Edited to add: Click this link for the 2018 Santa Claus and holiday parade info!
Welcome to one of my favourite holiday traditions! 2015 marks TEN YEARS since I’ve been collating and publishing all the Christmas, Holiday and Santa Claus parades for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario and West Quebec.
I feel a little bit like Costco selling its Christmas trees in July by putting up a blog post about Christmas when Halloween has barely slipped from our consciousness, but the first parades are THIS WEEK. One breath and we’re all golden leaves and pumpkins, and then you blink and it’s ho-ho-ho and shovel the driveway! Here’s all the info I could scare up about 2015 Santa Claus parade line-up, in chronological order:
Kanata Santa Claus Parade
Saturday November 14, 2015 at 10:00. The parade will proceed onto Castlefrank Road, turning onto Abbeyhill Drive and on to Hazeldean Mall. Join Santa after the parade with pictures at noon and crafts and entertainment for those in line.
Ottawa Help Santa Toy Parade
Saturday, November 21 starting at 11:00 am. The parade starts at the National Archives on Wellington street, heads east on Wellington Street and then turns right on Bank Street. It continues south on Bank Street then turns left on Laurier Avenue. New toys (no used toys, please) and cash donations will be collected by the Ottawa Firefighters.
Cornwall Santa Claus Parade
Saturday November 21, starting at 5:00 pm. Note the route change this year: the parade will run from St. Lawrence Intermediate School 1450, Second Street East. It will then proceed west. The theme this year is Christmas Dreams. Join us afterward for Santa’s Street Hockey Challenge!
Clarence Rockland Santa Claus Parade
Sunday, November 22, starting at 4:30 pm. Meet Santa after the parade at the Christmas Show at the Knights of Columbus hall from 6:30 until 8:00 pm.
Barrhaven Lions Club Light Up the Night Santa Claus Parade
Sunday, November 22, starting at 5:30 pm. The parade runs down Strandherd Drive, starting at Beatrice Drive and ending at the park n ride, where it turns north for dispersal. Please remember to bring non perishable food items or cash donations for the needy. We will collect these items along the parade route.
Spencerville Starlight Parade
Friday, November 27, starting at 7:00 pm. Bundle up and watch the Starlight Parade as it winds throughout town. Watch for elves, and the man in red at the end of the Parade! Please bring a non-perishable food item for Spirit of Giving.
Gatineau Santa Claus Parade
Friday, November 27, starting at 7:00 pm. A tradition that goes back several years, this light-filled parade that departs from the Aylmer marina and attracts crowds from the entire region.
Brockville Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 28, starting at 2:00 pm. This year’s theme is “Clowning Around Christmas – Let’s Have Fun”. The Brockville Rotary Santa Claus Parade will start at North Augusta Road and Pearl Street then travel West on Pearl Street E. to Park Street, South on Park Street and lastly, West on King Street to Gilmore Street. During this year’s parade, volunteers will be collecting non-perishable foods from the viewers in support of The Brockville Food Bank and as donations during the Harvest Sharing Drive were down over last year at this time, we ask that everyone give generously.
Gananoque Santa Parade
Saturday, November 28, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm.
Carleton Place Santa Parade
Saturday, November 28 starting at 5:00 pm. Downtown Carleton Place is where the Grinch will find Christmas! The Grinch who Stole Christmas and all that he has taken, will be downtown for this holiday celebration. Spectators can assemble anywhere along the parade route from Bridge Street up Lansdowne Avenue.
Pembroke Santa Claus Parade of Lights
Saturday, November 28 starting at 5:30 pm. This year’s theme is “A Disney Christmas.” Parade runs from Moncion’s grocers through historic downtown Pembroke to L’Equinox School. Bring your hand bells to share your appreciation for the floats and non-perishable foot items in support of the Salvation Army food bank.
Orleans Parade of Lights
Saturday, November 28 starting at 6:00 pm. Once again the Ottawa Professional Firefighters Association will be hosting Santa’s Parade of Lights on St-Joseph Blvd. in Orleans. Toy and cash donations will be collected by firefighters along the route.
Arnprior Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 28 starting at 6:00 pm. After the Santa Claus Parade all participants and spectators are invited to the Legion. A special visitor may appear so that you may share your special Christmas wishes!
Stittsville Parade of Lights 2014
Saturday, November 28 starting at 6:00 pm. The SVA’s annual Parade of Lights is a community favourite, drawing thousands of spectators along the parade route. Each year, dozens of beautifully decorated community floats set the tone for Santa’s much anticipated arrival at the end of the parade.The parade runs along Stittsville Main from Carp Rd. to Carleton Cathcart. Merry makers are also encouraged to stay for the lighting of Village Square Park, and to share in some hot chocolate.
Russell Santa Claus Parade
Sunday, November 29 starting at 1:00 pm.
Vankleek Hill Christmas Parade of Lights
Friday, December 4, starting at 7:00 pm. Dress warm and come out to the Santa Claus Parade of Lites[sic]! Check The Review closer to the date to get the parade route information!
Osgoode Santa Parade
Saturday, December 5. Grab a seat along Osgoode Main Street and wait for the big guy’s arrival. During the parade, Santa’s helpers will collect “Letters to Santa†and drop them off at Canada Post on behalf of all girls and boys. Don’t forget to bring your canned goods for the “Fill a Truck Challenge“. Frosty the Snowman will participate and Stay Puff Marshmallow Ghostbusters will also join the parade. Parade starts at Nixon and Main and ends in the Foodland parking lot.
Manotick Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, starting at 1:00 pm. Parade runs from the Manotick Arena and then south down Manotick Main Street. This is our favourite of the season! 😉
Constance & Buckham’s Bay Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, December 5, starting at 1:00 pm. This year’s theme; “Sugar and Spice and everything Nice.” The Parade runs along Bayview to Len Purcell and winds up at the community centre around 3pm for hots dogs, Santa, and hot chocolate. Be sure to check out the Christmas Craft Fair. Be sure to bring your non-perishable food item for the West Carleton Food Bank.
Pakenham Country Christmas
Saturday December 5, 1:00 pm.
Richmond Village Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, December 5, starting at 5:00 pm. Parade runs from Perth St, south on McBean St, then left on Burke St. Later that night at 6:30 pm, enjoy the annual “Lighting of the Park.â€
Perth and District Children’s Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, December 5, starting at 5:00 pm. Starting at the north end of Town, the Santa Claus Parade makes its way south via Wilson, then Foster, then Gore Streets, and finishes at the Queen Elizabeth School on Wilson St. East. With thousands of sparkly lights, Christmas music and characters.
Winchester Parade of Lights
Friday December 5 at 7:00 pm. Don’t miss the after-parade party at the Legion Hall and free movies at the Old Town Hall.
Carp Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, December 12, starting at 12:00 pm. The route starts at The Diefenbunker – 3911 Carp Road and follows Carp Road to Juanita Street to Langstaff Drive turning right on Donald B. Munro Drive to Carp Road finishing at the Diefenbunker. Following the parade, come and warm up and visit Santa at the Agriculture Hall. Refreshments will be available. Craft tables for the kids. Admission is free. Please bring a food bank donation.
Missing this year: At the time of publication in early November, I wasn’t able to find information about Kemptville, Smiths Falls, Russell Village, Ganonoque, Embrun, Renfrew, Hawkesbury, Almonte, Casselman, Eganville or Metcalfe. If you have any information about these communities or others not mentioned above, please let me know and I’ll update the post throughout the season.
And don’t fret if you can’t make it to the parade – how about one of these other fun family events with a holiday theme in our region?
Vintage Village of Lights
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3 pm to 8 pm, November 28 through December 20, 2015. Why leave Ottawa to make lifelong family holiday memories in a village of lights?! The beautifully illuminated village has more than 30,000 lights that transform what you see during the day into a magical night-time sea of sparkle. Tour the village by horse-drawn wagon ride, learn the history of letters to Santa, decorate gingerbread cookies, enjoy activities like street hockey and sledding, and even see the big guy himself – Santa Claus! Cost: Regular admission
2015 Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train hits the rails again in November, visiting over 150 communities. Since the program’s inception back in 1999, more than $7.4 million and over 3 million pounds of food has been collected in Canada and the United States. At each event, the Holiday Train provides a box car stage, a line up of great musical talents and a corporate contribution to the local food bank. The community, in turn, is encouraged to donate food and funds, all of which stays in the community. Local stops include Finch, Merrickville, Smiths Falls and Perth on November 29 and then Trenton, Belleville and Brighton on November 30. Check the holiday train schedule for more details.
Alexandria Festival of Lights
November 28 to December 31, 2015 from 5 to 10 pm each night. This is a community event that not only brings forth colorful trees but unique and individual displays from businesses, schools, and local organizations. There is no entrance fee into the festival for either the exhibitors or the public. Events include wagon rides, pictures with Santa and a scavenger hunt, plus fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Christmas Lights Across Canada: December 2, 2015 to January 7, 2016
Each year, the National Capital Commission coordinates the Christmas Lights Across Canada program. Join the opening ceremonies on Parliament Hill for the Christmas Lights Across Canada Illumination Ceremony.The Christmas Lights program was launched in 1985 to brighten the Ottawa winter, and at first the lights were only on Parliament Hill, but over the years the program expanded. Now, Ottawa and Gatineau glow each winter with more than 300,000 Christmas lights at over 60 sites along Confederation Boulevard. The program also includes all 13 provincial and territorial capitals, making it Christmas Lights Across Canada. Here’s my shivery, embarrassingly amateur video of the 2006 lighting ceremony (you can see why I’m a photographer and not a videographer!!)
Upper Canada Village: Alight at Night
Bundle up for an evening stroll through this picture-perfect postcard setting! With close to one million lights adorning the heritage buildings, trees and fences of Upper Canada Village creating a one-of-a-kind magical backdrop for its annual Alight at Night Festival…a true winter wonderland! Times and dates vary, so check the link for details.
Manotick’s Olde Fashioned Christmas
Saturday December 5 and Sunday December 6. The Village is transformed into a Village of Yesteryear. There will be a Victorian Tea and Penny Sale, horse-drawn wagon rides, pictures with Santa, face painting, strolling carollers and more.
If I’ve missed anything, or if you’d like to share information about your family-friendly Ottawa Christmas or Holiday event, please feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me at danicanada (at) gmail (dot) com and I’d be happy to add them to this (now epic!) post.
How many parades will YOU attend this year?
you and your Santa parades 🙂 love your enthusiasm for something have strangely never had much enthusiasm for…. I love Christmas.. and Santa. but maybe not the standing part. I hate standing. bad back is my excuse 🙂