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
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW
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!! and Local Business gift certificates - up to 3k in prizes available to win!
Competitors receive social media promotions and mentions before and during the event
Artist's Meet & Greet evening at a local establishment - The Fool and Flagon
Workshops BY Sam Paonessa and Jacquie Herron.
Hamilton Conservation Authority discounted day passes for registered competitors, free passes for student participants
Passes for free admission to Art Gallery of Hamilton
Passes for free admission to Dundurn Castle
Real-Time map on the Toureka app to find our artists out painting
An Official Event tee for competitors to wear during the competition
Maps to find popular landmarks & parks in Hamilton
Coupons for local eateries/businesses
A list of local eateries, art supply shops, hotels/motels
All registered competitors receive a Gift Bag with above mentioned items; valued at $75.
Winners will also be featured on our website until our next competition in 2026.
**Note: The festival is a rain-or-shine event. There are no refunds.**
Why Participate?
-
Meet Art Lovers!
DYK plein air painting is one of the best ways to meet art lovers out in nature.
-
Challenge Yourself!
Creating art en plein air - outdoors on location - will challenge your creative skills and grow your practice!
-
Earn $$
Win cash prizes and gift certificates during the competition and sell during the show!
-
Discover Beauty & Friends
Explore the Municipality of Hamilton and discover breathtaking views while meeting new friends!
Comments from our 2024 Participants Survey
"A lovely person bought one of my paintings {during the festival} and is following me online. We communicated online."
"Met potential art collectors who were walking the trails and were very interested in what we were doing. Also in Dundas town, the residents were proud I chose their neighborhood to paint. Some came to show."
"I met home owners in Dundas who purchased the painting of their home on Victoria St."
"We went for a tour at the Hamilton Art Gallery which was excellent. We invited our tour guide to come back to the show and he did and purchased a painting!"
"I met someone who works for Bruce Trail who asked if my art could potentially grace their calendar"
"a lot of people were interested in what I was doing as I was painting outside at the lookout and in the park in Dundas. Having the flyers there was good idea because I could give them one so they could follow along with the festival."
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 7am to 11am at the registration tent located on the property of Central Presbyterian Church: 165 Charlton Avenue West, Hamilton ON, L8P 2H1
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 Helper 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
Ideas for 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 discounted passes available to registered competitors for access to the HCA areas. These passes will be available at the HCA office. Student participants will receive a free weekend pass for HCA.
Conservation areas require in some cases a reservation if you are accessing them during peak times. 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.
How to participate.
This year, our new website provides us with a smoother registration process.
Please sign up for our newsletter to be alert when the Call to Artists opens March 15, 2025
REGISTRATION ENDS MAY 10th 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; 7AM TO 11AM – 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 Central Presbyterian Church: 165 Charlton Avenue West, Hamilton ON, L8P 2H1
Awards
How: Artist Competitors bring your completed art to Central Presbyterian Church: 165 Charlton Avenue West, Hamilton ON, L8P 2H1 on Saturday June 7th between 4pm and 6pm.
What: Awards Ceremony
When: Awards presentation begins on Sunday morning at NOON.
Where: Central Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall: 165 Charlton Avenue West, Hamilton ON, L8P 2H1
What: Winners will receive their certificates during the awards, cash prizes will be etransferred to Canadian residents and mailed by cheque to non-Canadian residents.
**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 Central Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall: 165 Charlton Avenue West, Hamilton ON, L8P 2H1
The Show and Sale is open to the public. The show and sale ends at 4pm.
A 30% commission applies to all sales. 20% of the commission is a donation to Central Presbyterian Church for the use of their facilities and a 10% 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 Central Presbyterian Church: 165 Charlton Avenue West, Hamilton ON, L8P 2H1 by 5pm Sunday June 8th. We cannot store your artwork; any unclaimed work will be discarded/donated.
