Hamilton Plein Air Festival
June 5th to 8th 2025
Welcome to the online home of the Hamilton Plein Air Festival!!
2025 is our 2nd annual event!
Festival dates for 2025 is June 5th to June 8th 2025
REGISTRATIONS WILL OPEN IN MARCH 2025!!
Our event includes:
3 days of plein air painting in the greater Hamilton area
followed by 1 day of Judging , Awards and the Show and Sale!
Opportunities to engage with the public as they watch you work
Cash Prizes!!
Competitors receive social media promotions and mentions before and during the event
Artist's Meet & Greet evening at a local establishment
Workshops and Demonstrations
Discounted HCA passes for registered competitors
Real-Time maps to find our artists out painting
Free Event t-shirt keepsakes for competitors
Maps to find popular landmarks & parks in Hamilton
Coupons for local eateries/businesses
A list of local eateries, art supply shops, hotels/motels
Winners will also be featured on our website until our next competition in 2025.
**Note: The festival is a rain-or-shine event. There are no refunds.**
Rules and Regulations for Competitors
This is a plein air event. All artwork submitted to the competition MUST have been started and completed outdoors. This is to encourage and maintain the “feeling of the moment” that is a main feature of plein air works.
Check-in is open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings at the registration tent located on the property of Welcome Inn Community Centre, 40 Wood Street North, Hamilton Ontario.
Advanced registration must be completed online prior to your in-person check-in.
Artists may apply transparent or opaque grounds, without 3-dimensional textures, to their support of choice prior to registration. Supports with drawing or sculptural effects will not be permitted. Each canvas/panel/paper or other support must be stamped on the back by a check-in volunteer PRIOR to painting. Unstamped art will NOT be accepted for the show.
Each work of art must be started and completed en plein air (outside).
You are not required to return stamped canvases at the end of the day. You are required to sign that you have followed these rules and regulations.
The size of the finished art MUST NOT to exceed 24” on the longest side. No Exceptions. Artists must provide their own materials. Hamilton has local art supply shops if you have forgotten any materials. Details can be found in your registration package.
Artists may paint any subject/scene outdoors throughout the City of Hamilton including Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Binbrook, Waterdown, Carlisle and Mount Hope. Information on a variety of painting locations will be available in your registration package and on the website in May.
Artists are STRONGLY encouraged to wear the Event Tee you received in your check-in package. This will help to identify you as a participating artist while you are out painting in the community.
Artists must strictly follow all rules of the parks and conservation areas you will visit. It is important to show our support of the conservation efforts of our city and its partners; the Hamilton Conservation Authority.
ARTIST TIPS
Where to Stay, Eat and Where to Plein Air Paint.
Where to Stay:
Super 8 by Wyndham Mt Hope
Premier Inn Hamilton
Stoney Creek Motel
Courtyard by Marriott
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
Hampton Inn by Hilton
Visitors Inn
Comfort Inn
Four Points by Sheridan
Where to Eat:
Hamilton downtown has lots of fabulous locally owned restaurants that you can explore.
The Mule: 41 King William St
The Ship: 23 Augusta St
West End Diner: 1811 Main St W
Hambrgr: 49 King William St
Coop Wicked Chicken: 274 King St W
Born & Raised: 224 James St N, Hamilton, ON
Brothers Grimm Bistro: 193 King St E, Hamilton
Bring Me Some: 638 Concession St, Hamilton
Electric Diner: 96 George St, Hamilton, ON
La Luna: Five locations across Hamilton, ON
Namu: 186 King St W, Dundas, ON
Saint James Espresso Bar & Eatery: 170 James St N, Hamilton, ON
The French: 37 King William St, Hamilton, ON
Where to Plein Air Paint:
Albion Falls: 2 free parking areas available, one on Arbor Rd and the other at 750 Mountain Brow Blvd
Bayfront Park: boardwalk trail links to Waterfront Trail, free parking at 200 Harbour Front Dr, Hamilton
Borers Falls Conservation Area: 318 Rock Chapel Rd, Dundas
Buttermilk Falls: 701 Mountain Brow Blvd, free parking
Cathedral Basillica of Christ the King: 714 King St W, Hamilton
Chedoke Radial Trail: accessible at 2 pts.; 1180 Scenic Dr, Hamilton and 120 Beddoe Dr. free parking
Cotton Factory: 270 Sherman Ave North, limited free parking
Crooks Hollow Conservation Area: 756 Crooks Hollow Rd, Hamilton
Devils Punchbowl Conservation Area: 204 Ridge Rd, Stoney Creek
Dofasco/Stelco Industrial area: find views in the north end near Burlington Street betwn Sherman & Kenilworth Sts.
Dundas Hermitage: 621 Sulphur Springs Rd, Hamilton, paid parking – part of the conservation area
Dundas Valley Conservation Area: 650 Governors Rd, Hamilton
Dundurn Castle: 610 York Blvd, Hamilton, free parking
Eramosa Karst Conservation Area: parking is nearby Upper Mt Albion Rd and Times Square Blvd
Felker’s Falls Conservation Area: 43 Ackland St, Stoney Creek
Fifty Point Conservation Area: 1479 Baseline Rd, Hamilton
Gage Park: 1000 Main St E, Hamilton, free parking
Gore Park: at James and King – lots of city life here
Hamilton Beach: several entry points accessible via Van Wagners Beach Road and Beach Blvd. , free parking
Iroquoia Heights Conservation Area: 1180 Scenic Dr, Hamilton- follow the trail west, also accessible on Old Mohawk Road with street parking
James Street North: Views of city life, some free parking available on Hughson Street
Mount Albion Conservation Area: 55 Dartnall Rd, Hamilton
Princess Point: 335 Longwood Rd N, Hamilton
Sam Lawrence Park: 255 Concession St, Hamilton
Spencer Gorge Wilderness Area: 590 Harvest Rd, Hamilton
St Pauls Presbyterian Church: 70 James St S, Hamilton
Tiffany Falls: 900 Wilson St E, Hamilton
Webster Falls: 28 Fallsview Rd, Dundas
Westdale Village: 1038 King St W, Hamilton
Notes:
NEW!! In 2025 we will have passes available to competitors for access to the HCA areas. Please check your registration information for details - coming Spring 2025.
Conservation areas require an admission fee/parking fee and in some cases a reservation. Please check the website for details: https://conservationhamilton.ca/
Some locations listed above require some walking/hiking to access the views.
Escarpment trails are accessible at several points:
1180 Scenic Dr, Hamilton, ON L9C 1H9
120 Beddoe Dr, Hamilton, ON L8P 4Z4
534 Dundurn St S, Hamilton, ON L8P 4L9
26 Upper Paradise Rd, Hamilton, ON L9C 5B5
Downtown parking map: https://downtownhamilton.org/explore/parking-map/
Please carefully read signs to ensure you avoid parking fines.
We recommend hiking shoes and dress in layers. Backpacks are great for hiking into locations.
Bring a hat and drinking water, bug repellant and sunscreen.
Please always be kind and respectful of others around you.
Please follow park and conservation area rules, STAY ON THE TRAILS!
When setting up in areas with trails keep to the edges of trails to allow for pedestrian traffic.
Take out your garbage with you.
Do not dump your paint water or any other liquids anywhere outdoors.
Event Itinerary
How to participate.
This year, our new website provides us with a smoother registration process.
Details will be available here in March 2025.
Please sign up for our newsletter to be alert when the Call to Artists opens in March.
REGISTRATION ENDS MAY 5th 2025 OR WHEN 100 COMPETITOR REGISTRATIONS ARE RECEIVED
**Note: The festival is a rain-or-shine event. There are no refunds.**
Artist Competitor In-Person Check-in
When: Mornings on Thursday, June 5th, Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th – you only need to check in ONCE! However you MUST check-in BEFORE you paint.
What: Bring your supports (canvas, paper, boards etc) that you will be using as these MUST be stamped by event volunteers BEFORE you begin to paint
Where: at the registration tent located on the property of Welcome Inn Community Centre, 40 Wood Street North, Hamilton Ontario.
Awards
How: Artist Competitors bring your completed art. Details to follow Spring 2025.
What: Awards Ceremony
When: Awards presentation begins on Sunday morning.
Where: Welcome Inn Community Centre, 40 Wood Street East Hamilton
What: Winners will receive their cash prize/certificates during the awards
**Please refer to your REGISTRATION FORM for full Rules and Regulations
Show and Sale
The Show and Sale will commence Sunday June 8th, 2025 directly after the awards ceremony at the Welcome Inn Community Centre.
The Show and Sale is open to the public.
Details will follow Spring 2025.
A 30% commission applies to all sales. This commission is a donation to Welcome Inn Community Centre for the use of their facilities and a portion for HOPAA to support our organization.
Only artists who are registered for the event can participate in the show and sale.
Event volunteers will set up the artwork for the judging process and exhibition/sale.
Artists should be prepared to leave their artwork until the end of show
Unsold artwork must be picked up at Welcome Inn Community Centre on Sunday details to follow. We cannot store your artwork; any unclaimed work will be discarded/donated.
