What’s Your Holiday Tradition?
When I was a boy growing up in a small Toronto community, at Christmas time they always held Christmas decorating contests. As I remember, there were three types of contests, Door Decorating, Christmas Lights and Lawn Ornaments Decorating. Just before Christmas, there would be a party in the village club house and the contest winners would be announced. I think most villagers participated in at least one of the contests. The contests and party really brought the whole village together. There definitely was a sense of community! I’m not sure whether we won any of the contests (we tried), but my father’s friend, Harry, an interior designer, won a lot! Go figure! (Holiday Tradition)
Small-town Ontario during the holiday season is like stepping into a Christmas card, with snow-dusted streets, cozy cottages decked in twinkling lights, and more holiday cheer than you can shake a candy cane at. Here’s a guide to the wide (and sometimes hilariously spirited) array of holiday events and activities that will make you feeling like an honorary elf. (Holiday Tradition)
- Christmas Markets: The Battle of Homemade Ornaments and Local Fudge
Every small Ontario town worth its salt hosts a Christmas market, transforming the local arena, church basement, or main street into a mini winter wonderland. You’ll find everything from hand-knitted scarves that double as blankets to enough locally made fudge to keep your dentist booked for months. Elora’s Christmas Market is a local gem, where you can buy Christmas candles, handcrafted ornaments, and enough maple-scented treats to impress your out-of-town relatives. Just don’t be surprised when you start the day buying gifts for others but end up leaving with an armful of cozy “presents” for yourself. (Holiday Tradition)
- Holiday Parades: An Exercise in Frostbite and Cheer
Holiday parades in small-town Ontario are serious business. Local Santa Claus parades start at sunset, which, let’s face it, happens at 4:30 p.m. here. Expect to see floats of every kind, from holiday-themed tractors to the occasional fire truck decked out in garlands and twinkling lights. In Port Hope’s parade, Santa typically arrives in a horse-drawn sleigh, waving as if he hasn’t done this exact parade in every other town. The kids line the streets, bundled to the point of immobility, while parents wave them down with hot cocoa bribes to prevent meltdown-induced holiday memories.
- Tree Lighting Ceremonies: Turning on the Magic
Ontario’s small-town tree lighting ceremonies are always a big hit. Usually, the event centers on one giant tree, with a crowd gathered to count down until the big moment. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, locals bring their best woolly hats and hot chocolates, hoping for that Hallmark-worthy moment when the tree lights up and everyone gasps. Of course, someone’s always left fumbling for the switch, or the tree lights get tangled, but in a town like Cobourg, this just adds to the charm. Small towns make up for any technical glitches with carolers and community cheer – and maybe a snowball fight or two. (Holiday Tradition)
- Holiday House Tours: ‘Tis the Season for Decorating Bragging Rights
In towns like Stratford and Creemore, holiday house tours let locals flex their decorating skills for all to see. Homes open their doors, decked out in every kind of holiday decor: from vintage Victorian themes to full-on North Pole lookalikes. It’s all good fun, but let’s be real – there’s always that one house where the Christmas lights and life-size Nutcracker soldiers make you feel like you’re intruding on Santa’s real estate. You’ll leave inspired, a bit dazed by the twinkling lights, and wondering if you should upgrade from your single wreath to something with a bit more “wow.”
- Town Events and Contests: Where Quirky Meets Christmas
Only in small-town Ontario will you find a snowman-building contest alongside a holiday bake-off and a reindeer games competition (antlers optional). Huntsville’s SnowFest goes all out with a chili cook-off and ice sculpting competition, where participants have the freezing pleasure of creating frosty masterpieces. Other towns, like Perth, host gingerbread decorating contests that make your own cookie efforts look like a toddler’s art project. These events may be small, but they’re where community spirit truly shines, with locals piling on layers and joining in every contest, even if it means accepting a “Most Creative” ribbon for a somewhat lopsided snowman. (Holiday Tradition)
- Santa Villages and Visits: The North Pole, Ontario Edition
Ontario’s small towns know how to bring the North Pole to life, whether in Santa’s Village in Bracebridge or pop-up Santa experiences in towns like Haliburton. There’s usually a small army of “elves” (aka local high schoolers) assisting with candy canes and letters to Santa. Kids can chat with Santa, whisper their wishlist, and stare in awe at the candy-colored lights. Parents wait in line with knowing smiles, half of them hoping their kid doesn’t request a puppy. (Holiday Tradition)
- Skating and Winter Sports: Where Elegance and Ice Collide
What’s winter in Ontario without a bit of skating? Small towns set up outdoor rinks in the town square or on frozen ponds, like the iconic ice skating at Lakefield’s Memorial Park. Even if you’re more of a “cling to the rail” type, the rink becomes the town’s social hub. Winter sports like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing may pop up in nearby conservation areas. Locals glide around with impressive skill until they inevitably wobble and take a dramatic tumble. Luckily, there’s usually a hot chocolate stand nearby to nurse the bruises and warm the spirit. (Holiday Tradition)
- Holiday-Themed Train Rides: Polar Express Dreams
In towns like Uxbridge, the York-Durham Heritage Railway runs a holiday-themed train ride, complete with hot cocoa and story time. Kids show up in pajamas, clutching stuffed animals, and watch wide-eyed as the snowy Ontario countryside whizzes by. Every kid on board is convinced this is the “actual” Polar Express, and there’s something magic in watching even the adults get a bit starry-eyed when Santa pops into the carriage.
- Christmas Parties: Small-Town Festivities at Their Finest
Small-town Christmas parties are a sight to behold, whether it’s an office shindig, a cozy gathering at the community hall, or a family bash with an “ugly sweater” theme. The parties are a great excuse for local bakers to show off their finest Christmas cookies, for musicians to play holiday hits, and for everyone to bring out their best moves (and most questionable dance steps) as they embrace the festive spirit. (Holiday Tradition)
From carols to cocoa and everything in between, small-town Ontario does the holidays with heart, charm, and just the right amount of good-natured chaos. There’s truly no place like a small Ontario town to make every season bright – even if you need three layers to stay warm through it all!
