Christmas celebrations, Santa Claus Parades, holiday family fun events, festivals, weekend activities in and around Guelph.
Contents
- Christmas Lights & Santa Claus Parades
- Christmas Carols & Holiday Concerts
- Holiday Theatres across Guelph
- Christmas Theatre & Other Events
I. Christmas Lights & Santa Claus Parades
Guelph Community Santa Parade and Santa Run
Celebrate the season in Downtown Guelph with the annual Guelph Community Santa Parade and Santa Run. Get ready your letters to Santa! Details
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Santa Run | 4:55 PM
Parade | 5:30 PM
Downtown Guelph
Free; Donation of Non-perishable items to Guelph Food Bank appreciated.
Santa Run $50.81
Mount Forest Santa Claus Parade
The Mount Forest Lions have organized the Santa Claus Parade since 1938. This year’s theme is “Christmas Light & Bright Nights”. Details
Friday, December 4, 2026 | 7 PM to 8 PM
Old Arena/Victory Church & proceeding north on Main Street to the Firehall
Free
The Lights at Cornerstone
Step into the holiday spirit at The Lights at Cornerstone! Cornerstone is bringing a small dose of magic to Guelph with a cozy, family-friendly fundraiser. Enjoy festive displays, games, and treats, all while supporting local students. Details
TBA
December 5 to 30, 2025
Cornerstone School, 108 Forest St., Guelph
Free
Guelph Sparkles in the Park
Experience our festive light displays as you walk through the Guelph’s Riverside Park or stay warm in your car and drive through, the choice is yours. Details
TBA
December 13 – 31, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Riverside Park, 709 Woolwich St, Guelph
Free
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II. Holiday Concerts across Guelph
Kinderconcerts – The Nutcracker
Park Eatery Kinderconcerts bring the symphony to life through interactive performances for children ages 5 and under. Members of Guelph Symphony Orchestra share stories and works by great composers, introducing children to timeless fairy tales, classical music, and the experience of live performance. Kinderconcerts are an enriching, hands-on experience with audience participation highly encouraged! The stories are narrated by award-winning artist and cultural leader Kween. Details
Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM
Studio Hall – River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$11 – $15
Holidays in Motion
Get groovin’ and movin’ this holiday season! Enjoy an afternoon of music that will take you on a festive journey.
The Guelph Concert Band is pleased to bring you another festive show in partnership with Harcourt Memorial United Church and their annual food drive. Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to donate to those in need through Chalmer’s House. Details
Sunday, November 29, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Harcourt Memorial United Church, 87 Dean Avenue, Guelph
$12.19 – $33.59
SCARAMOUCHE – Celebrating the Music of Queen
A dynamic Queen Tribute band hailing from the heart of Ontario, Canada. With a passion for capturing the legendary energy and vocals of Freddy Mercury and the iconic sound of Queen, this talented combo brings the magic of classic hits to the stage. Details
Friday, December 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Fergus Grand Theatre, 244 St Andrew St W, Fergus
$55 plus taxes and fees
The Rogerson and Friends – A Cozy Cabin Christmas
Step back in time with The Rogersons and Friends – A Cozy Cabin Christmas, a heartfelt tribute to the simple, rugged beauty of an early Christmas in Canada. Picture a log cabin lit by oil lamps, the scent of pine and woodsmoke in the air, and neighbours gathered ’round to share songs, stories, and warm cider. With fiddle tunes, traditional carols, and old-time harmonies, this rootsy celebration captures the spirit of a time when Christmas was homemade, heartfelt, and shared by the fire. Details
Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Fergus Grand Theatre, 244 St Andrew St W, Fergus
$45 plus taxes and fees
Susan Aglukark’s Upinnaq: ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅ A Beautiful Christmas
Celebrate the holidays with Canada’s Arctic Rose: Susan Aglukark, an Inuk musician and multiple Juno and Governor General Performing Arts Award winner. Sharing Christmas songs in Inuktitut and English, Aglukark welcomes all on this heartwarming journey through the season. This unforgettable evening with one of Canada’s most celebrated artists features music and Inuit storytelling to warm the soul. Details
Wednesday, December 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$10 – $49
Handel’s Messiah
Launch your festive season with this best – loved of all choral works – Handel’s Messiah. Noel Edison draws on years of experience to interpret this magnificent oratorial in a gently abbreviated way (90 minutes) that is both fresh and powerful. It presents all the great tunes and stirring moments and, of course, a magnificent, climatic Hallelujah!! Details
Sunday, December 6, 2026 | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, 28 Norfolk St, Guelph
$15 – $50
Caitie’s Countdown to Christmas
Celebrate the Countdown to Christmas with live music and your friends from Super Simple, Caitie and Tobee! Featuring songs and characters from one of the world’s most beloved children’s brands and most-viewed YouTube channel, this musical show from Super Simple is the perfect way to kick off the season with joy for the whole family. Details
Thursday, December 3, 2026 | 3:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$39.25 – $112.75
Christmas with The Ennis Sisters
Any time spent with The Ennis Sisters in concert is time well spent, but their Christmas concert raises the bar to a whole new level! Rooted in their Celtic and Newfoundland heritage, the Sisters light up the stage with their heart-warming mix of step-dancing and infectious humour, reflection and affection, and exquisite seamless sibling harmonies that showcase original works and breathe new life into holiday classics. Details
Friday, December 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$79.25
Piano Heist: A Very Merry Heistmas
Lifelong friends Nico Rhodes and Patrick Courtin, together known as Piano Heist, are on a quest to redeem the keyboard as the greatest instrument of all time. Experience their zany, comedic, ivory-tickling takes on holiday favourites such as a rock ‘n’ roll version of “The Nutcracker Suite,” Handel’s Messiah on melodicas, a rollicking ragtime “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” and more. Details
Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 7:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$10 – $32
Holly Cole Swinging Christmas
This Juno Award-winning, world-renowned Canadian singer is known for her smoky voice and clever musical arrangements that blend jazz, pop, and country. She has released more than a dozen records, starting with her very first in 1989, Christmas Blues. This holiday show features songs handpicked from that album, as well as from her popular 2001 release, Baby, It’s Cold Outside. Details
Friday, December 11, 2026 | 7:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$29 – $49
Elvis’ Wonderful World of Christmas – Legacy Tour
Steve Michaels returns in The Wonderful World of Christmas: Legacy Tour, a powerful and heartfelt holiday tradition celebrating the world’s very first icon – Elvis Presley. Step into an evening where music, memory, and tradition come together, celebrating the legacy of Elvis’ beloved Christmas recordings. Details
Saturday, December 12, 2026 | 8:00 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$58 – $68
Home for the Holidays: A Festive Celebration with Guelph Symphony Orchestra
Celebrate the magic and warmth of the season with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, in an afternoon of sparkling holiday favourites, timeless classic carols, and glorious movie themes. Details
Sunday, December 13, 2026 | 3:00 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$25 – $68.50
Good Lovelies 20th Anniversary Christmas Concert
Canadian vocal harmony trio Good Lovelies’ much-loved Christmas Tour returns this December as they celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band! This show features holiday classics, winter favourites as well as the band’s original music that audiences have come to love over their two-decade career. Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Susan Passmore are Juno Award-winning songwriters and multi-instrumentalists known for their rich harmonies and nostalgic sound. Details
Wednesday, December 16, 2026 | 7:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$25 – $60
Boreal’s Songs for the Snowy Season
Award-winning soloists Tannis Slimmon, Katherine Wheatley, and Angie Nussey come together for their annual celebration of wintertime classics and original favourites. Dispelling the seasonal chill, their voices blend in perfect harmony creating soothing melodies to warm you up from the inside out. Singing of melting snowflakes, skates on ice, and that familiar underfoot crunch, this gathering is a quintessential wintertime favourite. Details
Saturday, December 19, 2026 | 2:00 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$10 – $35
Messiah
Join Guelph Chamber Choir in the beautiful surroundings of the Guelph Basilica for an evening of Handel’s “Messiah” with baroque orchestra and a stellar lineup of soloists. Details
Friday, December 18, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, 28 Norfolk St., Guelph
$40 – $45
III. Holiday Theatres across Guelph
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
Fans of Monty Python, Mr. Bean, and Dr. Seuss… Grab your teacups! Combining British propriety with an unabashed love for the unexpected, London’s 3-time Impresario Award-winning duo steep an outrageously funny and brilliantly inventive show reminiscent of classic British pantos. Details
November 17 – 18, 2026
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$39 – $79
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
This delightful musical follows Bob Wallace and Phil Davis as they team up with sister act Betty and Judy Haynes to put on a Christmas spectacular and save the charming Vermont Inn. Featuring dazzling dance numbers plus a splendid score with hits like “Blue Skies” plus “Sisters,” and of course, the title song “White Christmas,” this joyous production is the perfect festive treat for the entire family!! Details
November 20 – 22, 2026
Fergus Grand Theatre, 244 St Andrew St W, Fergus
$35 – $44 plus taxes and fees
Oliver!
Consider yourself at home with Lionel Bart’s classic musical based on the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike. Details
November 25 – 29, 2026
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$36 – $49
A Very Charlie Brown Concert
Celebrate the season with Vince Guaraldi’s beloved soundtrack from the 1965 Emmy Award-winning film, A Charlie Brown Christmas. This heartwarming performance features music from the album with acclaimed players Adam Bowman on drums, Duncan Wilson on piano, and Tyler Wagler on bass. The jazz trio is accompanied by The Kingsbury Music Singers, a children’s choir directed by Shannon Kingsbury. Details
Sunday, December 20, 2026 | 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$10 – $26
Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol
A humorous, family‑friendly play inspired by the real challenges Charles Dickens faced while racing to write A Christmas Carol. As Dickens battles writer’s block and financial pressure, audiences are treated to a lively retelling filled with carols, a choir, ghosts, Victorian dance, and a few unexpected pirates. Details
December 4 – 13, 2026
Guelph Little Theatre, 176 Morris St, Guelph
$20 – $30
Mount Forest Lions Christmas Craft Sale
Browse and shop from over 70+ vendors showcasing their homemade creations, including MLM vendors. Kitchen will be open serving lunch. Details
Friday, December 4, 2026 | 7 PM to 8 PM
850 Princess St, Mount Forest
Entry is by monetary donation with profits going back into the community.
Operation North Pole
Santa Claus has a polar opposite living in the South Pole, Geoffrey Frost, known to the world as Jack Frost. Geoffrey has never received a present from Santa Claus (much to his own making) but he doesn”t see it that way and has devised a scheme to reap the presents he feels are owed to him. He plans to recruit an elite team in order to invade the North Pole, but must make due with a gang of also-rans to try and achieve his goal. Details
December 11 – 13, 18 – 20, 2026
Fergus Grand Theatre, 244 St Andrew St W, Fergus
$18 – $30 plus taxes and fees
The Nutcracker – A Canadian Tradition
Ballet Jörgen’s seasonal classic sparkles with holiday magic year after year. Set to the much loved Tchaikovsky music, and in collaboration with the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, this quintessentially Canadian Nutcracker features the vibrant works of the great Group of Seven landscape artists. Join Klara as she embarks on her magical dream journey through our northern landscapes filled with snowflakes, trilliums, loons, chipmunks and other delightful woodland creatures. Ballet Jörgen’s Nutcracker is a national treasure that warms the hearts of young and old alike. Details
December 22 – 23, 2026 | 7:30 PM
River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Street, Guelph
$39 – $88
IV. Other Christmas / Holiday Events across Guelph
Grace’s Christmas Market and Cookie Walk
Grace’s Christmas Market is your one-stop destination for all your holiday shopping needs. Details
Saturday, November 28, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Grace Christian Fellowship, 35 Farley Road, Fergus
Free
Fair November Craft Show
Discover one-of-a-kind pieces from 80+ artisans at the University Centre building, University of Guelph. Shop for gourmet food, jewellery, fashion, pottery, and more. Details
November 12 – 15, 2026
University Centre building, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph
Free
Mount Forest Lions 4th Annual Christmas Craft Market
Browse and shop from over 70+ vendors showcasing their homemade creations, including MLM vendors. Details
Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Mount Forest District Sports Complex, 850 Princess Street, Mount Forest
Entry is by monetary donation, with profits going back into the community.
Downtown Elmira Moonlight Madness
Friday, December 4, 2026 | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Elmira Branch Library, 65 Arthur Street S, Elmira
Free
A Real Christmas Tree Experience
LOTS of premium fresh cut Christmas trees for you to choose from. Cut your own is limited. Details
November 14 – December 23, 2026 | 9 AM – 5 PM
Elliott Tree Farm, 9467 Erin East Garafraxa Townline, Hillburgh
No admission charge & complimentary parking.
Luna Enchanted Holiday Market | A Magical Christmas Shopping Experience
Shop 40+ magical vendors, meet mystical readers, visit Santa & find unique gifts! Free admission + Christmas swag bags for the first 30! Details
Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 1100 AM – 4:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 234, 57 Watson Prkwy South, Guelph
Free
HOHOHoliday 5k
The HoHoHoliday 5K is the most festive FUN run in Canada! This 5km run/walk combines the magic of the Holidays with community engagement and fitness. Be apart of a holiday movement and join 10,000 Santa’s virtually across Canada who are spreading cheer in their local community while choosing to raise funds to support Make-A-Wish Canada. Details
December 1 – 31, 2026 | All Day anytime
Nationwide/Virtual Run
$40 and up
Guelph Santa Parade Run
Be a part of Guelph’s Santa Parade Run in Downtown Guelph. Runners will run three kilometres down the Santa Parade route immediately before the Guelph Community Santa Parade starts. Santa costumes are worn by all participants and are included in the registration fee. Proceeds from the event go to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph. Details
Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 4:55 PM
Downtown Guelph
$50.81
Christmas Market
Ring in the holiday season at the Wellington County Museum and Archive’s third annual Christmas Market!! Details
November 27 – 28, 2026
Wellington County Museum and Archives, 0536 Wellington County Road 18
By Donation
We do try to make the listings as accurate as possible, but there may be typographical/oversight errors or events may be cancelled or postponed without any notice. Verify all details from concerned event Websites/officials.
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