Plan your perfect holiday schedule in Barrie! Our guide features all the best festive events and activities. For Barrie devotees and casual visitors alike, our guide illuminates the path to festive fun.
Kick off the season with the 75th Annual Barrie Santa Claus Parade, where lively floats and cheerful performers fill the streets with the spirit of Christmas. Celebrating the magic of community, the parade is a highlight for many families. In addition, the Noella Tree Lighting Celebration brings a charming ambiance to downtown Barrie, illuminating the night with twinkling lights and seasonal music. And the Barrie Downtown Countdown is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a variety of entertainment, food, and activities to welcome in the New Year. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Barrie
- Barrie Downtown Countdown
- 75th Annual Barrie Santa Claus Parade
- Noella Tree Lighting Celebration
- Barrie Rotary Festival of Trees
- Barrie Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
- First Light (Midland)
- Magic of Lights
- Orillia Santa Claus Parade (Orillia)
- Light Up the Park (Parry Sound)
- Parry Sound Santa Claus Parade (Parry Sound)
See these and even more events listed below!
Barrie Holiday Light Displays
Barrie Rotary Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday light display with significant sponsorship visibility.
Description:
The Barrie Rotary Festival of Trees features a stunning display of lights along Lakeshore Drive, sponsored by generous companies. The lights are lit during the Santa Claus parade and remain on until spring. Following the parade, a picnic with hot dogs, hot chocolate, and hot cider is held, with sponsor logos prominently displayed.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Barrie Rotary Festival of Trees
Magic of Lights
What to Expect:
Dazzling drive-through holiday lights with favorite holiday scenes and characters.
Description:
Magic of Lights in Barrie, ON, features a dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience with spectacular light displays, including a Holiday Barbie display and life-sized dinosaurs.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Magic of Lights
Light Up the Park
What to Expect:
Dazzling Christmas lights and festive activities.
Description:
Join us at Market Square Park for Light Up the Park, where dazzling Christmas lights illuminate the night sky. Highlights include Stories with Santa, an official lighting ceremony, and festive activities like warm beverages and holiday music.
Where: Parry Sound | More Info: Light Up the Park
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display along Lakeshore Drive with prominent sponsor signs.
Description:
The Festival of Trees features a stunning display of lights along Lakeshore Drive, sponsored by generous companies, with proceeds benefiting the Rotary Club of Barrie. The lights are lit during the Santa Claus parade and remain on until spring, accompanied by a picnic with hot dogs, hot chocolate, and hot cider.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Festival of Trees
Barrie Holiday Markets and Shopping
Barrie Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
What to Expect:
Unique handcrafted gifts from local artisans.
Description:
The Barrie Christmas Arts & Crafts Show features over 140 Ontario artisans showcasing pottery, stained glass, teddy bears, body care products, jewelry, clothing, woodcrafts, and ceramics. This event offers a variety of handcrafted gifts, making Christmas shopping easy.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Barrie Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
First Light
What to Expect:
Candlelit historical site with live music and artisan market.
Description:
First Light at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is an award-winning holiday event featuring live musical performances, family activities, and historical demonstrations amidst the glow of thousands of candles.
Where: Midland | More Info: First Light
Barrie Holiday Shows and Entertainment
75th Annual Barrie Santa Claus Parade
What to Expect:
Community celebration with floats and marching bands.
Description:
The 75th Annual Barrie Santa Claus Parade is a cherished holiday tradition that unites the community with floats, energetic marching bands, and festive decorations, filling Barrie's streets with holiday spirit.
Where: Barrie | More Info: 75th Annual Barrie Santa Claus Parade
Noella Tree Lighting Celebration
What to Expect:
Multi-horn brass funk band performance after tree lighting.
Description:
The Noella Tree Lighting Celebration is a vibrant holiday event featuring a 35ft Christmas tree, festive window displays, and live performances by local artists and bands. The event includes free art activities, Christmas carolers, and a visit with Santa Claus.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Noella Tree Lighting Celebration
Barrie Downtown Countdown
What to Expect:
Live music and fireworks celebration in downtown Barrie.
Description:
The Barrie Downtown Countdown is a free family-friendly event featuring live entertainment, family activities, skating, and two fireworks shows under the twinkling lights of City Hall.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Barrie Downtown Countdown
Orillia Santa Claus Parade
What to Expect:
Largest Christmas parade north of Toronto with over 100 floats and bands.
Description:
The Orillia Santa Claus Parade is the largest Christmas parade north of Toronto, featuring over 100 floats, bands, and Santa himself. It takes place in Downtown Orillia on Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Orillia | More Info: Orillia Santa Claus Parade
The Barra MacNeils- An East Coast Christmas
What to Expect:
Traditional Celtic music with step-dancing revelry.
Description:
The Barra MacNeils: An East Coast Christmas is a musical celebration featuring traditional MacNeil family favourites from Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses, and festive gatherings. The event showcases captivating vocals, distinctive harmonies, and extraordinary musicianship, blending rousing choruses with hauntingly beautiful Gaelic ballads and foot-stomping instrumentals.
Where: Parry Sound | More Info: The Barra MacNeils- An East Coast Christmas
Christmas Carols & Holiday Concerts
What to Expect:
Traditional Christmas carols performed in a candlelit setting.
Description:
Join us for an evening of traditional Christmas carols and holiday classics performed by talented musicians in a beautifully lit setting, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere perfect for the holiday season.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Christmas Carols & Holiday Concerts
Christmas Plays & Holiday Theatre
What to Expect:
A unique blend of humor and poignant themes featuring Elvis Presley.
Description:
A dramedy that tells the story of a lonely, anxious woman who discovers her ex-husband is getting remarried, only to be visited by the ghost of Elvis Presley, offering her company, music, and spiritual guidance.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Christmas Plays & Holiday Theatre
Holiday Programming Noella
What to Expect:
Multi-horn brass funk performances and festive outdoor activities.
Description:
The Noella Festival in Downtown Barrie offers a month-long celebration with unique handcrafted gifts, delicious treats, free art activities, and live performances. It includes a festive market, window decorating contest, and a tree lighting ceremony with fireworks.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Holiday Programming Noella
Barrie Other Holiday Activities
Parry Sound Santa Claus Parade
What to Expect:
Celebrating the theme "I'll be HOME for Christmas" with community participation.
Description:
The Parry Sound Santa Claus Parade celebrates the warmth and spirit of Parry Sound with festive floats and jolly music, inviting all to feel at home during the holiday season.
Where: Parry Sound | More Info: Parry Sound Santa Claus Parade
Tree Lighting at Park Place
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday celebration with character meet-and-greets and community support activities.
Description:
Join Park Place for a delightful holiday event featuring a dazzling Christmas tree, beloved roaming characters, face painters, balloon twisters, and Victorian Christmas Carolers. Enjoy thrilling inflatable activities, hot chocolate, and sweet treats while supporting the Barrie Food Bank and Rock 95 Kool FM's toy drive.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Tree Lighting at Park Place
Holiday Activities Downtown Barrie
What to Expect:
Vibrant cultural celebrations and community events.
Description:
Downtown Barrie offers a variety of holiday activities, including festive events and cultural celebrations that showcase the city's heritage and community spirit.
Where: Barrie | More Info: Holiday Activities Downtown Barrie
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Keswick (14 miles)
- Orillia (19 miles)
- Wasaga Beach (19 miles)
- East Gwillimbury (24 miles)
- Newmarket (26 miles)
- Midland (26 miles)
- Collingwood (28 miles)
- Aurora (29 miles)
- Uxbridge (34 miles)
- Stouffville (36 miles)
- Richmond Hill (38 miles)
- Orangeville (40 miles)
- Vaughan (40 miles)
- Caledon (40 miles)
- Markham (42 miles)
- Pickering (44 miles)
- Milliken (44 miles)
- Steeles (44 miles)
- Newtonbrook West (44 miles)
- Westminster-Branson (44 miles)
- Black Creek (44 miles)
- York University Heights (45 miles)