You’ve sleighed the to-do list, are on a roll with the wrapping and are ready to be in the present moment.
The City of Hamilton’s on the same page — reining in services between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
We’ve made a list of what’s open and closed, and checked it twice. Here’s what you should know about holiday hours in the area.
City buses
The Hamilton Street Railway customer service counter at the Hamilton GO Centre will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
It will be closed Dec. 25 and 26, and Jan. 1, the city says.
Between Dec. 29 and 31, it will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Christmas Day:
For those who doesn’t have nine reindeer on call, city buses will run on a special schedule Dec. 25.
The last trips on Christmas will leave downtown at 9 p.m., the city says. There will be no service on routes 12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East.
MyRide Waterdown and Trans-Cab will run from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Boxing Day:
On Dec. 26, the some routes will operate on a Saturday schedule, including 1, 2, 16, 21, 25, 26, 41 and 43. All other routes that run on Sunday will operate on a Sunday schedule.
12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East will again not be in service.
MyRide Waterdown and Trans-Cab will run from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
New Year’s Eve:
Buses on Dec. 31 will operate on their regular weekday schedules with free service after 6 p.m.
MyRide Waterdown and Trans-Cab will run from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
New Year’s Day:
Jan. 1 will see buses operate on a Sunday schedule, with no service for 12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East.
MyRide Waterdown and Trans-Cab will run from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
DARTS
The accessible transportation office will be closed Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1.
All subscription trips will also be cancelled except for dialysis, the city says.
Reservations are required for service on those holidays.
GO Transit
GO trains and buses will operate on a Saturday schedule on Christmas Day, Box Day and New Year’s Day.
Service will be free on New Year’s Eve starting at 7 p.m.
Some buses and trains won’t run as often between Dec. 20 and Jan. 5. Details can be found here.
Waste collection
Garbage day is coming to town, although a little late for some.
No waste will be collected on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1, the city says. It will instead be collected a day later.
Have a natural Christmas tree to get rid of after the holiday? They’ll be collected the first two weeks of January on your regular collection day.
Community recycling centres will be closed Dec. 25, 28 and Jan. 1 and close early Dec. 24 and 31 at 3 p.m.
Public spaces
Looking to curate a happy holiday? Check these schedules ahead of time to make sure you don’t miss out.
Civic museums will be closed Dec. 25, 26, and 29, and Jan. 1.
Recreation centres and arenas will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and close early Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m.
Individual recreation centre schedules can be found through this web page.
The Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park will be closed Dec. 25 and 26, and Jan. 1. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve it will close early at 2 p.m.
From Dec. 27 to 30, the greenhouse will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hamilton Public Library branches will be closed Dec. 25, 26 and 28, and Jan. 1. Holiday hours are in effect the days it is open between Dec. 24 to Jan. 3.
The Hamilton Farmer’s Market is open Dec. 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Dec. 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30, and Jan. 1.
Other city services
All administrative offices will be closed between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Services not available those days include:
- Health Connections.
- Housing Services Office.
- Provincial Offences Administration Office for traffic violations, although tickets can be paid online.
- Licensing and by-law services phone queue and service counters.
- Municipal service centres.
Municipal law enforcement officers will not enforce “routine matters or complaints” From Dec. 24 at 4:30 p.m. until Jan. 2 at 8 a.m, the city says.
They will continue to enforce health and safety matters such as a lack of heat and water.
The adult day program at Macassa Lodge will be closed Dec. 25 and 26, and Jan. 1.
The Animal Services Office and shelter will be closed on the holidays, but open the other days.