What's open and closed in Hamilton during the holidays

Here's a guide to what's open and closed during the holiday and when you can expect services to return to regular hours. 

For emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewer systems, public health and safety issues, please call (905) 546-2489.

Green bins, Recycling and Garbage Collection

There won't be green bin, blue box, bulk waste, yard waste, or garbage pick-up on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Your pick-up will be one day later if it falls on or after the holiday and all materials must be at the curb by 7 a.m.​

Community recycling centres and transfer stations will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will be closed on Dec. 25 and Jan 1. 

You can view your collection schedule here. 

Real Christmas trees will be collected during the weeks of Jan. 7 and 14. The city is asking that all decorations be removed and not to wrap the tree in plastic. 

HSR Bus Schedules

• Dec. 24: buses will operate on a regular weekday service.
• Dec. 25: buses will operate on a special Christmas Day schedule with limited bus service until 9 p.m.
• Dec. 26: buses will operate on a regular Saturday service.
• Dec. 27: buses will operate on a regular weekday service.
• Dec. 28: buses will operate on a regular weekday service.
• Dec. 29: buses will operate on a regular Saturday service.
• Dec. 30: buses will operate on a regular Sunday/Holiday service.
• Dec. 31: buses will operate on a regular weekday service with extended hours on most routes. Bus service will be free after 6 p.m.
• Jan. 1: buses will operate on a regular Sunday/holiday service

Call HSR information at (905) 527-4441 for more details. The HSR information line will only be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 25. The HSR customer service centre will be closed Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1. 

ATS-DARTS

• Dec. 24: Sunday/holiday service (6:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.)
• Dec. 25: special holiday service (approximately 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.)
• Dec. 26: weekday service
• Dec. 27: weekday service
• Dec. 28: weekday service
• Dec. 29: Saturday service
• Dec. 30: Sunday service
• Dec. 31: special holiday service (6 a.m. to 2 a.m.) with free service after 6 p.m.
• Jan. 1: special holiday service (approximately 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.)

DARTS will be operating holiday service hours on Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1.

All subscription trips on DARTS, with the exception of dialysis, are cancelled for Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. If passengers need to travel on these days, they must make an advance reservation to do so.

ATS customer service will be closed on Dec. 25, 26, and Jan.1.

Recreation

All recreation centres, senior centres and arenas will be closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1. Visit here for recreation schedules between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. 

Hamilton Civic Museums

The following will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1:

• Dundurn National Historic Site
• Whitehern Historic House & Garden
• The Hamilton Military Museum
• Battlefield House Museum & Park
• Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology
• Hamilton Children's Museum

The following will be closed Dec. 25 to Jan 1:

• Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum
• Griffin House is closed for the season

More details here. 

Tourism Hamilton Visitor Information Centre

Tourism Hamilton Visitor Information Centre will be closed from Dec. 25 to Jan 1.

Hamilton Farmers' Market

The Farmers' Market hours are:

• Dec. 24: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Dec. 25: Closed.
• Dec. 26: Closed.
• Dec. 27: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Dec. 28: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Dec. 29: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Dec. 30: Closed 
• Dec. 31: Closed 
• Jan.1: Closed
• Jan. 2: Closed                 
• Jan. 3: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Market will resume regular hours Jan. 4, 2019.

Hamilton Public Library

All Hamilton Public Library locations are closed on Dec. 23, 25, 26, 30 and Jan. 1. Branches are open until 1 p.m. on Dec. 24 and Jan. 31. Holiday hours are in effect Dec. 27 to 29, with regular hours resuming on Jan. 2.

Public Health Services

• Reports of suspected reportable diseases and food poisoning, call (905) 546-2063.
• Reports of environmental spills, fires or other events that may be a health hazard or safety issue, call (905) 546-2489.
• Reports of rabies animal exposures, call (905) 546-2489.
• Safe Water Program issues that may be a health hazard, call (905) 546-2489 or visit the website. 

Social Services

• All Ontario Works offices, including the Career Development Centre and Special Supports, will be closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 and will reopen Jan. 2 at 8:30 a.m.
• The Housing Services office at 350 King Street East will be closed Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 and will reopen Jan. 2 at 8:30 a.m.

Animal Services

The Animal Services shelter holiday hours are the following:

• Dec. 22: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dec. 23: Closed
• Dec. 24: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Dec. 25: Closed
• Dec. 26: Closed
• Dec. 27: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Dec. 28: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Dec. 29: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dec. 30: Closed
• Dec. 31: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Jan. 1: Closed

For 24-hour Animal Services emergency issues, you can call (905) 574-3433 or visit the website.

Property Tax Payments

• During the holiday, you may submit your property tax payment into a drop box at the rear doors of City Hall, 71 Main Street West or at one of our Municipal Service Centres. Only cheque payments will be accepted in the drop box.
• All Municipal Service Centres will be closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 and will reopen Jan. 2.

Parking Violations

• The Parking Office at 80 Main Street West will be closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 and will reopen Jan. 2.
• Online payments can be made at: www.hamilton.ca/pay-your-ticket

Payment of parking violations can also be made by:

• Mailing to the pre-printed address indicated on the parking tag.
• Dropping off into the drop box at the nearest Municipal Service Centre or Parking Office at 80 Main St. West, at Summers Lane.

Payment of parking violations can be made by:

• mail to the pre-printed address indicated on the parking tag or dropped off into the drop box at the nearest Municipal Service Centre or Taxation Division.
• The Hamilton Municipal Parking System office at 80 Main St. West, at Summers Lane, also accepts payments for parking violations at its drop box.

Traffic Violations

• The Provincial Offences Administration Office at 50 Main St. E. will be closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1 and will reopen on Jan. 2. 
• Online payments can be made anytime at: www.hamilton.ca/pay-your-ticket