Open Streets

We were thrilled to welcome approximately 250 attendees at our first Mini Open Streets events at Pier 8. Using the streets at Pier 8 that are closed indefinitely to cars, a Mini Open Street came to life for two Tuesday evenings in August 2024. The roads at Pier 8 are open for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating active transportation and fostering connections. Highlights from the event included a refreshing yoga session led by Hamont Yoga, promoting wellness and relaxation. Attendees enjoyed Hamilton Bike Share credits to explore the area on two wheels and took advantage of Bird e-scooters for a fun way to get around.

Open Streets on King in June 2024 welcomed an impressive 9,000 attendees, who enjoyed a day brimming with community spirit, enthusiastic volunteers, and a lively breeze. This event featured a record-breaking 91 activations along the route, thanks to our dedicated community partners and local businesses. Highlights included a vibrant Pride in the Village celebration hosted by the International BIA, featuring drag performances and a Queer-Owned marketplace at Ferguson Station. Throughout the street, participants engaged in a variety of activities such as a Queer Hockey Shootout, native plant giveaways, giant games, a bike rodeo, pickleball, a tour through the Retro HSR bus and much more. Open Streets on King was a fantastic celebration of inclusivity and community connection.

On a beautiful day in May 2024, approximately 11,000 community members joined us for the first Open Streets event of the year! With the sun shining bright, attendees embraced the opportunity to walk, cycle, roll, and play along a car-free route. Activation hubs buzzed with excitement as participants enjoyed activities like 3-on-3 basketball, a bike rodeo, and delicious food from the Kitchen Collective food court. Families engaged in follow-along fitness classes and a creative kids' bike and scooter decorating station. Live music from pop-up duos filled the air, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Open Streets brought together cyclists, walkers, and runners for a day of fun, connection, and community spirit.

In June 2023, The City hosted its first ever Open Streets on King. The longest route in Hamilton’s Open Streets history, King Street was closed from John Street to Gage Avenue, creating almost 4km of car-free streets to walk, cycle, roll and play! An estimated 15, 000 people visited the 4km route. Along the way 5 Activation Hubs were programmed with community groups, sports organizations, micro-mobility partners and more. The hubs were located at future LRT stops along King including John, Wellington, Wentworth, Sherman and Bernie Morelli (Scott Park). The day buzzed with excitement from participants and activation leaders as the street filled with bikes, strollers, scooters and skateboards. The activations along the route encouraged physical activity like wheelchair basketball and pickleball, live music, kid friendly games and educational booths. Businesses along King Street had outdoor patio seating and sidewalk sales. Thanks for an incredible first Open Streets on King Hamilton.