Downtown Hamilton streets close for Grey Cup events starting Wednesday

This week's Grey Cup celebration includes a street festival, a parade, Santa Claus and Carrie Underwood.

It also includes some major road closures during festivities for theCFL championship game between the Montreal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

With the city transitstrike ongoing, many vehicles can be expected to be on the road.

Here's what you need to know to get around.

Parts ofJames,Cannon streetsclosed as of Wednesday

Starting Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., the city closed part of James Street North, fromYork Boulevard to Barton Street East for the Grey Cup Festival.

The festival will include food trucks, a beer garden and markets.

Closer to Tim Hortons Field in the east end, starting Wednesday at 9 p.m., Cannon Street East fromMelrose Avenue to Balsam Avenue will be closed, re-opening on Monday at 5 a.m.

Community race to close Gage Avenue

On Thursday, the Grey Cup Student Run will close Gage Avenue, fromMain Street East to Cannon Street East, and Cannon Street East, fromGage Avenueto Balsam Avenue North, between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The kilometre-long race will see students run from Gage Park to Tim Hortons Field.

Saturday'sSanta Claus and Grey Cup Parade

On Saturday, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Santa Claus coming to town closes several downtown streets:

• Bay Street, Strachan Street West to Barton Street East.
• Barton Street East, Hess Street North to John Street East.
• Wilson Street and York Boulevard,Hess Street North toJohn Street North.
• Hess Street, York Boulevard to Stuart Street.
• Stuart Street, Barton Street West to Bay Street North.

The holiday parade is being combined with a Grey Cup parade this year, so Santa will be joined by cheerleaders and the Grey Cup trophy.

Game day closures

For game day on Sunday, the city is closing the following streets between Saturday at 11 p.m. and Monday at 7 a.m.:

• Cannon Street East, fromConnaught Avenue to Barnesdale Avenue North.
• Melrose Avenue North, fromCannon Street East to Beechwood Avenue.
• Balsam Avenue North, fromCannon Street East to Beechwood Avenue.
• Beechwood Avenue, fromMelrose Avenue North to Balsam Avenue North.