James North comes alive with Open Streets Hamilton

Today is Open Streets Hamilton, a street festival that stretches along James Street North for more than two kilometres.

The street is blocked off from King Street to Guise Street for a car-free day of music, arts and events. The event ends at 5 p.m.

Liz Way of Dundas brought her daughters to Open Streets Hamilton because “we want to support events all over Hamilton, not just in Dundas. There's always good stuff happening on James Street North now.”

Nina Ward of Hamilton said she liked the atmosphere.

“It's wonderful that the city allows things to be shut down so people can get together as a community.”

Highlights included:

• the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser for YWCA Hamilton on James North at Murray Street
• Pathways to Peace: Launch event for the War of 1812 Bicentennial on James North at King William
• Racamultese Maria S.S. Del Monte procession starting at Barton Street and proceeding around downtown, ending with fireworks at Bayfront Park at 10 p.m.
• Road hockey on the Jackson Square rooftop

This is the fifth Open Streets festival since the event began in 2010.

Stay tuned to this page throughout the day as we update our photo gallery of Open Streets activities.

For a full slate of events, including the map, download a PDF of the event guide.