Ancaster - Ontario Visit City Website Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara Escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities in present day Ontario. By 1823, due in large part to its easily accessible water power located at the juncture of already existing historical trading routes, Ancaster had become Upper Canada's largest industrial and commercial center. At this time, it also had the largest population in Upper Canada with 1681 townspeople, surpassing both Toronto's 1376 and Hamilton's 1000 residents.After this initial period of prosperity beginning in the late 18th century, sudden significant water and rail transportation advancements of the early 19th century would soon better benefit Ancaster's neighbouring towns situated closer to the Lake Ontario waterfront. Stationary steam engines for industries were also being rapidly developed in the 19th century that would eventually make Ancaster's water powered industries less vital. As a result, after the 1820s, Ancaster's influence during the remainder of the 19th century would begin to wane. From the late 19th century Ancaster's population would remain static until 1946 when new subdivisions around the village were established. The population expanded further with the completion of the Hamilton-Ancaster section of Highway 403 in 1968 and the introduction of sewer systems in 1974. After 1970, its population essentially doubled from 15,000 residents to its present day 33,000. Today, Ancaster's primary points of interest are its historical village core, it abundant walking trails and its variety of restaurants, pubs and shops. City Attraction Links Theatre Ancaster Theatre Ancaster continues its second decade of community musical theatre in September with Side by Side by Sondheim and follows that in November and December with the Tony Award winning Broadway hit A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.  Forum is a full Broadway style production with all the stops pulled out…and as always, a full professional orchestra is on board for the three weekends of shows. More details can be found on our Playbill page. Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum Fieldcote is a cultural heritage centre with an emphasis on the collection, preservation and exhibition of local history, the promotion of fine arts and the celebration of natural heritage through beautiful landscaped gardens and walking trails. Adult workshops and children's activities are available upon request. The site offers rotating exhibitions featuring art and history, a summer concert series, award-winning pesticide-free gardens and a meeting place for local garden, historical and cultural groups. Zoom Zoom Indoor Playground Zoom Zoom’s is an indoor playground that provides great family entertainment for great value.  Our facility is clean, safe, comfortable and most of all fun! Our playground structure is designed so parents can play with their kids or, sit in a comfortable chair and read the paper or take advantage of our free wireless internet access. Parents will be able to safely watch their child from almost every vantage point. Zoom Zoom’s also offers a large cafeteria style eating area with coffee, drinks and snacks for sale. Guests are also welcome to bring in their own food and drinks or order in to the playground, as long as it is nut free.