It's all action in Hamilton’s CBD over Summer

Summer in Hamilton’s CBD is going to be hot and packed with free entertainment for the public. Hamilton Central Business Association (HCBA) General Manager Vanessa Williams is delighted to see the events, activities and activations being brought in to the central city over the coming months and believes the public's expectation of a thriving city is well and truly being met with what is on offer.

The calendar of events started on December 1 with the annual lighting of the iconic Hamilton Christmas Tree in Garden Place. 

December activity continues with the annual Hamilton City Hawk Santa Run that will go through the CBD on December 5; Have a Go Day celebrating International Person with Disabilities; and Tasty Tunes - a weekly, free, lunchtime concert in Garden Place brought to you by Creative Waikato on December 6.

On December 7 the week ends with two fantastic offerings: Weave Cultural Markets at Garden Place and Carols on the River at Victoria on the River. The Weave Festival is a feast for the senses! Experience ethnic food, crafts, music and performances at this twilight market event, celebrating and promoting the ethnic diversity of Hamilton.

Carols on the River will provide a great musical ambience for those who want to enjoy dinner from one of the food trucks on offer or from any of the surrounding restaurants. Join in with local musicians singing all your favourite Christmas carols at the beautiful Victoria on the River.

Saturday December 8 sees the inaugural Kids' Arty Party from 9.30am-12.30pm with a toy trade, music, competitions, art activities and much more in this family-friendly day.

By night, the cultural line-up for the city continues with Colombian Dia de las Velitas (Night of Candles) being celebrated in Garden Place.

The weekend ends on a high on Sunday December 9 with the annual First Credit Union Christmas Parade on Anglesea Street at 2pm. More than 80 colourful floats will travel down the street along with crazy characters, lively marching bands, dance troupes, ethnic groups and, of course, Santa Claus!

There are two markets offering great Christmas gift opportunities; the Creators Artist Market on December 14 at Victoria on the River and the Makers Market on December 21, while there will be lunchtime live music in Garden Place from December 14-22.

Christmas celebrations continue in the city with the Waikato Filipino Association showcasing and sharing the Filipino Christmas spirit and festivity through the First Pasko sa Nayon (Christmas in the city) event on December 15.

Stories in the Garden will also be held that day and evening live music will start down at Victoria on the River up until Christmas.

The same weekend the CBD will also play host to the premiere event of the Hamilton parkour calendar – HamJam. This annual Hamilton parkour gathering is an open invite for any parkour practitioners to attend and explore Hamilton and the surrounding region’s architecture and will be run concurrently with the New Zealand Tricking Gathering.

The event is hosted by Parkour NZ in association with its member organisation Core MMA and will also include a public workshop from 12-2pm in Civic Square on December 16. Kids and adults can come along and learn how to negotiate obstacles in the natural environment by running, jumping and climbing.

Embassy Park, now hosting free monthly outdoor movie nights, will end the year with Mamma Mia on December 27. The movie nights will continue in 2019 on the last Thursday of every month.

The new year is also set to offer a great line up of events and activities for the CBD including welcoming back the 2019 HSBC NZ Sevens on January 26 and 27. Whether on a vacation or a staycation in Hamilton over Summer, to see a full calendar of fun in the CBD for the whole family visit http://www.hamiltoncentral.co.nz/welcome-to-hamilton/whats-on