What's open and closed in Hamilton between Christmas and New Year's Day

Several public services in Hamilton are closed or scaling down operations between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Here's some of what you need to know.

Transportation

Hamilton's accessible transit office is closed on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

• DARTS will operate weekday service on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
• On Boxing Day, it will run on its Saturday schedule.
• On Christmas and New Year's Day, it will run on a holiday schedule.

DARTS will not have subscription trips, except for dialysis, on Dec. 25, 26 or 31, and asks that passengers who need to travel on those days make reservations in advance.

The Hamilton Street Railway's customer service centre will also be closed those days.

Hamilton Street Railway (or, bus) service will also change.

• On Christmas, buses will run on a special schedule, starting slightly later than usual. The last bus trips will leave downtown around 9 p.m. 

• On Boxing Day, routes 1, 2, 16, 21, 25, 26, 41, and 43 will operate on a Saturday schedule. There will be no service on Route 51 on Boxing Day.

• On New Year's Eve, buses will run on a weekday schedule with free service after 6 p.m. The last buses will leave downtown at 1:20 a.m.

• On New Year's Day, buses will run on a Sunday schedule until 10 p.m. 

On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, GO trains and buses will operate on a Saturday schedule.

GO will be free on New Year's Eve from 7 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next morning. On Dec. 31, there will be additional trains to and from Union Station on the Lakeshore West Line. 

There will not be routine parking enforcement on Dec. 25, 26 or 31, and no overnight enforcement on Dec. 24 and 31 after 5 p.m., or from Dec. 27 to Dec. 30 after 10 p.m. 

Waste collection

There will be no compost, recycling, yard waste or garbage pick-up on Christmas or New Year's Day. 

During the weeks of Dec. 23 and Dec. 30, waste collection is moved by one day if your collection day falls on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. 

Christmas trees will be collected Jan. 6 to 17 on your regular collection day. 

Bulk garbage phone bookings will be closed from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, resuming at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 2. There will be no bulk pick-up from Dec. 23 to Jan. 4. That resumes the week of Jan. 6.

Community recycling centres will close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. They'll be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. 

Public spaces

All Hamilton Public Library branches will be closed on Dec. 22, 25, 26, 29, and Jan. 1. Branches will have holiday hours from Dec. 24 to 31.

The bookmobile will not be operating, nor will extended access and study hall services. 

Recreation centres and arenas will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

All Hamilton Civic Museums will be closed Mondays and on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum is closed on Sundays. 

The greenhouse at Gage Park will be open on:

• Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Dec. 27 to Dec. 30 from  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hamilton Farmers' Market will be open on:

• Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Dec. 28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Other city services

All City of Hamilton administrative offices, including the housing services office, public health dental services and Ontario Works program, will be closed from Dec. 25 through Jan 1. On its website, the city says to call  905-546-2489 for emergencies involving roads, water mains or sewer systems.

The animal services counter and shelter will be closed on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. 

The Van Needle Syringe Program will be closed from Dec. 25 to 27 and on Jan. 1. It will be open on Dec. 24 and 31 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.