Winterfest and East Hamilton
Hamilton Winterfest 2022 ran from February 17th – March 6th. We had originally planned to go the first weekend, but it was called off due to bad weather. Today (March 5th) was much more pleasant, thankfully. So we made a day of it!
Coffee at the BARKery To set us up for the day, we visited Munchies Coffee House and BARKery, Canada’s first dog-friendly café! The comfortable seating area is completely separated from the food preparation area, hence dogs are allowed in. The entrance is very secure, with an inner gate at the entrance so you can safely let your pooches run free without worrying about any escapees. I chose a spot with a small table and chairs, but there is also a sofa area with board games if you would like to hang for a while! I purchased some peanut butter and apple & cinnamon twists for Rita, who was wandering around making friends as I sipped a coffee and a homemade “Everything but the kitchen sink” cookie (containing chocolate chips, dried fruit and coconut). She soon discovered some toys though and a game of fetch ensued. The hosts were really friendly and relaxed and there were a few regulars there - always a good sign. Branded Munchies shirts and other gifts are available to buy.
Winterfest at Auchmar This event is facilitated by the City of Hamilton and local arts organisation Colbalt Connects. The Hub was situated at Auchmar Heritage Site, and was free to enter (although evening music concerts were ticketed), with free parking allocated at the local hospital. There were a few shows and performances lined up throughout the day. We were lucky to hear some music in the special dome and see an artistic performance “The Journey To LuminUS” by the Clay and Paper Theatre. This was fun for both children and adults. I particularly enjoyed the theme of needing to stop time.
““I need to catch up with all the changes in my life; at work, home and in the universe””
There were artistic displays to appreciate, such as a mural by Israel Anthony Crooks depicting the “12 Champions of Liberation”, celebrating the Black community of Hamilton, and inflatable foxes and icebergs designed by local artist Tanis MacArthur. The bespoke Market Domes housed local vendors, including Much Ado About Knick Knacks and Beasty Beans Granny dog bandanas (we got one of these during our first visit to Hamilton).
The COGECO food zone under two large oak trees strung with fairy lights was charming. I got chatting to Aaron at Your Local Boulanger who educated me on the intricate process of laminating pastries, skills he had acquired in the North of France. I bought some pistachio cream croissant twists which are fuelling this current blog writing session. Another nice touch was free hot chocolate, provided by LIUNA 87.
Aaron, “Your Local Boulanger” showing off his pastries
Heritage Green The final stop on our tour of East Hamilton was Heritage Green Community Dog Park. This was a large fenced area with plenty of room for Rita to play chase with the other dogs, complete with benches and a shaded area for sunny days. Today, however, was during the snowmelt and the ground was very mucky….resulting in an equally mucky dog! Rita really enjoyed her time, and we walked the 2.5 km of (on-leash) trails afterwards. I discovered Heritage Green wasn’t very green or picturesque, but I imagine it’s nicer in the summer. The paths were nice and wide and easy to follow.
