Santa Claus parades and holiday fun in Ottawa and eastern Ontario

The holiday season is inching closer with sleigh bells to be heard and shopping to be done and of course, this time of year festivities are getting underway.

First up is the 55th Help Santa Toy Parade in downtown Ottawa on Saturday, Nov. 16. The route will start at Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue at 11 a.m. and then head west to Bank Street. The parade will then turn south onto Bank towards Lansdowne Park where it will end.

New, unwrapped toys will be accepted along the parade route, as well as monetary and ‘tap’ donations.

Rundown of Santa Claus parades across Ottawa

• Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade: 3560 Strandherd Drive: Sunday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
• Kanata Santa Claus Parade – Hazeldean Mall: Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m.
• Manotick Kiwanis Santa Claus Parade –Main Street: Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
• Riverside South Community Association Toy Mountain Parade – 4330 Spratt Rd.: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m.
• Santa’s Parade of Lights – St-Joseph Bvld., Orléans: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.
• Carleton Place Santa Claus Parade – Carleton Place High School: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.
• Osgoode Village Parade of Lights – Main Street: Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
• Constance and Buckham’s Bay Santa Claus Parade — 262 Len Purcell Dr.: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m.
• Richmond Christmas Parade – Richmond Memorial Park:  Saturday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m.
• Stittsville Parade of Lights – Stittsville Main Street: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
• Pakenham Santa Claus Parade – 112 MacFarlane St., Mississippi Mills: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m.
• Almonte Christmas Parade – Mill Street, Mississippi Mills: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m.
• Huntley Community Association Santa Claus Parade – Huntley Curling Club entrance: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
• Fitzroy Harbour Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
• Metcalfe Santa Claus Parade – Victoria and Johannes Streets: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.

The City of Ottawa has also released a list of other holiday activities, including Christmas markets and light shows.

Christmas markets and events in Ottawa

• Ottawa Christmas Market: Aberdeen Square at Lansdowne from Nov. 22 to Jan. 25
• Magic of Lights: Wesley Clover Park Campground, 411 Corkstown Rd.from Nov. 22 to Jan. 4
• Winter Lights across Canada: Parliament Hill from Dec. 5 to Jan. 7
• Billings Estate National Historic Site – Home for the Holidays: Wednesday to Saturday, Dec. 2 to 23, 2023, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cumberland Heritage Village Museum – Vintage Village of Lights: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Nov. 22 through Dec. 22 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Nepean Museum – Retro Christmas! Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Advance registration is not required.

Another very popular holiday event is the Alight at Night festival at Upper Canada Village.

During the event, over one million lights adorn the heritage buildings, trees, and fences. There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides.

It is open on select nights from Nov. 29 – Jan. 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Learn more and book tickets here.

Visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/event-calendar for more holiday events in the National Capital Region.