Festivals and Events

The Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade, with bands, floats, characters and Santa, rain or shine. Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. The parade starts at Armoury Street and Victoria Avenue, goes north on Victoria Avenue, right on Valley Way, then down Queen Street to City Hall. Afterward, Centennial Square at City Hall hosts a free celebration with the Christmas tree lighting and the lighting of the Queen Street holiday lights. Food donations for Project SHARE are welcome.

Free outdoor holiday concert: the CPKC Holiday Train, lit up with thousands of lights, stops in Vaudreuil-Dorion (Gare Vaudreuil exo station, gravel parking lot, 3101 boulevard de la Gare) and one of its cars opens into a stage. American Authors and Tyler Shaw perform. Bring non perishable food or a money donation if you can; it goes to the Centre d'action bénévole L'Actuel and stays in the community. Parking is available at the pôle municipal, the Centre multisports and the station. Arrive early: the show lasts about 30 minutes and the train moves on right after. Saturday, November 28, 2026, 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

Every evening from Saturday, November 14 to Saturday, December 26, 2026, a holiday light show is projected onto the old Halifax Memorial Library in Grafton Park, part of Downtown Halifax's Delightful Downtown program (a Halifax Explosion projection also runs December 4 to 7). The show plays outdoors in a public park, so you can stop by and watch for free after dark.

The City of Halifax lights its big Christmas tree in Grand Parade, next to City Hall, with a family celebration to start the season. Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. It is a free civic event in a public square, open to everyone.

Free outdoor holiday concert: the CPKC Holiday Train, lit up with thousands of lights, stops in Lacolle (10 rue Sainte-Marie) and one of its cars opens into a stage. American Authors and Rafaëlle Roy perform on this part of the tour. Bring a donation for the local food bank if you can (non perishable food or money); everything collected stays in the community. Arrive early: the show lasts about 30 minutes and the train moves on right after. Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Browse homemade products from local vendors at the nature centre's holiday craft fair, then walk the trails of the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary next door. Saturday November 21 and Sunday November 22, 2026, 10 AM to 4 PM. Free admission, all ages welcome.

Barrie's Santa Claus Parade and the Noella Tree Lighting Celebration downtown on Saturday, November 21, 2026. Santa's Fireside Gathering in Centennial Park runs from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and is free to attend. The parade starts at 5:00 PM at Lakeshore Drive and Tiffin Street, goes north on Lakeshore, up Toronto Street, then east on Dunlop Street to Poyntz Street. As it ends, Noella at Meridian Place brings the tree lighting, a free downtown concert and fireworks.

The Holiday Parade of Lights kicks off the holiday season in Halifax, with lit up floats, bands and Santa winding through the festively lit downtown streets. Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 6:00 PM. It is a public parade on city streets, so anyone can watch for free from the sidewalk; check the organiser's page for the route.

Free outdoor holiday concert: the CPKC Holiday Train, lit up with thousands of lights, stops in Saint-Mathieu (École Jacques-Barclay, 368 rue Principale) and one of its cars opens into a stage. American Authors and Rafaëlle Roy perform on this part of the tour. Bring a donation for the local food bank if you can (non perishable food or money); everything collected stays in the community. Arrive early: the show lasts about 30 minutes and the train moves on right after. Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 7:50 PM to 8:15 PM.

Red Deer Lights the Nights kicks off with a free family party: visit with Santa, free hot chocolate and candy canes, gift bags for children, a bird seed craft, festive games, Christmas music and cozy fire tables. Friday November 20, 2026, 5 PM to 7 PM. City Hall Park lights also turn on for the season.

Hamilton's Santa Claus Parade, with floats, bands and Santa. Saturday, November 14, 2026, starting at 2:00 PM at Upper Sherman Avenue and Acadia Drive, going north on Upper Sherman, west on Limeridge Road East and ending at the south parking lot of Lime Ridge Mall. The City of Hamilton lists it as a free outdoor event.

Important: free, but you need a free ticket to get in. The Kamloops Film Society screens the holiday classic A Christmas Story before the Santa Claus Parade. Sunday November 22, 2026, at 2 PM. Seats are limited, so reserve your free seat through the Kamloops Film Society.