November 23, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Various Hamilton Museums
This holiday season, Hamilton Civic Museums invites you to step into history and experience the wonder of Christmas through festive exhibits, activities, and seasonal programs. From November through December, Hamilton’s historic sites transform into immersive holiday experiences that showcase the city’s rich heritage and timeless holiday traditions. Perfect for families, history buffs, and holiday enthusiasts, the Hamilton Civic Museums’ Christmas programming brings together the best of the past and present with events at sites like Dundurn Castle, Whitehern Historic House and Garden, and Battlefield House Museum.
At Dundurn Castle, visitors can experience a Victorian Christmas, complete with decorations, period costumes, and guided tours that highlight holiday customs of the 19th century. At Whitehern Historic House, the charm of Edwardian-era festivities comes to life, with holiday decorations inspired by the McQuesten family’s Christmas traditions, including music, baking demonstrations, and tree displays. Meanwhile, Battlefield House Museum offers unique seasonal events, such as holiday craft workshops and storytelling sessions that transport guests back to early Canadian holiday traditions. Each museum offers a glimpse into Hamilton’s history, providing festive programming and historical insight to create an unforgettable holiday experience.
Hamilton Civic Museums’ Christmas Events and Schedule
November 24, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Whitehern: A Christmas for the Ages
Whitehern Historic House & Garden, 41 Jackson St. West, Hamilton
https://tourismhamilton.com/partner/whitehern-historic-house-garden
Enjoy this special time of year as we explore how different generations of the McQuesten family celebrated Christmas. Once a year, the family’s toys are gathered under a whimsically decorated tree. The table is beautifully set with the china the family used for Christmas and New Year’s. Come to Whitehern and experience the holidays as they were celebrated through the 1850s, 1870s and the 1930s.
Closed: Mondays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day
November 24 and 26, 2024 | 12 – 4 pm
December 1, 3 – 8, 10, 12 – 15, 17 – 22, 24, 27 – 29, 31 2024 | 12 – 4 pm
January 2 – 5, 2025 | 12 – 4 pm
Victorian Christmas
Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Boulevard, Hamilton
https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/hamilton-civic-museums/dundurn-national-historic-site
Enjoy the beauty of a mid-19th-century family Christmas celebration at Dundurn Castle. See the historic home decorated in Victorian splendor with cedar boughs, ribbons and dried flowers by The Garden Club of Hamilton. Bring your family and share a Hamilton holiday tradition.
November 30, 2024 | 11 am – 3 pm
December 1, 2024 | 11 am – 3 pm
Christmas Model Train Show
Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology National Historic Site, 900 Woodward Avenue, Hamilton
https://hamiltoncivicmuseums.ca/hamilton-museum-of-steam-technology-national-historic-site
Join the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers at the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology for a Christmas Model Train Show in the Woodshed. Volunteers will be running scale-model steam and electric trains decorated for the holidays. Visitors of all ages are invited to see various miniature train layouts and speak with club members. Please note that due to space restrictions, this is a smaller show than in previous years.
Visitors will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis as room capacity permits.
November 30, 2024 | 7 – 9 pm
December 6 – 8, 13 – 15, 20 – 22 2024 | 7 – 9 pm
Christmas Evening Tours
Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Boulevard, Hamilton
https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/hamilton-civic-museums/dundurn-national-historic-site
Enjoy a unique opportunity to see Dundurn Castle decorated for Christmas in the evening. Begin your experience with carol-singing in the front hall, followed by an extended tour of Sir Allan MacNab’s home and a chance to sample an assortment of traditional foods served in Dundurn’s historic kitchen.
December 1, 2024 | 7 – 9 pm
Ukrainian Christmas Evening Tour
Dundurn National Historic Site, 610 York Boulevard, Hamilton
https://www.hamilton.ca/things-do/hamilton-civic-museums/dundurn-national-historic-site
Participate in a special Ukrainian Christmas-themed evening at Dundurn Castle. Experience a unique blend of history and culture in this extended guided tour of the museum. Guests will be treated to a dance demonstration and carols that celebrate the culture of Ukraine. As the evening unfolds, delight your taste buds with a delectable array of Ukrainian delicacies including traditional perogies, hot borscht, and rogaliki pastries, all served in the historic kitchen of Dundurn.
December 13, 20, 2024 | 7 – 9 pm
A Candlelit Christmas Evening Tour at Whitehern
Whitehern Historic House & Garden, 41 Jackson St. West, Hamilton
https://tourismhamilton.com/partner/whitehern-historic-house-garden
Enjoy the exceptional ambiance of evening lights as we explore how different generations of the McQuesten family celebrated Christmas. Visitors will be treated to light refreshments in The Stable and an opportunity to view the home with the joyous sounds of Christmas music and the warm glow of candlelight. The historic home is fully decorated including three Christmas trees, complete with period toys and beloved artifacts nestled underneath. The dining room table is beautifully set with the original china the family used for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
