Connect with the Chatham community this holiday season! Discover all the festive events in our guide. Whether you're deeply rooted in Chatham or just branching out, this guide maximizes your holiday joy.
One highlight is the OPG Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights, a dazzling display that transforms the area into a winter wonderland. Featuring countless illuminated scenes, it's a visual treat for all ages. Another event to explore is ELVIS A Christmas Special, where the magic of Christmas meets the enchanting sounds of Elvis Presley. And don't forget the Amherstburg River Lights Winter Festival, which showcases charming light displays along the riverfront. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Chatham
- OPG Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights (Niagara Falls)
- ELVIS A Christmas Special
- Amherstburg River Lights Winter Festival (Amherstburg)
- St. Andrew's Saturdays at 7 Presents: So This is Christmas
- Aurora’s Christmas Market (Aurora)
- Stouffville Holiday Market (Stouffville)
- O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
- Port Hope Candlelight Festival (Port Hope)
- St. Marie Among the Hurons – First Light Festival (Midland)
- Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (Simcoe)
See these and even more events listed below!
Chatham Holiday Light Displays
Amherstburg River Lights Winter Festival
What to Expect:
Customized LED light displays in two main parks and downtown streets.
Description:
The Amherstburg River Lights Winter Festival features hundreds of customized LED light displays in two main parks and downtown streets. King’s Navy Yard Park showcases traditional holiday displays with carolers, angels, and soldiers, while Toddy Jones Park offers whimsical and playful displays for all ages. The event includes a Gingerbread Warming House with hot chocolate, crafts, and a gingerbread house contest.
Where: Amherstburg | More Info: Amherstburg River Lights Winter Festival
OPG Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Spectacular light displays and hot chocolate trail.
Description:
The OPG Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights features over 3 million lights and 75+ displays, transforming Niagara Falls into a vibrant winter spectacle with nightly Falls Illumination and the Hot Chocolate Trail.
Where: Niagara Falls | More Info: OPG Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
Chatham Holiday Markets and Shopping
Stouffville Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Local artisan vendor marketplace with unique, locally crafted treasures.
Description:
The Stouffville Holiday Market is a vibrant event featuring a local artisan vendor marketplace, magical lighting displays, food and beverage options, horse-drawn carriage rides, and visits with Santa Claus. Live musical entertainment adds to the festive atmosphere, making it a perfect destination for family fun and seasonal charm.
Where: Stouffville | More Info: Stouffville Holiday Market
Aurora’s Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Hands-on workshops and seasonal vendors.
Description:
Aurora’s Christmas Market is a free event filled with good cheer, hands-on workshops, and fantastic seasonal vendors offering a variety of goods and food.
Where: Aurora | More Info: Aurora’s Christmas Market
Port Hope Candlelight Festival
What to Expect:
Handmade vendor market with festive activities.
Description:
The Port Hope Candlelight Festival is an annual holiday event that transforms downtown Port Hope into a vibrant and festive atmosphere. It features a candlelit procession, carol singing, live music, an outdoor market with handmade goods, and moonlight shopping.
Where: Port Hope | More Info: Port Hope Candlelight Festival
Hamilton Day
What to Expect:
Community-driven celebration of local businesses.
Description:
Hamilton Day is a city-wide celebration of local businesses, featuring over 1,000 participating retailers, eateries, and service providers. Enjoy featured programs, concerts, and exciting entertainment for all ages as you explore and shop through vibrant neighborhoods.
Where: Hamilton | More Info: Hamilton Day
St. Marie Among the Hurons – First Light Festival
What to Expect:
Candlelit historical site with live music and artisan market.
Description:
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons’ First Light Festival is an award-winning holiday event featuring live musical performances, historical demonstrations, and an extensive artisan market amidst the glow of thousands of candles.
Where: Midland | More Info: St. Marie Among the Hurons – First Light Festival
Bala Cranberry Festival
What to Expect:
Community-driven harvest festival with local artisans and entertainment.
Description:
The Bala Cranberry Festival is a 3-day celebration in Muskoka, featuring exceptional shopping, exciting entertainment, and culinary delights. It includes wagon tours, wine tasting, cranberry plunges, harvesting, and various activities for all ages.
Where: Bala | More Info: Bala Cranberry Festival
Chatham Holiday Shows and Entertainment
ELVIS A Christmas Special
What to Expect:
Tribute performance of Elvis Presley's Christmas carols by Pete Paquette and his band.
Description:
Pete Paquette and his band, the Rockin' Royals, along with the sensational Tonettes, present a tribute performance of Elvis Presley's greatest Christmas carols, including "Blue Christmas," "Here Comes Santa Claus," and "O Come, All Ye Faithful." This heartwarming show features a variety of traditional Christmas favorites and personal favorites of Pete's, making it a joyous event that inspires the Christmas spirit in everyone.
Where: Chatham | More Info: ELVIS A Christmas Special
St. Andrew's Saturdays at 7 Presents: So This is Christmas
What to Expect:
Christmas music performance by local bands.
Description:
St. Andrew's Saturdays at 7 Presents: So This is Christmas is an evening of Christmas music featuring the sensational Tonettes and the Rockin' Royals, bringing the spirit of the season to Chatham.
Where: Chatham | More Info: St. Andrew's Saturdays at 7 Presents: So This is Christmas
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
What to Expect:
Hilarious British pantomime-style comedy with interactive elements.
Description:
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy is a hilarious and inventive show reminiscent of classic British pantos. Combining British propriety with an unabashed love for the unexpected, this show features rich wordplay, comic physicality, and cleverly crafted interactive elements. When catastrophe strikes at James and Jamesy’s Christmas tea party, the duo conjures wildly funny solutions to stay afloat, sweeping the audience out to sea in a jolly aquatic escapade brimming with whimsy, action, and ingenuity.
Where: Chatham | More Info: O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
Chatham Other Holiday Activities
Port Elgin Pumpkinfest
What to Expect:
Giant vegetable weigh-offs and live music.
Description:
Port Elgin Pumpkinfest is a unique festival celebrating the harvest season with giant vegetable weigh-offs, live music, and family-friendly activities.
Where: Port Elgin | More Info: Port Elgin Pumpkinfest
Pumpkinferno
What to Expect:
Immersive outdoor pumpkin displays with special effects and family-friendly activities.
Description:
Pumpkinferno at Discovery Harbour features over 5,000 intricately carved, glowing pumpkins, along with lights, music, and activities. Visitors can explore Grim Reaper’s Grove, Scarecrow Alley, and the Macabre Mansion. The event offers a drive-thru experience on Wednesday nights and a walk-thru experience on Thursday through Sunday evenings.
Where: Penetanguishene | More Info: Pumpkinferno
Kingsville Migration Fall Festival
What to Expect:
Community-driven celebration with art exhibitions and outdoor activities.
Description:
The Kingsville Migration Fall Festival is a celebration of migration, heritage, and nature conservation, featuring various activities, including art exhibitions, parades, children's activities, and community bike tours.
Where: Kingsville | More Info: Kingsville Migration Fall Festival
Aurora’s Haunted Forest
What to Expect:
Spooky trails and family-friendly activities.
Description:
Aurora’s Haunted Forest is a family-friendly event featuring decorated trails, cabins, and activities for all ages. It includes a charitable BBQ and various crafts and games.
Where: Aurora | More Info: Aurora’s Haunted Forest
Markham Fair
What to Expect:
Community-driven agricultural and homecraft displays.
Description:
Markham Fair is a community-driven event celebrating 180 years of showcasing talents and products. It features a variety of entertainment, including horse pulls, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, livestock shows, and farm animal displays. The event also includes interactive demonstrations, live shows, and family-friendly activities.
Where: Markham | More Info: Markham Fair
Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show
What to Expect:
Celebrating agriculture and community with equestrian showcases and diverse competitions.
Description:
The Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show is a seven-day event celebrating agriculture, equestrian showcases, and community spirit. It features livestock displays, agricultural competitions, artisanal crafts, and live music. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, local food vendors, and various competitions including horse shows and the four-horse hitch class.
Where: Simcoe | More Info: Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show
International Plowing Match & Rural Expo
What to Expect:
Showcase of plowing competitions and rural expo activities.
Description:
The International Plowing Match & Rural Expo is a premier agricultural event featuring plowing competitions, educational programs, and vendor exhibits showcasing local products and services.
Where: Lindsay | More Info: International Plowing Match & Rural Expo
Collingwood Art Crawl
What to Expect:
Free, self-guided art and music tour with diverse artistic disciplines.
Description:
The Collingwood Art Crawl is a free, self-guided art and music tour featuring over 50 artists and more than 30 musical performers in downtown Collingwood.
Where: Collingwood | More Info: Collingwood Art Crawl
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Leamington (33 miles)
- Saint Clair Shores (36 miles)
- Tecumseh (37 miles)
- Roseville (39 miles)
- Clinton Township (39 miles)
- Eastpointe (39 miles)
- Port Huron (40 miles)
- Sarnia (41 miles)
- Warren (43 miles)
- Windsor (43 miles)
- Hamtramck (44 miles)
- Detroit (44 miles)
- Sterling Heights (45 miles)