Things to do in Hamilton this December and all through the holidays

Hamilton is aglow with more holiday markets, parades and lights than you can shake a peppermint stick at. 

Here's some of what's going on this month.

Movie night at The Westdale

On Dec. 9, at 6 p.m., The Westdale theatre at 1014 King St. W., is playing The Santa Clause as part of a toy drive with the Rotary Club of Hamilton. Tickets are $8.75, and the organizers ask that attendees bring an unwrapped toy to donate.

The Rotary Club is running the Children's Fund and Christmas Tree of Hope initiatives that used to be put on by radio station 900 CMHL, which closed in the summer.

The club will be accepting toy donations until Dec. 15 at locations including fire stations, McMaster Innovation Park and the city's cemetery administration office at 777 York Blvd.

Music, lights and trains at the RBG

Royal Botanical Gardens' annual winter event started on Dec. 5 and runs until Jan 5. Showings are mostly Thursday through Sunday with some variation the week of Christmas. 

During the after-dark event, Hendrie Park is lit up with a wide range of lights and displays. Visitors can take a self-guided tour through gardens, listen to live music, and purchase snacks and drinks.

Inside the centre at 680 Plains Rd. W. in Burlington, there's a model train display featuring Canadian landmarks including Hamilton's Liuna Station. 

Tickets are free for infants and toddlers. Before taxes and service fees, they cost $16 for children and $20 for adults.

Carousel by the Christmas Tree of Hope

The Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area held its annual tree-lighting event on Dec. 6. By the tree is a carousel offering free rides daily from 12 to 8 p.m. until Dec. 20. 

Hamilton's outdoor rinks open

The City of Hamilton says it will open its outdoor ice rinks on Dec. 13. Drop-in skating will be free and available daily until 11 p.m. at: 

• Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre 

• Dundas Driving Park 

• Freelton Community Park

• Waterdown Memorial Park 

Community rinks, which are volunteer-run, were set to open as of Dec. 6, depending on the weather and volunteers. 

The city also runs drop-in skating, winter golf and disc golf. Since Nov. 11, the city has offered discounted youth recreation passes for people under 17-years-old to attend drop-in swimming or skating. 

City-sanctioned tobogganing hills are open at:

• Chedoke Golf Club

• Dundas Driving Park

• Garth and Stone Church Reservoir 

• King's Forest Golf Course

• Waterdown Memorial Park

Sensory-friendly Stoney Creek outdoor market

Throughout the month, the Downtown Stoney Creek Business Improvement Area says the region it serves will be lit up with holiday lights "friendly for those living with autism, dementia, and other sensory needs." 

The Kringle in the Creek night market will occur on Friday Dec. 13  and 20, featuring artists, vendors and music.

Binbrook Santa Claus Parade

The man himself will take to the streets of Binbrook on Dec. 14 for a Santa Claus Parade starting at 2 p.m. The parade will start at Royal Winter Drive and Binbrook Road, then travel east down Binbrook Road before turning north onto Highway 56. It will end by turning onto the Binbrook Agricultural Society track.

Road closures will begin at 11 a.m. 

Horse-and-carriage rides in Dundas 

Every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas, the Dundas Business Improvement Area is organizing Dickens of a Christmas, which includes street entertainment and horse-and-carriage rides.

The horses are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. They pick up at Collins Brewhouse on 33 King St. W.

Ancaster Christmas market and food drive

From 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 22, organizers say over 120 vendors will sell their wares at the ChristmasFest Vendor Market on the Ancaster Fairgrounds (630 Trinity Rd. S.).  

Organizers say they encourage visitors to bring non-perishable food for the Community Service Food Bank. The goal is to fill a bus with food. Admission is free.