Things to Do in Hamilton This Weekend: October 16–18, 2026
Pumpkin season is in full swing this weekend, and Hamilton is leaning into it. There’s a pumpkin festival on Saturday, a glowing jack-o-lantern trail at the RBG, a floral mum show at Gage Park, and a free street festival on Locke on Sunday. Here’s what’s worth your time from Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18.
Spend Saturday at PumpkinFEST
Saturday, October 17, 11:00 am–5:00 pm · Admission details on the event listing
Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins. This outdoor celebration packs in live music, artisan vendors and family-friendly activities, so it works for a full afternoon or a quick drop-in. Bring the kids and plan to snack your way through the vendors.
See PumpkinFEST details and location →
Follow the glow on the Great Pumpkin Trail
Open daily through October 25 · Royal Botanical Gardens · Check the event page for hours and tickets
Put the kids in their spookiest costumes and follow the magical glow of jack-o-lanterns down the trail at the Royal Botanical Gardens. Since the glow is the whole point, check the event page for hours before you go.
Plan your Great Pumpkin Trail visit →
Soak in fall colour at the Fall Floral Mum Show
Opens Saturday, October 17, and runs through October 25 · Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse
If you’d rather get your autumn colour indoors, the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse is the place. The Fall Floral Mum Show is a calm, colourful way to spend an hour or two, and it’s an easy add-on to a Gage Park walk.
Wander Locke Street for Sundays UnLocked
Sunday, October 18, 10:00 am–5:00 pm · Locke Street · Free
The Locke Street Festival is open to the public free of charge, and the whole idea is to bring the neighbourhood together. Make a day of it: browse the shops, grab a coffee and see what’s happening along the strip.
See what’s on at Sundays UnLocked →
Also Worth Knowing
- Author talk: gritLIT presents Olympian Clara Hughes at the Playhouse Cinema on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:00 pm to celebrate her new memoir, Learning to Breathe. Tickets and details.
- New lunch spot: Le Pie has arrived at the Jackson Square food court, with fresh-baked baguette sandwiches (BBQ pork, cheesesteak, soy-glazed tofu and more) all under $10. See the Le Pie page.
- Now open: Something New, a community-focused shop, coffee spot and local vendor hub, is open at 416 Concession Street. Follow them on Facebook.
- Back on the road: The Sherman Cut reopened on Friday, October 9, after a multi-month closure, with two-way traffic restored. Check the City’s construction page.
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That’s your weekend, Hamilton. Go enjoy it. 🔨
