‘Tis the season for Christmas markets, colourful light displays and festive sing-alongs! Check out our guide to local holidays events. Cambridge Old Post Office Digital Light Show When: Nov. 27 to Jan. 1 Where: Old Post Office in Cambridge The Old Post Office turns into a brilliant spectacle for the season. Check it out the 20-minute light displays every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Cambridge Holiday Market When: Dec. 5 to Dec. 7 Where: City hall and Cambridge Centre for the Arts Finish off your holiday shopping list at this annual Christmas market featuring more than 100 artisans, crafters and makers. Dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol When: Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Where: St. Petersburg Lutheran Church at 810 King Street East Cost: $15, donation for the Cambridge Food Bank Phil Klein’s Unsilent Night When: Dec. 5 Where: Downtown Cambridge Phil Klein’s Unsilent Night is a twist on traditional carolling, along with interactive light installations. Cambridge Holiday Market When: Dec. 5 to Dec. 7 Where: Cambridge City Hall City Hall transforms into a holiday market with almost 60 local artists selling unique gifts for the season. There will also be live entertainment and food trucks on site. Hespeler Santa Claus Parade When: Saturday, Dec. 6 at 12 p.m. Where: Groh Ave. to Guelph Ave. to Sheffield Street Santa Claus is coming to Hespeler. After the Santa Claus parade, Old Saint Nick will be handing out bags of goodies at the Scout House in Forbes Park. Donations will also be collected for the Cambridge Food Bank. Watch Elf on the big screen When: Dec. 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Gaslight District Cost: Free Bring your lawn chair – and a blanket! – for this outdoor screening of Elf. Chanukah Menorah Lighting When: Dec. 15 Where: Cambridge City Hall The Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life invites the community to celebrate Chanukah with a menorah lighting, holiday songs, traditional treats and a message of peace. Watch The Grinch on the big screen When: Dec. 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Gaslight District Watch The Grinch try to ruin Christmas on the big screen, but don’t forget to bring a lawn chair and blanket! Kitchener Gift of Lights When: Nov. 21 to Jan. 3 Where: Bingemans Check out more than 300 animated and static light displays along two drive-thru tunnels. Christkindl Market When: Dec. 4 to Dec. 7 Where: Downtown Kitchener, Carl Zehr Square Cost: Free Kitchener’s beloved holiday market returns with vendors, live entertainment, an ice sculpture competition, maple taffy, blacksmithing demonstration, ice skating and fire eaters and jugglers. There is also a kid’s zone with a petting zoo, midway rides, Christmas cookie decorating and a visit from Santa Claus himself! KrampusKindl 2025 When: Dec. 5 to Dec. 9 Where: Gaukel Street A Christmas market for the Grinch in your life with unusual gifts from local artists and vendors. Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert When: Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 Where: Centre in the Square Cost: $50.50 - $100.50 A screening of the Christmas classic with the musical score performed live by Glatz Concerts. KW Symphony Presents: Holiday Pops When: Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Where: St. Matthews Centre Cost: $25 - $60 Sounds of the season with the KW Symphony, Grand Philharmonic Choir and special guests. Choir! Choir! Choir! Unsilent Night: An Epic Holiday Singalong When: Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Where: Centre in the Square’s Main Theatre Cost: $50 - $70 Choir! Choir! Choir! returns to Waterloo Region for another sing-along. Get out your holiday best (or worst) and warm up your vocal cords! All you have to do is show up and sing your heart out to some holiday classics and newer pop hits. The best part is – you don’t need any experience! Kitchener Rangers Holiday Game and Food Drive When: Dec. 19, puck drops at 7 p.m. Where: Kitchener Memorial Auditorium The Aud will be all decked out as the Kitchener Rangers face off against the Owen Sound Attack. Chanukah Menorah Lighting When: Dec. 22 Where: Kitchener City Hall The Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life invites the community to celebrate Chanukah with a menorah lighting, holiday songs, traditional treats and a message of peace. Waterloo Wonders of Winter When: Nov. 29 to Jan. 3 Where: Waterloo Park Cost: Free, but donations accepted Waterloo Park is all aglow with more than 100,000 holiday lights. This volunteer-run event is a community favourite! Indigenous Art Market When: Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: 22 Willow Street Support Indigenous makers at this holiday-themed art market. Chanukah Menorah Lighting When: Dec. 14 Where: Waterloo Town Square The Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life invites the community to celebrate Chanukah with a menorah lighting, holiday songs, traditional treats and a message of peace. New Hamburg New Hamburg Santa Claus Parade When: Sunday Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. Where: Parade goes from Norm Hill Park, along Peel Street Santa makes another stop in Waterloo Region. Wellesley Christmas Tyme in Wellesley Craft Market and Parade When: Friday, Dec. 12 at 6:45 p.m. (parade) and Dec. 13 Where: Parade begins at the Bill Gies Recreation Complex on Queens Bush Road The Big Man in Red is the star of the show at the Wellesley Santa Claus Parade. The craft market features gifts like bath products, candles, arts and crafts, as well as prepared foods, meats, cheeses, maple syrup and more. Guelph Spirit of the Season Downtown Guelph turns into a winter wonderland with indoor and outdoor markets, family-friendly activities, performances, seasonal drinks and food, plus a parade! When: Dec. 5 to Dec. 7 Marketplaces at St. George’s Square and Old Quebec Street open at 4 p.m. on Friday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. A tree lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday to kick off the holiday season. Saturday’s lineup includes the Santa Run at 5 p.m. and the Guelph Community Santa Parade at 5:30 p.m. When: Dec. 12 to Dec. 14 Marketplaces are open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday/Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Rainbow Chorus performs at 1:30 p.m. and North Fire Circus will light up the night with shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Douglas Street. On Sunday, it’s all about the kids! There will be meet-and-greets with princesses, Spiderman, Deadpool, Santa and The Grinch, as well as face painting and a Mini Makers Market. A Very Charlie Brown Concert When: Sunday, Dec. 21 Where: River Run Centre Cost: Adult tickets are $25, $23 for patrons over 60, $20 for those under 30 years, and $10 for anyone under 14 years old A musical performance of a Charlie Brown Christmas from jazz trio Adam Bowman, Duncan Wilson and Tyler Wagler, along with The Kingsbury Music Singers children’s choir. Stratford Winter Wander-land When: Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 Where: Downtown Stratford Children can ride around city hall on the electric Polar Express train, visit Santa and his sleigh from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Market Square, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride from Memorial Gardens. There will also be live music, fire pits, Victorian Christmas Carollers, Yuletide Cabins, Festive Food Trucks and Winter Food Market, plus a fresh Christmas tree market at Market Square and York Street.
