Complete Guide to 2025 Santa Claus Parades & Tree Lighting Ceremonies in Toronto & GTA

A comprehensive list of Tree Lighting ceremonies, and Santa Claus Parades in Toronto, Regions of Peel, Halton, Durham & York during the Christmas and holiday season.

Credit: Original Santa Claus Parade Toronto

Plan a Santa Claus Parade-themed day trip or a Christmas Lights family evening out and explore GTA. All the venues where light-up events are held are great places to see spectacular Christmas Lights.

For spectacular X-mas lights – Places to see X-mas Lights in GTA.

Christmas Carols & Concerts in GTA

Christmas Theatre & Holiday Events in GTA

Things to do this weekend in Toronto

Weekend Activities with Kids in Toronto

New Year’s Eve Fireworks & Family Events in GTA

New Year’s Eve Parties in Toronto

For events in Hamilton, see Christmas Events in Hamilton.

Parades might be cancelled due to inclement weather – Please verify before travelling.

Christmas Light-up Events & Santa Claus Parades in Durham 2025

Winter Nights, City Lights – Annual Tree Lighting | Pickering

Enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, new art installations, instagram-worthy photo ops, a market tent, and roaming characters. Bring the whole family out for some holiday fun! More details.

Christmas Tree Lighting | Oshawa

This free event in the heart of downtown Oshawa, offers fun for everyone, including live entertainment, partner activities, holiday market vendors, a large variety of food vendors, a visit from Santa and a tree lighting ceremony. More details.

Santa’s Parade of Lights | Oshawa

A spectacular nighttime parade. More details.

Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade

Annual Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade. More details.

Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade

The annual Santa Claus Parade in the community of Bowmanville celebrates the spirit of the holiday season.

Don’t forget your letters for Santa and non-perishable food donations being collected by the Salvation Army.

More details.

Winter Wonder Lights | Newcastle

Come out to the Community Hall in downtown Newcastle. We will be lighting up the hall, the tree and the parkette.

More details.

Newcastle Santa Claus Parade

Orono Santa Claus Parade

More details.

Christmas in the Village | Brooklin – Whitby

Experience the magic of small-town traditions with family and friends as we kick off the holiday season in Downtown Brooklin. More details.

Whitby Lights the Night and Holiday Festival | Whitby

This Season, spectacular illuminations will transform Whitby Civic Park and Celebration Square. Shop the Whitby Farmer’s Market At Night with added seasonal vendors. Enjoy live music and activities including cookie decorating, maple taffy, seasonal photo ops, entertainment, Santa and more. Food vendors will be on site for a quick bite or visit one of Whitby’s great restaurants before attending. More details.

Pickering Santa Claus Parade | Pickering

Join the City of Pickering and the Kinsmen & Kinette Club in celebrating the highly anticipated return of the Santa Claus Parade. This year, the Parade’s theme is Holiday Storytime, where groups are invited to represent pop culture or cultural stories about the holidays in their float design. More details.

Ajax Santa Claus Parade & Tree Lighting

Christmas Tree Lighting and Candle Light Walk | Port Perry

Join us for a free, magical storybook evening of celebration as we fill downtown Port Perry with the spirit of the holiday season! Enjoy a holiday farmer’s market, candlelit walk & tree lighting, carolling, live music & more surprises!

More details.

Beaverton Santa Claus Parade

Every year, dozens of floats participate in the parade to the delight of children and adults alike. The Santa Claus Parade also kick-starts the holiday season in Beaverton! Visit Santa after the Parade at the Fire Hall. More Details

Cannington Lions Santa Claus Parade

Annual Santa Claus Parade. Theme: Candy Land Christmas

More details.

Christmas Moonlight Magic & Tree Lighting | Bowmanville

Join us for our annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony on Temperance Street, featuring children’s entertainment, carol sing, and a visit from Santa himself. Come early to grab a spot on our large grandstands in front of the stage. The ceremony starts at 6:30pm, but there’s plenty to do while you wait.

Enjoy complimentary horse-drawn wagon rides along the main street. Do some shopping for unique handmade items at our Christmas Market.

More details.

Santa Claus Parade | Whitby

Join Optimist Club of Brooklin along Brock St. in Whitby, ON for this unique event that inspires delight and wonder for the young and the young at heart. Details

Santa Claus Parade | Port Perry

Evening parade of lights.

More details.

Courtice Santa Claus Parade | Clarington

The annual parade is back for 2025.

More details.

Fantasy of Lights | Uxbridge

Enjoy the light displays. Free. More details.

Sunderland Santa Claus Parade | Sunderland

Santa Claus is coming to Sunderland!

More details.

Christmas Lightup Events & Santa Claus Parades in Halton 2025

Milton Santa Claus Parade

This year, the 2025 Milton Santa Claus Parade brings your favourite animated worlds to life with this year’s theme – A Very Cartoon-y Christmas! From classic characters to modern favourites, we’re turning Main Street into our very own cartoon wonderland! More details.

Tree Lighting Ceremony | Oakville

Kick off the Christmas season and create magical memories in Downtown Oakville’s Towne Square at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony! Enjoy incredible entertainment, carolling, Santa, treats, and of course the lighting of the beautiful tree. More details.

Santa Claus Parade | Oakville

The Oakville Kinsmen will be collecting your non-perishable food donations for Oakville community food banks. Collection will happen at the beginning of the parade and just before Santa’s sleigh. More Details

Acton Santa Claus Parade

Join for the annual Acton Santa Claus Parade organized by Acton Fire Fighters Association.

More details.

Georgetown Santa Claus Parade

Organized by The Georgetown Lions Club. The Georgetown Lions Club Parade started in 1932 and has been a continuous event since that time. More details.

Bronte Village Annual Tree Lighting | Oakville

Experience the mirth and merriment of an old-fashioned Bronte Christmas during the Bronte Business Improvement Area’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Take time to shop some great early sales and warm up indoors at one of Bronte’s excellent eateries with mulled cider, festive treats or whatever your heart desires. More details.

BPAC Festival of Trees | Burlington

Pre-lit artificial Christmas trees, generously donated by Burlington Stores and sponsored by local businesses, will light up BPAC’s Lobby for 4 weeks – until their silent auction ‘winners’ take them home for the holidays. More details.

The Lakeside Festival of Lights | Burlington

Light up the Hills | Halton Hills

Light up the Hills is a Winter Festival that showcases Halton Hills during the holiday season. More details.

Santa Claus Parade | Burlington

Hosted by the City of Burlington, the annual Christmas Parade features entries including bands, colourful floats, clowns, mascots and jolly St. Nick himself. More details.

Christmas Lightup Events & Santa Claus Parades in Peel 2025

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Christmas and Holiday Events in Mississauga

Christmas and Holiday Events in Brampton

Christmas Tree Lighting | Brampton

Brampton Santa Claus Parade

You’ll see fun and exciting floats, hear Christmas music, watch dance performances, laugh with enchanting characters, and of course hear a special message from Santa himself! More details.

Mississauga Light Up the Square Celebration

With winter’s chill setting in, warm your heart with holiday magic as we light the Square for the first time this season. Join us for the Official Lighting of the Christmas Trees with Mayor and Members of Council. Mississauga Celebration Square will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland. Skate the night away and show your holiday cheer. More details.

Lighting of the Lighthouse | Mississauga

Celebrate the holiday season with us! Grab your cozy winter wear and join in the local celebration of the season. Lighting of the Lighthouse is a family-friendly event in the beautiful and vibrant Port Credit village. Come out for a fun party that the whole family can join. More details.

Christmas in the Village | Mississauga

We’re lighting up the Square with activities for everyone. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, take pictures with Santa, sip hot cocoa, and so much more. Find unique gifts for everyone on your list at the vendor market. There will be live music, photo op’s and everything you need to feel merry and bright.! More details.

Santa Claus Parade | Mississauga

The Mississauga Santa Claus Parade begins with twinkling lights, live entertainment, and holiday cheer. The Santa Claus parade features marching bands, dancers, fitness and sports clubs, community groups and dignitaries. More details.

Bolton Santa Claus Parade | Caledon

By Bolton Kinsmen. Theme: Christmas Carols! More details.

Mississauga Festival of Trees | Mississauga

Celebrating the joy of the winter season, event organizers will transform this remarkable light-filled space into a festive display of seasonal lights, artist-created tree and wood pile installations, artisan and food markets, performances and entertainment, and more. More details.

Christmas Light-up Events & Santa Claus Parades in Toronto 2025

Distillery Winter Village Ceremonial Tree Lighting

Watch as the crowd counts down ‘til the switch gets flipped and twinkling lights are turned on the 55-foot-tall, silver fir Christmas tree designed by Christian Dior Parfums. Come early to get a great view of the beautiful tree! More details.

Beaches Santa Claus Parade

Join Centre55 for The Beaches Santa Claus Parade, sponsored by Fearless Meat! Our theme this year is TheHeartoftheCommunity. More details.

Holiday Magic

Continuing with annual traditions, visitors and residents of Bloor-Yorkville can look forward to shopping, dining and taking in the neighbourhood’s art and cultural attractions surrounded by the holiday lighting along tree-lined streets. More details.

Toronto Santa Claus Parade

Officially kicking off the Christmas season, this 121st edition of the Original Santa Claus Parade will feature a stunning array of diverse, beautifully decorated floats, lively bands, spirited marchers, and Celebrity Clowns. More details.

Cavalcade of Lights

Credit: City of Toronto

Inspired by the luminous festivals and cultural revelries from around the globe, enjoy a host of holiday traditions centred on light, lanterns and fire woven into mesmerizing new lighting installations. Opening night celebration includes live performances and the grand illumination of Toronto’s official Christmas tree. More details.

Harbourfront Centre’s Tree Lighting Ceremony

Harbourfront Centre is delighted to kick off the winter season with the inaugural tree lighting ceremony and the highly anticipated return of skating. It will feature an immersive performance by FreePlay — the musical duo of internationally recognized vocalists, Suba Sankaran and Dylan Bell — who will bring their unique blend of technical brilliance and rich, multicultural storytelling to classic holiday tunes for attendees to enjoy. Details

Willowdale Christmas Market & Tree Lighting

Begin this Holiday Season by spreading joy and Christmas cheer in our community. We are back and bringing a festive small-town feel to our community.Join us as we gather together with our neighbours outside and celebrate all that’s special about this time of year. Details

Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade

Cavalcade of Lights in Berczy Park

Come celebrate the holiday season with us with an official lighting ceremony at Berczy Park. Enjoy our Victorian Carol Singers and free hot chocolate and hot apple cider, while supplies last! More details.

Fairbank Light Up The Holidays

We give out free snacks, drinks, and family fun! Food is while supplies last. Of course, we can’t forget the beautiful display and lighting of the Fairbank Village tree at 5:45pm. We have some great free family entertainment! Live music will be playing at our central area at Shortt St. and Eglinton Ave. West (just west of Dufferin St.) and Carolers will be strolling our area. More details.

Christmas Light-up Events & Santa Claus Parades in York 2025

Festival of Lights | Vaughan

Tree Lighting and Skate | East Gwillimbury

Join us at the East Gwillimbury Sports Complex for our Annual Tree Lighting ceremony and to stroll the Christmas Market!! More details.

Santa Claus Parade | East Gwillimbury

Gather your family and friends and prepare to be dazzled by the festive floats, marching bands, and, of course, the one and only Santa Claus. More details.

Santa Claus Parade | Newmarket

Join us in welcoming Santa Claus to Newmarket! More details.

Keswick Santa Claus Parade | Georgina

They will be collecting food and monetary donations for the Georgina Food Panty and the Optimist Club of Keswick will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for their annual toy drive fundraiser

More details.

Light up the Village | Stouffville

Santa Under the Stars | Aurora

Dress up in your winter woollies with a cup of hot chocolate and join us for this year’s evening parade as Santa comes to town. More details.

Festival of Lights | Markham

Santa Claus Parade | Markham

Floats and marching bands and of course Santa!! Don’t miss this annual family tradition! The parade can be viewed from any spot along Main Street Markham, along the route. More details.

SantaFest in Maple | Vaughan

This festive event will feature holiday-themed floats, marching bands, entertainers, and of course – a visit from Santa Claus himself! More details.

Frozen Fridays | Newmarket

Frozen Fridays presented by Mercedes-Benz Newmarket are the coolest place in town on Friday nights. Join us for live DJ music, outdoor skating, train rides on the Tim Hortons Express Train (weather permitting), free hot chocolate prepared by Hungry Brew Hops (while supplies last), fire & LED busker performances, LED Mega Tree shows, photo opportunities and more. More details.

Olde Tyme Christmas Candlelight Parade | Unionville

Bands and dance troupes are all decked out for Christmas.Artisan Market and enjoy marshmallow roasting, carollers, and jugglers. Moonlight shopping and more! Details

Santa Claus Parade | Whitchurch-Stouffville

Join us for the Stouffville Santa Claus Parade. More details.

Santa Claus Parade & Farmers Parade of Lights | Schomberg

Sutton Santa Claus Parade | Georgina

Kinsmen Sutton Santa Claus Parade of Lights

More details.

Did we miss any Santa Claus Parades or Tree Lighting ceremonies? Please submit online.