Event Planning Information
Event Locations
The City of Hamilton has hundreds of parks that are used annually by event organizers. Some are suitable for major events and have amenities such as electricity and washrooms while others have few amenities and are intended for smaller community gatherings.
Any gathering where 20 or more people are expected requires a permit to use the park. Permits can be obtained from the City’s Recreation Division by completing an application. Visit event planning to determine which application should be completed (general, community or major).
Locates are required for any staking or digging in City parks. Utility owned lines can be located through Ontario One Call for free. City owned lines must also be located but are not covered by Ontario One Call. City owned lines (e.g. water, hydro) must be located from a 3rd party provider for a fee. Any damage to City property as a result of not obtaining locates is the responsibility of the event organizers. Superficial stabilizers are highly recommended (e.g. weights, sandbags, etc.)
Search for all parks by location or by specific amenities by visiting Park Finder
Popular Park Locations
Located on the waterfront at 200 Harbour Front Drive by Bay Street North, connected to Pier 4 Park by the Macassa Bay walkway.
Bayfront Park Bookable Areas Map(PDF, 402.57 KB)
Bayfront Park Features & Services Map(PDF, 415.86 KB)
Park Features & Services
- Total park size is 16 hectares/40 acres
- Expansive green space area
- Multi-use asphalt pathway 1.5km in length by 6m wide (part of the Waterfront Trail) provides barrier-free access to most areas
- Potable water building located on grass area of the park’s north end. Event organizer responsible for bringing a Food Grade freshwater drinking hose to hook up to the building.
- 6 electrical boxes throughout the park, each with 4 outlets, 110 volt/15AMP
- 30 picnic tables, additional can be ordered upon request
- Washroom stalls at 3 locations. Bayfront parking lot building has 1 men’s stall, 1 women’s stall. There are 2 portable washrooms on the Waterfront Trail, both are wheelchair accessible
- Washroom hours of operation: portable washrooms in place all year available 24/7. Washroom building is open 7:30am to 10pm, 7 days a week during summer months (mid-May to mid-October). Closed in winter
- 250 parking spaces. Boat launch parking spaces has an additional 38 regular parking spaces, plus 30 boat parking spaces
Features that are not bookable and must remain open to the public
- Parking spaces
- Waterfront Trail and boat launch ramp - Except Canada Day July 1 Celebration since part of the trail and the boat ramp are closed to protect the public from the fireworks fall out zone
Located on the waterfront at 64 Leander Drive near Bay Street North; connected to Bayfront Park by the Macassa Bay walkway.
Pier 4 Park Bookable Areas Map(PDF, 345.13 KB)
Pier 4 Park Features & Services Map(PDF, 350.82 KB)
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 3.2 hectares/7.9 acres
- Open lawn area
- Curved boardwalk over water, with gazebo and benches
- Small, man-made beach
- Multi-use asphalt pathway (part of the Waterfront Trail) 349 metres in length and 4 metres wide which provides barrier-free access to all areas of the park.
- Potable water available via a tap on the outside of the Gartshore -Thomson Building
- 9 electrical boxes located throughout the park with 19 outlets 15 AMP/ 44 plugs and 2 outlets 30 AMP each with 1 plug
- 10 picnic tables, additional can be ordered upon request
- 3 public washroom stalls located inside the Gartshore -Thomson Building. Washroom hours of operation.
- Summer hours: 7:30 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week.
- Winter hours: 8 am to 2:30 pm Monday to Friday, closed weekends.
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Waterfront Trail
- Children’s tugboat play structure
- Spray pad
- Parking spaces.
- 50 parking spaces
Located in a residential neighbourhood at 71 Cross Street, close to the Dundas downtown core.
Dundas Driving Park Bookable Areas Map(PDF, 364.28 KB)
Dundas Driving Park Features & Services Map(PDF, 5.72 MB)
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 10.6 hectares/26.8 acres
- 4 baseball diamonds, 1 with lights
- 5 sheltered picnic pavilions each with potable water available by a faucet and electricity (1 outlet 15 AMP/4 plugs, 110v outlet)
- 60 picnic tables
- 20 public washroom stalls located inside 2 buildings, one located near the wading pool, the other located beside the ice rink. Winter and summer hours of operation are 7am to 10 pm
- 116 parking spaces located along the paved oval ring road that surrounds the park
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playgrounds
- Spray pad
- Wading pool
- Ice/roller blading rink
- Parking spaces.
For information about other park features:
- Lawn bowling courts, contact the Dundas Lawn Bowls Club at 905-627-3911.
- Tennis courts, contact the Dundas Tennis Club at 905-627-0317.
Located in a historic residential area at 1000 Main Street East in the city's Delta West neighbourhood.
Gage Park Bookable Areas Map(PDF, 163.1 KB)
Gage Park Features & Services Map(PDF, 352.93 KB)
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 28.8 hectares/ 71 acres
- Large amount of open green space
- George R. Robinson Bandshell
- Scenic walking trails
- 3 baseball diamonds
- Potable water available at washroom buildings adjacent to the spray pad/wading pool location and near the G.R. Robinson Bandshell.
- 25 electrical supply locations listed here
- 4 picnic areas
- 30 picnic tables (additional tables more can be brought in at a cost)
- 150 parking spaces
- Washroom stalls at 3 locations
- Near Bandshell - Men’s 3 stalls, Women’s 5 stalls
- Near spray pad - Men’s 1 stall, Women’s 1 stall.
- Near Baseball Diamonds - Men’s 1 stall, Women’s 1 stall.
- Washroom hours of operation - Bandshell and spray pad washrooms are open 7:30am to 8:00pm 7 days a week during summer months (mid-May to mid-October). Closed in winter. (Baseball diamond washrooms open during baseball only.)
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playgrounds
- Wading pool
- Spray pad
- Bike pump track
- Parking spaces
For information about other park features:
Located at 1199 Upper Wentworth Street, south of Limeridge Road East
McQuesten Park Bookable Areas Map(PDF, 402.75 KB)
McQuesten Park Features & Services Map(PDF, 412.16 KB)
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 13.2 hectares/ 32.5 acres
- Lots of open lawn area
- Multi-use asphalt pathway
- 1 baseball diamond
- 1 soccer field
- 2 multi-purpose courts
- 2 potable water hookups, one outside the men’s washroom (NE corner) and one on front of building (NW corner)
- Electricity located on the west wall of the building adjacent to parking spaces: 4 plugs, 110 v /15 AMP and 2 plugs, 220 v /20 AMPS
- Washrooms located in building (men’s washroom 1 stall, 1 urinal; ladies’ washroom 2 stalls). Hours of operation from May to October 7am - 11pm
- 100 parking spaces
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playground
- Parking spaces
- Multi-purpose courts
Located at 1199 Upper Wentworth Street, south of Limeridge Road East
McQuesten Park Bookable Areas Map(PDF, 402.75 KB)
McQuesten Park Features & Services Map(PDF, 412.16 KB)
Park Features and Services
- Total park size is 13.2 hectares/ 32.5 acres
- Lots of open lawn area
- Multi-use asphalt pathway
- 1 baseball diamond
- 1 soccer field
- 2 multi-purpose courts
- 2 potable water hookups, one outside the men’s washroom (NE corner) and one on front of building (NW corner)
- Electricity located on the west wall of the building adjacent to parking spaces: 4 plugs, 110 v /15 AMP and 2 plugs, 220 v /20 AMPS
- Washrooms located in building (men’s washroom 1 stall, 1 urinal; ladies’ washroom 2 stalls). Hours of operation from May to October 7am - 11pm
- 100 parking spaces
Not Bookable Features (must remain open to public)
- Playground
- Parking spaces
- Multi-purpose courts
Frequently Asked Questions for Hosting Events in City Parks
How much does it cost to rent a park/portion of a park?
Council approves user fees for City services every year.
| Park Rentals | Fee (+ tax) |
|---|---|
| Park (per booking, per day) | $109.72 |
| Pavilion (per day) | $77.91 |
| Sports Field - Premium (per hour) | $45.28 |
| Sports Field - Class A (per hour) | $40.04 |
| Sports Field - Class B (per hour) | $27.83 |
| Sports Field - Class C (per hour) | $4.74 |
| Artificial Turf (per hour) | $135.61 |
View the full list of Council-approved user fees for 2022
Will City staff be available to assist with my event?
No, City staff will not be onsite to assist with your event unless staffing has been pre-arranged and paid for. Events expecting more than 10,000 people per day will be required to hire staff. You will be contacted by Parks if staffing is identified as a requirement for your event.
I want extra garbage cans and/or picnic tables at my event. Are they available?
Extra garbage cans and/or picnic tables may be available upon request for an extra fee. If you’ve determined that there aren’t enough garbage cans or picnic tables at the park that you are renting, you can request additional supplies. If available, Parks will deliver the supplies and invoice you. In 2022, the cost for additional garbage cans was $322 (+ tax) and the rental for additional picnic tables was $375 (+ tax).
Can washrooms in parks be used for my event?
Washroom facilities in parks are available for all park users. However, if your event will have more than 200 attendees, event organizers are required to rent portable toilets to supplement on-site washrooms. In addition, event organizers should be aware that on-site washrooms will be closed each evening at 8:00pm.
Is power (electricity) available at all parks?
No, access to electricity is not available at all parks. Additionally, power is not always operational even when it is available. Event organizers should be aware that generators may be required at the organizer’s expense. You will be contacted by Parks’ staff if you’ve requested access to electricity and it is not available/operational at the park you’ve asked to rent.
I have a question about my park permit. Who do I contact?
Contact Recreation by emailing [email protected] or by calling 905-546-3747, option 2.
To host an event on a city roadway, you will need to apply for a temporary road closure. There are two types of closures on roadways that event organizers can request:
- temporary lane closure (closure of one lane of roadway)
- temporary road closure.(full closure of the roadway (i.e. cars cannot pass in either direction))
To request a closure, event organizers must complete these steps:
- Submit a Festival & Event Approval Application (‘SEAT Application’)
- Complete a Temporary Road Closure Application (for road closure requests only)
- Pay the permit fee for either the lane or road closure permit. In 2022, the cost for a lane closure was $54.67 and $721.24 for a road closure.
- Provide proof of insurance naming the City as an additional insured. For more information about insurance, see Event Insurance.
- Provide a copy of the notification letter that was sent to all property owners and tenants along the closed portion of the road and detour route (for road closure requests only)
- Provide a detailed Traffic Control Plan (TCP) of the road closure (for road closure requests only). This plan should include the location of all event organizer-installed signing, barricading, coning and advance warning boards as per OTM Book 7.
For more information, visit Corridor Management or contact [email protected].
Block party requests must follow the same process as road closures.
Hamilton City Hall is located at 71 Main Street West, Hamilton.
City Hall Bookable Areas & Features Map(PDF, 409.35 KB)
Rental details
- There is no rental fee to use the Forecourt, but there are fees associated with access outside of regular business hours and for obtaining additional services (i.e. sound amplification, event setup, access to indoor washrooms, security service, etc.)
- Amplified sound is not permitted on the Forecourt during Council or Committee meetings held in Council Chambers. View the schedule of meetings
- You are expected to leave the Forecourt in the same condition in which you found it. Cleaning and/or repair costs will be billed back to the event organizer if the City of Hamilton determines this is necessary after your event
- The use of glitter, confetti, paint, and chalk at City Hall and on the Forecourt is not permitted. Candles must be used in a shatter-proof container, though electronic candles are preferred.
For more information about booking the City Hall Forecourt for your event, contact the Facilities Service Centre at [email protected] or call 905-546-2784
For information about renting ice, sports fields, community halls, recreation centres and pools, email [email protected] or visit Facility Rentals.
For information about booking indoor or outdoor space at a Hamilton Civic Museum, email [email protected] or visit Hamilton Civic Musuems.
Date modified
March 08, 2023