Festivales y eventos

Pingxin Xu, one of China's leading yangqin (Chinese dulcimer) players, presents this powerful instrument with a variety of music. It is a free Toronto Public Library concert at Albert Campbell Library on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, open to all ages.

The City of Pickering's Winter Wonderland on the waterfront at Millennium Square and the Nautical Village, on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 3 PM. Expect live ice carving, festive music and buskers, roaming characters, s'mores stations, holiday markets, photo stations and arts and crafts. It is a public outdoor event with no admission listed. It runs again on Saturday, December 12.

The City of Markham's festive evening at the Markham Civic Centre skating rink on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 6 PM to 8 PM, with the tree lighting at 7 PM, live holiday entertainment and family activities such as colouring. Free hot chocolate is offered while supplies last. No admission fee is listed.

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville's Santa Claus Parade, a holiday procession of lights, floats and bands along historic Main Street from Ninth Line to Park Drive, on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 6 PM. It ends with Santa greeting spectators, and children can drop off letters for Santa with the elves along the route. It is a public street parade with no admission listed.

A family Christmas carol sing-along with vocal warm ups, plus craft activities for ages 5 and up, at the Ruth E. Dickinson branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Christmas themed outfits are encouraged; the program is mainly in English and everyone is welcome. Saturday, December 5, 2026, 10:30 AM, about 60 minutes. Free drop in, no registration.

A holiday afternoon on Marion Dewar Plaza at Ottawa City Hall, open to all, with Santa and Mrs. Claus in their cabin, a campfire for roasting marshmallows, hot chocolate, maple taffy on snow, skating on the Rink of Dreams, horse drawn wagon rides and live outdoor entertainment. The Christmas tree lighting is at 4:45 PM. Saturday, December 5, 2026, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM; no admission fee is listed, and BeaverTails sold at a reduced price support the Ottawa Food Bank.

The Whitby Santa Claus Parade on Brock Street North, on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 10 AM, as listed by Durham Region Tourism. It is a public street parade with no admission listed.

Important: free, but you need a free ticket to get in. L'Illusion, Théâtre de marionnettes presents a show for children aged 3 to 8 in which three star sisters travel through a floating archipelago, assembling and separating strange islands and meeting island creatures. Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m. Online booking adds a $2 fee.

Important: free, but you need a free ticket to get in. Montreal songwriters from India, Rwanda, Iran, Brazil and Ukraine sing in French for the first time, setting well known Québec chanson lyrics to music, with musical direction by Joel Kerr and host Monique Giroux. Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are released Saturday, November 21 at 1:00 p.m.

Cabbagetown's holiday street celebration, with a family fun zone at Carlton and Parliament serving hot apple cider and hot cocoa, live music, an ornament crafts table, Instax photos with Santa at 250 Carlton Street and a text based treasure hunt through local shops. Saturday, December 5, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m. Free to attend; more activities will be announced on the BIA's page.

A free festive day for the whole family at Domaine de Maizerets to kick off the winter season, with roving entertainment, a sports zone, a singer, a fire pit, Café OuiOui and treats. Saturday December 5, 2026, 10 AM to 4 PM. Free; may be cancelled in bad weather.

A free family Christmas party at Parc Empire on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from noon to 6 p.m., run by the community group Tout pour les enfants de Greenfield Park. Expect shows, face painting, hot chocolate, kids' activities, prize draws and gifts for children, with a visit from Santa in the afternoon.