Come to town for the Hamilton Fringe – the biggest, boldest 12-day arts festival in the Greater Hamilton Area. We return to this historic Ontario city for our 22nd year.
Our Fringe Benefits Partners
Showing your Fringe Benefits Button to these participating businesses during the 2025 Hamilton Fringe Festival gets you exclusive deals and discounts! That means more savings for you while you’re supporting the Fringe AND local businesses. It’s a rare win-win-win situation.
- Fringe Benefits Butttons are available until July 27 in advance, at the incite Info Hub (28 James St N – entrance on King William), or at the door of every Hamilton Fringe indoor venue.
Mystic Ramen | 51 King William St
Since 2019, Mystic Ramen has been serving up Hamilton’s favourite ramen in search of pure ramen perfection. While you’re there, check out their special Fringe Festival inspired cocktail!
- FREE edamame with purchase of an entree
Vintage Soul Geek | 279 King St E + 150 James St N
- 10% OFF everything in store
Café Oranje | 312 King St E
- 10% OFF food and drinks
Pub 36 on Hess | 36 Hess Street S
- 15% OFF food and drinks
Los Mayas Mexican Restaurant | 180 James Street S
- 10% OFF food and drinks
Selo Cafe | 13 Hess Street S
- 10% OFF food and drinks
Ooey Gooey’s | 107 George St
- Access to their secret single burger combo
Parma | 17 King William St
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
- Extended hours for BOTH weekends of the Fringe Festival (Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm)
Piccolo | 17 King William St
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
- Extended hours for BOTH weekends of the Fringe Festival (Sat 12pm-7pm, Sun 12pm-7pm)
The French | 37 King William St
- $5 OFF their SummerEats dinner menu
The Diplomat | 43 King William St
- $5 OFF their SummerEats dinner menu
The Mule | 41 King William St
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
Electric Diner | 28 James St N
- $5 OFF on orders of $20 or more
Undefined | 35 King William St
- $8 sangrias
The Staircase Theatre | 27 Dundurn St N
- 10% OFF food Thursday to Sunday from 8PM to late
HAMBRGR | 49 King William St
- $6 Ontario draft pints
RELAY Coffee Roasters| 27 King William St
- $5 Red Sangria Spritz
- $5 Coffee Cake Latte 12 oz
- $5 The Crusher Light Lager
Hamilton is a city where creativity thrives. From its vibrant street art and bustling galleries to live music and indie theatre, the city pulses with artistic energy. Explore the Art Gallery of Hamilton, catch a show at Theatre Aquarius, or time your visit with the monthly Art Crawl on James Street North between April to October. With historic architecture, diverse cuisine, and a welcoming community of makers and performers, Hamilton invites you to connect, create, and be inspired.
This summer, immerse yourself in the heart of Hamilton by visiting the Hamilton Fringe and attending shows at historic venues such as the Players’ Guild of Hamilton, with a dark and wild history dating back to 1878, or The Westdale, a newly-restored 1935 art deco marvel.
Check out Fringe Boulevard – our outdoor patio in an exclusive, pedestrian-only area on King William at James. It’s a space to gather, relax, and celebrate the Hamilton Fringe community. Come sample some of the authentic Hamilton culinary and beverage offerings from our partners along the Boulevard – including Relay Coffee Roasters, Electric Diner, Undefined, The French, Mystic Ramen, and more! Fringe Boulevard is also the venue for the Hamilton Fringe Opening Night Kick-Off, Keeping Six Open Mic, Live-Band Karaoke, Heated Rivalry Trivia, Bands on the Boulevard, Salsa Lessons and Dance Party, Films on the Fringe: Shorts Showcase, the Spark teen show, the Kids Club Fun Day (Sat July 25), and more. And all our outdoor programming is FREE!
FUN FACT – Did you know, Fringe Boulevard was a recurring guest star on the hit show Heated Rivalry? King William St and the surrounding Hamilton downtown core have been featured on the big and small screen! Films and TV shows like, Umbrella Academy, The Shape of Water, Scary Stories to tell in the Dark, The Boys and more!
You can take in our new free walking tour of downtown Hamilton, Fringe On The Streets. A reimagined, immersive walking tour along the James-York corridor, audiences will experience the city through live art and performance. Hop on or off anywhere along the 75-minute route as we bring you six thrilling performances to animate the city. There’s never been a tour of Downtown Hamilton quite like this!
Whether you’re here for the performances, the energy, or just a great time, the Hamilton Fringe Festival is ready to show you a side of the city you’ve never seen before. Come for the art, stay for the people, and fall in love with Hamilton!
Welcome to Hamilton
Hamilton is a city where creativity thrives. From street art and galleries to live music and theatre, Hamilton is a city that shines with artistic energy.
Explore the Hamilton Art Gallery, catch a show at Theatre Aquarius, or time your visit with the monthly James Street Art Crawl, running every second Friday from April through October.
With historic architecture, diverse cuisine, and a welcoming community of makers and performers, Hamilton invites you to connect, create, and be inspired.
Experience the Fringe Club & Fringe on the Streets
Located outside Theatre Aquarius, the Fringe Club is your festival hub, featuring free events.
Fringe on the Streets is a 90-minute outdoor walking tour through downtown Hamilton. Enjoy live performances such as drag, music, dance, and comedy.
Local Favourites Near James Street
James Street North offers a vibrant mix of culture, food, and outdoor experiences.
Browse local art spaces like You Me Gallery or grab a bite at neighbourhood favourites like Electric Diner and Synonym.
Visit Bayfront Park to explore and see one of the five great lakes in Canada, Lake Ontario.
Get Ready to Fringe
Whether you are here for the performances or just a great time, the Hamilton Fringe Festival is ready to show you a side of Hamilton you’ve never seen before.
Come for the art and fall in love with Hamilton.
Getting Around Town
Public Transit
Hamilton offers convenient public transit through the Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) and GO Transit.
The HSR operates 30+ bus routes across the city, including connections to Burlington. For more information and to plan your trips around the city, click here!
If you’re travelling from out of town, GO Transit is a great option for visitors across Southern Ontario. With TWO GO Stations (West Harbor GO and Hamilton GO) a short walk from Fringe Boulevard and the Hamilton downtown core.
Walk or Bike
Hamilton is easy to explore on foot or by bike, with extensive trails and bike lanes throughout the city. You can also use Hamilton Bike Share to access bikes across the city. See our 2026 Hamilton Fringe Festival program OR click here for more information on how to make the most out of your trip to Hamilton Fringe.
FUN FACT! Did you know that Hamilton is the Waterfall Capital of Canada? Don’t go chasing waterfalls… unless you’re in Hamilton (or whatever TLC said). This is the perfect place to explore the natural wonders Canada has to offer.
Driving & Parking
Hamilton is easily accessible from the QEW and 403, making it simple to access from Niagara, Toronto and BEYOND! Feel empowered by Hamilton’s range of parking options, including municipal lots and street parking throughout the downtown core.
Activities in Hamilton
Make the Most of Your Visit. Whether you’re exploring the outdoors or staying cozy inside, Hamilton offers something for every kind of adventurer. Add a little extra discovery to your trip and make it truly unforgettable.
FUN FACT! Did you know that Hamilton is the Waterfall Capital of Canada? Don’t go chasing waterfalls… unless you’re in Hamilton (or whatever TLC said). This is the perfect place to explore the natural wonders Canada has to offer!
HFTco partners with Westjet and the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel to help you find the most affordable rates when visiting Hamilton. Take advantage of these discounts provided only to festival attendees:
Sheraton Hamilton Hotel
For attendees coming from out of town, Sheraton Hamilton is offering the following rates to Fringe goers looking to book a room between July 18th and 29th.
Traditional Guestroom rate: $139 + tax
Deluxe King Corner Guestroom rate: $159 + tax
Club Level Guestroom rate: $179 + tax (Rate includes complimentary breakfast and evening canapés in the Club Lounge for Club Level Guests only).
To access this discount, you must complete an online form. Directions on how to book will be emailed to you following the completion of the form.
Travel
WestJet Airlines
We are able to offer 5% off Econo* and 10% off EconoFlex and Premium fares for travel within Canada and 2% off Econo*, 5% off EconoFlex and 10% off Premium base fares for guests travelling Trans-border into and out of Toronto or Hamilton. To take advantage of this offer, you will need the discount code. Please click here to make a booking online.
Travel from:
July 11, 2022 to August 5, 2022
February 1, 2023 to March 1, 2023
Welcome to Hamilton
Hamilton is a city where creativity thrives. From its vibrant street art and bustling galleries to live music and indie theatre, the city pulses with artistic energy. Explore the Art Gallery of Hamilton, catch a show at Theatre Aquarius, or time your visit with the monthly Art Crawl on James Street North between April to October. With historic architecture, diverse cuisine, and a welcoming community of makers and performers, Hamilton invites you to connect, create, and be inspired.
Experience the Fringe Club & Fringe on the Streets
Located outside Theatre Aquarius (190 King William St), the Fringe Club is your festival hub with free events like the Opening Night Kick-Off, open mic nights, karaoke, live music, short films, and the Spark Teen Show. Then, hit Fringe on the Streets—a 90-minute outdoor walking tour through downtown Hamilton, featuring live performances, drag, music, dance, comedy, and family-friendly surprises at every turn. Presented with the City of Hamilton, Downtown BIA, and Keeping Six.
