Swing Out to Victory Brings 1940s Big Band Glamour to Hamilton

Step back into the sounds and style of the 1940s when the annual Swing Out to Victory Dinner & Dance returns to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum on Saturday, November 14.

Set among the museum’s historic aircraft, the evening combines live big-band music, dancing, dinner and vintage atmosphere for a celebration inspired by one of the most memorable eras in popular music.

At the centre of the evening is the Toronto All-Star Big Band, performing nostalgic music from the 1940s from 9 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.

Dance Among the Warplanes

Few dance floors come with a backdrop quite like this one.

Rather than a conventional ballroom, guests will spend the evening surrounded by aircraft from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum collection. Vintage fashions and Allied Forces uniforms from the 1940s are encouraged, although dressing for the period isn’t required.

For newcomers to swing dancing, there will also be swing dance lessons, along with prizes and giveaways throughout the event.

The combination makes the evening accessible whether you’re an experienced dancer, a history enthusiast or simply looking for an unusual night out in Hamilton.

Dinner Before the Dancing

Dinner-and-dance guests can arrive beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the buffet served at 6:30 p.m.

The menu includes garden and Caesar salads, tortellini with marinara sauce, grilled chicken with a creamy sundried tomato sauce, roast beef au jus, vegetables, red-skinned mashed potatoes and desserts, followed by coffee and tea. Guests with dietary restrictions are asked to contact the museum with their table and seat information by November 1.

Those who prefer to skip dinner can purchase a dance-only ticket, with doors opening for those guests at 8 p.m.

Give Back While You Celebrate

The evening also offers guests an opportunity to help the wider Hamilton community. The museum will be accepting donations of non-perishable food for Hamilton Food Share during the event.

It adds a community-minded element to an evening already built around celebrating music, history and one of Hamilton’s most distinctive cultural attractions.