Biking & Cyclists
Open Streets Hamilton
Contact Us
Peter Topalovic
Program Manager, Sustainable Mobility
City of Hamilton
Call 905-546-2424 ext 5129
Email [email protected]
Juby Lee
Sustainability Mobility Program Coordinator
City of Hamilton
Email j[email protected]
Follow us on Instagram
Follow @hamiltonsustainablemobility to stay connected.
Make the streets your playground!
Open Streets temporarily closes selected streets to vehicular traffic, transforming them into lively spaces where people can walk, bike, skate, and engage in various activities.
Open Streets on King
Route: King Street East from John Street to Gage Avenue
Map caption: Open Streets Route Map 2026, showing the various activation hubs at various cross streets along King Street E between John St to the west, and Gage Ave to the east.
Road Closures: King Street East will be closed: 7 am to 6 pm
Event activities: 10 am to 4 pm.
King Street East between Gage Avenue to John Street will be closed to motor vehicle traffic, the following streets will be available to cross King Street.
- John Street
- Wellington Street
- Victoria Avenue
- Wentworth Street
- Sanford Avenue
- Sherman Avenue
- Gage Avenue
Emergency Vehicles and DARTS will retain access.
Please follow tall traffic signs, signals and personnel directing traffic.
List of noted streets:
- Fairholt Road North – residents will have limited access to cross King St E from Fairholt Road South.
- Garfield Avenue North – residents will have a limited access to cross King St E from Garfield Avenue South.
- 907 King Street East – residents will be able to leave the parking lot. No entry will be permitted.
- 887 King Street East – church members will have limited access to the parking lot from Proctor Blvd.
- Holton Avenue North - from King St E to Wilson St, this street will be temporarily converted to two way.
- 30 Sanford Avenue (underground parking only) – residents can access underground parking and leave from Amazing Fitness Parking lot to alleyway.
- 360 King Street East (First Place) – residents will access the building via the side entrance on West Ave.
- 258 – 260 King Street East (underground parking) residents can leave via Ferguson Ave N. No entry will be permitted.
- 150 King Street East – access from Catharine St N (between Main and King) will be temporarily converted to two way.
- 122 King Street East – residents can access the parking lot from Catharine St N (between Main and King) will be temporarily converted to two way.
Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) Routes 1 King and 10 B-Line buses heading to downtown will detour during the road closure for Open Streets. Buses will instead use Cannon St during the road closure on King St, from Gage Ave. to John St. Please use the alternative stops listed below:
- Route 1 King will stop at all regular Route 3 Cannon stops along Cannon St.
- Route 10 B-Line will have temporary express stops at Sherman, Wentworth, and Wellington.
Visit the detour page for more information: Schedules & Detours
What is Open Streets Hamilton?
Open Streets temporarily closes selected streets to vehicular traffic, transforming them into lively spaces where people can walk, bike, skate, and engage in various activities. It's a chance to experience our city in a whole new way, promoting active living, local businesses, and community connections.
Open Streets Hamilton promotes physical activity, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. By opening our streets to people of all ages and abilities, we create opportunities for healthier lifestyles, stronger communities, and a more vibrant city for everyone to enjoy.
The purpose of Open Streets Hamilton is to:
- Promote active lifestyles
- Foster community connection
- Encourage sustainable transportation
- Support local businesses
- Enhance public space
- Promote equity and inclusion
Open Streets is a program of the City of Hamilton.
Presented by TD
Sponsored by:
Open Street Events
Open Streets @ King Street East
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 10 am to 4 pm | Attendance: 20,000
Autumn came to King Street East and it did not disappoint. A perfect fall Sunday brought thousands of Hamiltonians back to a car-free King Street for the second Open Streets of 2026, alongside golden leaves, crisp air, and a street full of life.
Live music echoed from John to Gage, the Kitchen Collective kept the food court buzzing, Hamilton Pro Wrestling brought the drama, Drop Spot Vintage and Soul Co.’s run club took on the length of the event with hundreds of runners, Village Pride at Ferguson Station kicked off Halloween, and so many more community partners across all five hubs made sure there was something for everyone. A huge thank you to TD Canada Trust for presenting the event, our sponsor Alectra, and to every business, partner, volunteer, and City staff member who showed up, plus every Hamiltonian who came out to remind us why streets are for people. See you in 2027.
Open Streets @ King Street East
Date: Sunday June 7, 2026 from 10 am to 4 pm | Attendance: 20,000
Summer arrived on King Street East in a big way. June 7 brought one of the most beautiful days of the year and the largest Open Streets crowd yet – 20,000 Hamiltonians out to walk, roll, cycle, and take back the street together.
The route came alive with wrestling shows, drag performances, mini markets, pickleball courts, and live music. The Soul Street Run kicked off the morning with 80 runners, setting the tone for a day that never slowed down. More than 100 local businesses and community partners filled the hubs with activities, games, and good energy, making this Open Streets one for the books.
Open Streets: The Fall Edition
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025 from 10 am to 4pm | Attendance: 15,000
The September event was the most attended Open Streets yet! The autumn vibes were in full swing – and not just with Steel City Swing dancing in the streets. The warm sunshine made for the perfect day to enjoy the streets, with thousands of Hamiltonians lining the streets to walk, cycle and roll through the city.
This time around, Pride at Ferguson Station created a Halloween edition drag show that was perfectly vibrant and spooky. The streets were buzzing between the rock climbing wall, adoptable greyhounds, bike polo, pop-up basketball courts, misting stations to beat the heat, and so much more. Over 100 community partners, businesses and activations continue to join in on creating streets for the people of Hamilton, connecting each other in ways only getting outside can do.
Open Streets @ King Street East
Date: Sunday June 22 2025 from 10 am to 2pm | Attendance: 6,500
Sunday, June 22nd was our hottest Open Streets yet—over 100 community partners, businesses, and activations brought King Street East to life from John to Gage. Despite the heat, the energy and community spirit were unstoppable.
The street was buzzing with people roller skating, kicking rugby balls, learning bike skills at the Bike Rodeo, playing pickleball, practicing yoga, and simply wandering and enjoying the day. Many popsicles and freezies were consumed (shout out to those partners helping to keep everyone cool with those freebies!). With live music all along the route, an interactive art piece, local food, sidewalk sales and spontaneous street games, there was something for everyone. Thank you to everyone who participated, attended, and brought the joy—what a day!
Mini Open Streets @ Pier 8
Date: Tuesday, August 13 & 20, 2024 from 6 to 8 pm | Attendance: 250
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.
The New Hope Community Bikes Ride Smart program provided valuable safety resources for cyclists, while participants experienced the joy of e-trishaws through Cycling Without Age. Our Sustainable Mobility Team facilitated Accelerated Plan engagement, encouraging community feedback. Together, we’re building a healthier, more connected community. Special thanks to the City of Hamilton Placemaking team for the opportunity to collaborate on these events.
Open Streets @ King Street East
Date: Sunday, June 23, 2024 from 10 am to 2 pm | Attendance: 9,000
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.
Open Streets @ King Street East
Date: Sunday, May 16, 2024 from10 am to 2 pm | Attendance: 11,000
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.
First Open Streets Event
Date: Sunday June 18, 2023 from 10 am to 2 pm | Attendance: 15,000
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.
Information Reports
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