that’s what you do to get you in the holiday spirit. I don’t know, man!):
CP HOLIDAY TRAIN
Gage Park
November 28, 2019
The train features 14 rail cars decorated with hundreds of thousands lights and a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage. The Hamilton stop will feature music artist Alan Doyle and Beautiful Band. Concert starts at 8 pm. It’s a free event, just make a cash or non-persishable donation to the Hamilton Food Share.
CHRISTMAS IN GORE PARK
Gore Park will be hosting a Christmas Market Friday, December 7th from 5-11pm, Saturday, December 8th from 11am-11pm, and from noon to 6pm on Sunday, December 9th. Admission is free, and the festivities include lots of local vendors, a kids’ craft area, carolers, holidays movies being shown, tasty beverages at a fully licensed bar, and a mistletoe kissing station.
Most importantly (well, to me, anyway), is that there will be a ferris wheel running daily in Gore Park December 7 through December 23 from noon to 8pm (Dec 7th it will run 3pm to 9pm). Neat!
Good luck seeing Santa Claus in Hamilton Ontario this holiday season!
