Hot Lead, Stratford, Ontario

Hot Lead is a miniature wargame convention held every March at the Best Western Plus The Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario. It calls itself "Canada's Finest Miniature Wargame Convention", and it has been going a long time: the organiser marked 25 years of Hot Lead in 2019. The 2020 and 2021 shows were cancelled because of COVID-19, and the show has since returned to its March weekend.

Unlike a one day show where most people come to shop, Hot Lead is shaped around playing. Game Masters bring their own tables, figures and terrain and run games through five slots across the weekend, from Friday evening to Sunday. The vendors line the edge of the gaming room, so the shopping happens around the games rather than in a separate hall.

Who runs it

The show is run by the Hot Lead team: a convention director, an administrator, a trustee, Bring and Buy coordinators, security and helpers, with decisions on things like the charity donations made by the Hot Lead committee. For a sense of size, the organiser's report on the 2018 show counted over 300 attendees, more than 50 Game Masters and 15 vendors.

A show that gives back

Part of every Bring and Buy sale goes to charity. In 2024 the Bring and Buy raised over $2,400, which the organiser shared between the Red Cross, the Canadian Walk for Veterans and the Stratford Air Cadet Squadron. In 2018 the total was $1,600, split between local cadet and cub groups and two national charities.

Hot Lead 2027 runs Friday 19 to Sunday 21 March 2027 at Best Western Plus The Arden Park Hotel, Stratford, Ontario. The weekend is split into five gaming slots: Friday evening, then Saturday morning, afternoon and evening, and a final slot on Sunday morning that runs until the last games finish.

Saturday is the big day, with three slots back to back, the Bring and Buy open and the vendors trading all day. Friday evening is a gentler start and a good time to get your bearings. On Sunday the games run until they're done, so check with your Game Master how long a Sunday game is likely to go before you book a long drive home.

A note on the timetable

The organiser's site lists the slot times in a couple of places, and they don't always agree to the minute (some pages give game start times, others the full slot). Treat the times above as a guide and check the slot pages on the official site for your game's start time.

Hot Lead doesn't sell tickets online. You pay admission when you arrive, and the organiser is clear: cash only, no electronic payment. Prices are in Canadian dollars, with a day rate for each day and a cheaper full weekend pass. There are two bands: adults (14 and over) and juniors (13 and under).

Which pass to buy

If you're coming for Saturday alone, the Saturday rate is most of the weekend price, so if there's any chance you'll play on Friday evening or Sunday morning too, the weekend pass is the better deal. Juniors pay much less, which makes Hot Lead a reasonable family outing if you have a young gamer in the house.

Bring more cash than you think

The organiser tells a cautionary tale: at the 2024 show, every cash machine within six blocks of the hotel ran out of cash. Admission, the Bring and Buy and many smaller sellers all want cash, so draw what you need before you reach Stratford. Some tournaments also collect their own extra fees through the Game Master, so check your tournament's listing for those.

Each gaming slot has three kinds of game on the schedule. The organiser publishes them slot by slot on its website as Game Masters sign up, so the list fills in over the winter before the show.

Open participation games

These are the heart of Hot Lead. A Game Master brings everything: miniatures, terrain, dice and a tape measure. You bring yourself. No rules knowledge is needed, so they're the easiest way to try a period or a rules set you've never played. The periods and genres on offer depend on what the Game Masters bring that year, so browse the slot lists on the official site as they fill.

Tournaments

Tournaments run in the gaming slots too. Each one is organised by its own Game Master, who handles registration, any extra fee and, where the rules need it, checking army lists. Tournaments can be booked up to 100% in advance, so if you want a seat, contact the Game Master early through the details in the tournament's listing.

Role-playing games

Role-playing games run in the quieter basement rooms, down the stairs beside the bar. Tables take four to eight players and the Game Master provides everything you need. You'll need your convention name badge, so register at the main entrance first.

Vendors

The vendor tables line the edge of the gaming room. The organiser says there are usually no fewer than ten hobby shops, and the current list has around 11 sellers of miniatures, historical figures, toy soldiers, militaria and dice.

Booking a game

You can sign up for most games on the day, but if there's one you really want, pre-register. For 2026 it opened 1 February and closed mid-March; dates for 2027 will appear on the pre-registration page.

The Bring and Buy is where attendees sell wargaming items they no longer need: miniatures, terrain and reference books. Hot Lead staff run it (Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm), and it's one of the busiest corners of the weekend.

Buying

Everything is sold by item number, so you won't know who the seller is and the staff can't find them for you. The price on the sticker is the price: no haggling, because staff can't change prices. Sellers can drop their own prices during the day, though, so it can be worth a second look later on. Payment is cash only.

Selling

If you're clearing the shelves, read the Bring and Buy rules in full before the show. In short:

Beginners and the curious. Open participation games need no rules knowledge and the Game Master brings everything, so you can sit down at a table with nothing but your enthusiasm. It's a good way to find out which periods and games you enjoy before you buy an army.

Tournament players. If you like competitive play, book early with the tournament's Game Master and bring a painted, ready army and a list that meets the event's rules.

Game Masters. If you have a game you love running, Hot Lead gives you free weekend entry for running an event. Tables are first come, first served and the organiser says they book up fast. Registration usually opens at the start of the new year and closes on the Friday two weeks before the show; the Game Masters page has the form. Building something for a skirmish table? Our skirmish warband guide is a good place to start.

Families. Junior prices for 13 and under make it an affordable day out with a young gamer, and open games are a gentle first taste of the hobby.

Role-players. The quiet basement rooms run role-playing games through the weekend, so there's something for the group who'd rather roll a d20 than a handful of d6.

Shoppers and collectors. Between the vendors and the Bring and Buy, there's plenty to browse even if you're not playing.

The venue

Hot Lead is held at Best Western Plus The Arden Park Hotel, Stratford, Ontario. The address is Ontario Street, Stratford, ON N5A 6W4, Canada. Everyone checks in at the main entrance, and the role-playing rooms are in the basement, down the stairs beside the bar.

Staying over

With games running from Friday evening to Sunday, many people stay the weekend. The organiser lists the hotel's numbers (Reservations 877 788 8818, front desk 519 275 2936) but doesn't publish a room block or a special rate, so call the hotel directly and book early.

Parking and transport

The organiser doesn't publish parking arrangements, public transport or accessibility details, so we won't guess. Ask the hotel when you book. If you're travelling from the UK, check the hotel and the official site for the nearest airports and onward travel.

Stratford itself

The organiser points visitors to Tourism Stratford for things to do in town. Stratford is home to a well-known theatre festival, but its shows start after mid-April, so none are running during Hot Lead. If you like the town, the organiser suggests coming back for a show later in the year.

Details checked against the organiser's website in October 2026. Always check the official site before you travel. The game lists for each slot, tournament details, admission prices and the Bring and Buy form are all published by the organiser, so that's the place to look for anything this page doesn't cover. Questions go through the contact form on the official site.

The same team also runs Cold Steel, a smaller autumn gaming event in Stratford with open games and no tournaments; details are on the official site. Planning more than one show this year? Our miniature events around the world page lists the big shows by region.