Start by spending a day connecting to Canadian culture. Here are ideas for 20 days and ways to help you do just that in Hamilton Halton Brant.
Day 1: Take in a performance by a Canadian musical artist
Top Canadian artists are performing all over Hamilton Halton Brant. Whether you prefer classical or country, roots or rock, this is the year to open your ears to homegrown talent and to get to know our live music venues, including Core Entertainment’s Hamilton Place and FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts in Brantford, Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts in Oakville, Burlington Performing Arts Centre in Burlington and Milton Centre for the Arts in Milton.
Day 2 to 4: Listen in at the Brantford Jazz Festival
There will be continuous free music at the Brantford Jazz Festival, featuring four stages of world-class entertainment ranging from traditional jazz to Big Band Swing to Spanish Afro-Cuban grooves and Dixieland Jazz.
Day 5 to 7: It's Time to Supercrawl
Supercrawl takes over James Street in Hamilton with three days of free music spread over multiple stages. Be one of the 130,000 visitors annually who gather to watch over 50 bands. One of the largest free music festivals in Ontario, the festival also showcases large-scale visual art installations, performance art, an artisan market, food trucks and fashion.
Day 8: Immigration Stories at the Museum
From Far and Wide: Tales from a Suitcase, at the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate. uses its suitcase and costume collection and archival documentation to tell stories of immigration from over 150 years as a collective history of becoming Canadian.
Day 9 to 16: Give kudos to a Group of Seven genius
Lawren Harris Week celebrates Brantford-born Group of Seven member Lawren S. Harris, and highlights the abundance of cultural assets in the city. The premiere annual celebration promises a week of free, participatory events, as well as the unveiling of a permanent piece of public art.
Day 17: Take in trains and technology at the museum
From May to October, catch a ride on miniature trains, enjoy a free guided tour, and witness the social and mechanical life of Canada’s early industrial revolution during Live Steamer Days at the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology.
Day 18: A feast for the eyes
Check out the many performing and visual arts venues that are an integral part of the Canadian cultural scene, including the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Art Gallery of Burlington, Glenhyrst Art Gallery, and Theatre Aquarius.
Day 19: Experience Hamilton's Live Music Scene
Hamilton’s live music scene has launched legends like Daniel Lanois, Arkells and Tom Wilson. Step inside the storied clubs and hear the next chapter in Canadian music for yourself at The Casbah, This Ain’t Hollywood, Mill’s Hardware and more.
Day 20: A Horticultural Connection
Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington is the largest botanical garden in Canada, a National Historic Site, and registered charitable organization with a mandate to bring together people, plants and nature. Explore and enjoy the many historical plant collections, the Mediterranean Greenhouse, and 27 km of nature trails.
