2023 Best Christmas Light Displays & Santa Claus Parades in Ottawa

Christmas is on its way and so are the annual Santa Claus Parades and amazing Holiday light displays in the Capital region.

Christmas Lights & Santa Claus Parades in Ottawa

Photo Credit: Help Santa Toy Parade

A list of Christmas Lights & Santa Claus Parades in the Ottawa area during 2023 – 2024 Holiday Season.

Contents:

Holiday/Christmas Lights

Santa Claus Parades

For all other Holiday events, see – Christmas in Ottawa & Things to Do This Weekend in Ottawa.

For Christmas lights across Ontario —

I. Holiday/Christmas Lights in Ottawa Area

Magic of Lights

Magic of Lights is a dazzling 2-kilometer drive-through holiday lights show featuring more than 300 spectacular displays using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of Ottawa’s favorite holiday tradition. Details

November 17 – January 6, 2024

Wesley Clover Parks Campground
411 Corkstown Road, Ottawa

$17-$45

Festival of Lights

There will be continuous viewing of the decorated Christmas trees from the outside of the Crystal Palace. The trees will be lit from 4:00p.m. until dawn. Details

November 18, 2023 – January, 2024

Crystal Palace, Perth

Free

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Alight All Night

Credit: Upper Canada Village

Bundle up for an evening stroll through this picture-perfect postcard setting! Close to one million lights adorn 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! Details

December 1, 2023 to January 6, 2024

Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Road 2
Morrisburg

$14 to $17

Vintage Village of Lights

Vintage Village of Lights Illumination Ceremony

Relax and enjoy the festive scenery from your vehicle as you pass through a 1920s and 30s village illuminated by over 30,000 lights. Colourful vignettes will highlight Christmas traditions from the interwar years while an old-fashioned radio program will bring the sounds of the season to you. Details

November 24 through December 17, 2023

The Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Road, Ottawa

$25 per group (1 – 6 people per group)

Ottawa Christmas Market

Experience Lights at Lansdowne and festive atmosphere including the presence of the largest Christmas tree in Ottawa, an impressive canopy of lights in and around Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza and other Instagrammable elements. Details

November 24 to Early January 2024

Casino Lac-Leamy Plaza at Lansdowne, Ottawa

Free

Festival of Lights

Discover Coulonge Falls Park trails under beautiful bright lights while being surrounded by holiday cheer. More than 10,000 twinkling Christmas lights and special effects will guide you to the waterfall. Details

December 1 to 29, 2023

Coulonge Falls Park, 100 Parc-des-Chutes Drive, Mansfield-et-Pontefract

Brockville River of Lights

The River of Lights is a free holiday light display on Blockhouse Island which includes thousands of twinkle lights and flood lights set to music. Details

November 25 to January 2, 2023

Blockhouse Island Parkway, Brockville (at the base of Market St. West at Water Street)

Free

Country Christmas Holiday Light Festival

Join us for an amazing A Country Christmas Holiday Light Festival – a stunning walking trail adorned with thousands of colourful lights and music on our beautiful 180-year-old family farm. Details

December 1 to 23, 2023

Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Road, Ottawa

$20 to $30, 2023

Christmas Lights across Canada

In Canada’s Capital Region, the winter landscape glows with hundreds of thousands of multicoloured lights during the holiday season. Throughout Christmas Lights Across Canada, the lights in Ottawa–Gatineau will glow each evening with Christmas lights at many sites along Confederation Boulevard. Details

December 7, 2023, to January 7, 2024

Parliament Hill, Confederation Boulevard, Ottawa and Downtown Ottawa.

Taffy Lane Street of Lights – Visit Taffy Lane in Orléans during Christmas season to enjoy the neighbourhood lights.

Smiths Falls Celebration of Lights

Come celebrate the magic of the holidays and tour Centennial Park lit by thousands of holiday lights! Details

December 2 – January 7, 2024

Centennial Park, Smith Falls

Free

Holiday Light Tour

Go on a light tour of beautifully lit houses in Riverside South Community. Details

Holiday Season

Riverside South, Ottawa

Free

Stanley’s Holiday Stroll

Visitors will be welcome to come and enjoy the beauty of the Holidays while taking a stroll through our forest trails that have been decorated with colourful lights and displays. Since the trails are wide enough for multiple groups, you can feel free to stop and admire the scenery as much as you like without having to worry about getting in anybody else’s way. Details

December 1 to 30, 2023

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, 2452 York’s Corners Road, Edwards

$10 to $12

II. Santa Claus Parades in the Ottawa Area

Help Santa Toy Parade

Every year since 1969, the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters’ Association has been organizing the Help Santa Toy Parade and collecting toys along the parade route for distribution to the less fortunate children in Ottawa-Carleton.

Details

Saturday, November 18, 2023 | 11:00 AM

Ottawa City Hall to TD Place, Ottawa

Cornwall Santa Claus Parade

The theme for the 51st Annual Parade is “Christmas – past, present and future”. Details

Saturday, November 18 | 5:00 PM

St. Lawrence Intermediate School, 1450 Second Street East.

Kemptville Rotary Santa Claus Parade

Join us for a festive celebration that warms hearts and spreads goodwill. The parade theme is “Create Hope in the World”, which is also the 2023-24 Rotary International theme. Details

Saturday, November 18, 2023 | 4:30 PM

Beginning at VanBuren & Bridge St. (405 VanBuren, old truck centre), then west on VanBuren, turning north/right on Prescott Street, then turning east/right on Clothier St. then turning north/left on Sanders St.

Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade

Get into the Christmas spirit as you welcome Santa to town. Details

Sunday, November 19, 2023 | 5:30 PM

Strandherd Drive, Ottawa

Riverside South Community Association Toy Mountain Parade

Join for the RSCA Toy Mountain Parade. Details

Saturday, November 25, 2023 | 11 AM

Spratt Rd, Gloucester

Orléans Santa’s Parade of Lights

Join us for the Parade of Lights hosted by Ottawa Professional Firefighters Association. Toy and cash donations will be collected by the Firefighters along the route. Details

Saturday, November 25, 2023 | 6:00 PM

St-Joseph Blvd – Youville Drive to Preston Drive, Orleans

Carleton Place Santa Claus Parade

Downtown Carleton Place invites you to join us as we celebrate the Christmas Season. Details

Saturday, November 25, 203 | 5:00 PM

Bridge Street, Carleton Place

Santa Claus Parade of Lights – Pembroke

by the City of Pembroke. Details

Saturday, November 25, 2023 | 5:30 PM

Pembroke Street West, Pembroke

Kanata Santa Claus Parade

The Kanata Santa Claus Parade presented by Hazeldean Mall to benefit the Kanata Food Cupboard. Details

Saturday, November 25, 2023 | 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Holy Redeemer Church to Hazeldean Mall, Kanata

Osgoode’s Parade of Lights

Osgoode Village Community Association is bringing back Osgoode’s Parade of Lights.

Details

Friday, December 1, 2023 | 7 PM

Starting at Nixon & Main ending at Foodland Parking Lot, Osgoode

Manotick’s Parade of Lights

Santa Claus is coming to town for Manotick’s Parade of Lights. The parade route will be the same as the Dickinson Days in June.

Details

Friday, December 1, 2023 | 7 PM

Main St. and Through Manotick Mews, Manotick Ottawa

Constance & Buckhams Bay Santa Claus Parade

Join us at the Constance & Buckham’s Bay Santa NIGHT Parade at 4:30PM! After the Parade the Constance & Buckham’s Bay Community Association will host dinner and a dance at the Centre!

Details

Saturday, December 2, 2023 | 4:30 PM

NorthWind Wireless Center, 262 Len Purcell, Woodlawn

Pakenham Santa Claus Parade

Don’t miss Santa’s favourite event with the Pakenham Santa Claus Parade! Pack a thermos of hot chocolate and head to downtown Pakenham at 1pm for an old-fashioned, festive parade.

Details

Saturday, December 2, 2023 | 1 PM – 2 PM

You can watch the parade from anywhere in Downtown Pakenham.

Perth Santa Claus Parade

Annual Parade of Lights.

Details

Saturday, December 2, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Sunset Blvd- Wilson St – Foster St- Gore St- Cockburn, Perth

Almonte Christmas Night Parade

Celebrate the arrival of the holiday season with Almonte’s nighttime parade- an annual favourite for adults and children alike!

Details

Sunday, December 3, 2023 | 5 PM – 7 PM

John Levi Community Centre, Almonte

Richmond Santa Claus Parade

Processional style parade format will be back in 2023. Details

December 2 | 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Richmond Village, Ottawa

Stittsville Parade of Lights

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.

Details

December 2, 2023 | 6:00 PM

Stittsville Main Street, Ottawa