Christmas & Holiday Events in and around Peterborough

Christmas by Candlelight, Lang Pioneer Museum

Christmas season in Peterborough and Kawarthas region marks the return of stunning performances, festive music, and other creative events to warm up your winter this year. Whether you’re looking to spend time with family, friends, or a partner, these events below will guarantee you a taste of the Christmas spirit we wait patiently for all year!

Santa Claus Parades

Lindsay Santa Claus Parade

Head over to the Lindsay Santa Claus Parade for a magical Christmas celebration full of colorful festive cheer. Details

Sunday, November 18, 2018 | 2:00 PM

From Fleming College – Frost Campus through Adelaide St N to Kent St W and ends at Academy Theatre, Lindsay St S

Lakefield Santa Claus Parade

Lakefield Lions Club Presents the Lakefield Santa Claus Parade! After the parade join us at the Lakefield Legion to meet Santa and enjoy some treats! Details

Sunday, November 18, 2018 | 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM

downtown Lakefield

Fenelon Falls Santa Day

Come out and enjoy our free event. We have many activities like a petting zoo, pony rides, wagon rides, a magician, face painting, etc. and of course, Santa will be in his house to visit with you. We have warming stations where you can enjoy hot chocolate, popcorn, chilli and many other treats.  Experience the magic of the Santa Day parade. 3 professional bands, dozens of illuminated floats, and lots of characters! Fireworks follows the parade. This firework display is the final celebration of Santa Day. Watch the sky light up over the falls after the parade. Details

Saturday, November 24 |  11 AM – 6:30 PM
Downtown activities | 11 to 4 PM
Parade | 05:00 PM
Fireworks | 6:00 PM

Downtown Fenelon Falls
Parade Route: Veterans Way/Lindsay St to Lindsay St /Princes St W

Warsaw Santa Claus Parade

The Township of Douro-Dummer will host the annual Santa Claus Parade. The theme this year is “A Pioneer Christmas.”  The Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place immediately after the parade at 6:00 p.m. on the lawn next to the Town Hall/Municipal Building in Warsaw. Stay after the tree lighting to visit with Santa, drop off letters, have hot chocolate and treats and sing carols!

Details

Saturday, November 24 |  5 PM

Route: The parade will begin at the Warsaw Public Works (Municipal) garage and continue through the village.

Apsley Santa Claus Parade

Festivities continue at the North Kawartha Community Centre after the parade.  Details

Saturday, November 24 |  6 PM

North Kawartha Community Centre
340 Burleigh St. Parade along Burleigh Street.

Peterborough Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade

The 45th Annual Peterborough Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade. This year’s parade theme is Superhero Christmas.. Details

Saturday, December 1st, 2018 | 4:45 PM

From City Hall – George Street N
George/Water, Peterborough

Bobcaygeon Kinette Santa Claus Parade

The theme this year is Candy Land. Details

Parade: Saturday, December 8, 2018  | 5:00  PM – 6:00 PM
Kinette Breakfast with Santa: 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Parade Route: Starts at Kawartha Dairy to Main St, to Bolton Street and finished on King St by the royal Canadian Legion.
Kinette Breakfast with Santa: Bobcaygeon Lions Hall, Main Street

Christmas Carols/Holiday Concerts

“Oh, What a Night!” – The Christmas Show

“In the “Oh, What a Night!” Christmas Show, the cast will warm you up with some of the most popular songs from their fast-paced musical tribute to the legendary Frankie Valli and then transform you into a Christmas wonderland with a brand-new tribute to “Mr. Christmas” himself – the great Andy Williams.
 Details

Thursday November 22, 2018 | 7:00PM

Showplace Performance Centre
290 George Street North, Peterborough

$54.50 + HST

“Oh, What a Night!” – The Christmas Show

“In the “Oh, What a Night!” Christmas Show, the cast will warm you up with some of the most popular songs from their fast-paced musical tribute to the legendary Frankie Valli and then transform you into a Christmas wonderland with a brand-new tribute to “Mr. Christmas” himself – the great Andy Williams.
 Details

Friday November 23, 2018 | 7:00PM

Academy Theatre, 2 Lindsay Street S.
Lindsay

$58.75

The Living Christmas Tree

Celebrating 37 Years singing Christmas Cantatas in the Kawartha Lakes area.. The Living Christmas Tree at St. Andrew’s will be presenting the cantata “The Name… Jesus”. Details

November 24 and 25 | 4:30 PM
November 26 and 30 | 7:00 PM
December 1 & 2 | 4:30 PM.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
40 William Street North, Lindsay

free

Yuletide Cheer

There is no better way to welcome the festive season than with the rich sound of a hundred-voice choir, the five virtuosic brass players of Venabrass, and Ian Sadler on pipe organ. Bring your family and friends and join us as we sing cherished traditional and contemporary carols – and other seasonal songs.

Featuring:  Venabrass | Ian Sadler, organ.

Details

Saturday, November 24, 2018   | 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Emmanuel United Church East 534 George St. N.
Peterborough

$10 to $30

Christmas At Westben ~ The Little Drummer

Ojibwe drummer from Alderville, Jordan Mowat joins the Westben Festival, Youth & Teen Choruses in an original narrated concert about a boy who finds his self-worth by marching to his own drum. Heart-warming and fit for the whole family, this 80-minute concert explores the meaning of Christmas through the noises and silences of the season. Details

Saturday, December 1, 2018 | 3:00PM at Northminster United Church, Peterborough
Sunday, December 2, 2018 | 3:00 PM at Norwood United Church, 4264 ON-7, Norwood

$25

Sing We Now of Christmas

By Bobcaygeon Choristers. Special Guest: Kathryn Kerry. Includes audience carol singing. Details

Friday, December 7, 2018 | 7:00 PM 9:00 PM

Trinity United Church 44 William St. Bobcaygeon

$15

Annual In From The Cold Christmas Concert

19th Annual Concert featuring Celtic and contemporary carols and seasonal songs. Featuring: Carried Away, The Convivio Chorus, Curtis Driedger, Michael Ketemer and Tanah Haney. Details

Friday December 7, 2018 | 8:00 PM
Saturday December 8, 2018 | 8:00 PM

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
140 Charlotte St., 3rd Floor, Peterborough

$20 incl fees
Student/Child: $15 incl fees

PSO: Home for the Holidays

The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra invites the whole family into the spirit with this light-hearted holiday concert featuring seasonal favorites, a carol sing, and the Kawartha Youth Orchestra. Details

Saturday, December 8, 2018 | 7:30 PM

PSO Mainstage
290 George Street North, Peterborough

Adults: $35 + HST + Online Ticket Fee
Students: $10 + HST + Online Ticket Fee

John McDermott Family Christmas

International recording artist and a former member of the Irish Tenors – John McDermot will arrive in Lindsay this December for a Family Christmas Concert. John will be performing a number of all-time favourite Christmas Carols along with a number of seasonal songs plus some of John’s platinum awarded inspirational music. Details

Sunday,  December 9, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Academy Theatre for Performing Arts
2 Lindsay St.
Lindsay

$59 to  $69

Bob Trennum & Friends: Christmas Songs

Bob Trennum, Beth Hunt and Lee Batcherlor, Jamie Hunt, Olivia Rapos, Emma Lander, bring you ‘Christmas Songs and Carols of the Season’. Songs such as: It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, Baby It’s Cold Outside, Ave Maria, The Grinch, When a Child is Born, My Christmas Wish Is Mexico, and more. Details

Tuesday, December 11, 2018 | 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM

Nexicom Studio
290 George Street North
Peterborough

$20 + charges

The Barra MacNeils – An East Coast Christmas

The Barra MacNeils – An East Coast Christmas is a musical potpourri of traditional MacNeil family favourites gleaned from Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses and the general festive frolic that accompanies each holiday season. With their captivating vocals, distinctive harmonies and extraordinary musicianship, The Barra MacNeils inject new life and energy into the sights and sounds of Christmas, prompting the Halifax Daily News to describe them as “a treasure of the East Coast, rich with tradition and unmatched in ensemble performance”; and the Globe & Mail to name the recording on which this tour is based “one of the best five Christmas albums of all time! Details

Wednesday December 12, 2018 | 7:30PM

Showplace Performance Centre
290 George Street North, Peterborough

$57.50 + charges

Lunch At Allen’s

Lunch At Allen’s is a musical powerhouse comprising four remarkable Canadian talents: Murray McLauchlan, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas. These three artists have come together adding the incredible voice of Cindy Church (Quartette, Great Western Orchestra) to form Lunch At Allen’s. Attending their stage show is to embark on an intimate musical journey replete with laughter and personal anecdotes, familiar favourites and new material, fashioning an unforgettable evening’s entertainment …from their hearts …to your soul. And, as a nod to the season, there’s sure to be a dash of Christmas spirit mixed in as well. Details

December 14, 2018  | 7:30 PM

Academy Theatre for Performing Arts
2 Lindsay St.
Lindsay

$51.00

Scott Woods Band – Old Time Christmas

Join Scott Woods and his talented band for this uplifting live show celebrating the Christmas Season. Enjoy Traditional Christmas music, Old Time Fiddle tunes, and Traditional Country songs, with lots of fancy instrumentals, sweet harmonies, smooth vocals, sensational step dancing, family humour, inspirational stories, and of course some trick fiddling!Details

Saturday December 15, 2018 | 7:00 PM

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
140 Charlotte St., 3rd Floor, Peterborough

$28 incl fees
Child (12 & under): $13 incl fees

A Cozy Christmas

It’s everything Christmas with the 15th annual “A Cozy Christmas” concert hosted by the Foley family and friends. This years’ theme is “Timeless Treasures of Christmas” with music by Bridget Foley & the Gospel Girls (and guys), 4 Front, Christina Heath, The Stage Café Band, Janina & John Kraus and family, Lizeh Basciano, Murray and Sibernie James-Bosch and more! Fun Christmas facts and stories by storyteller Hugh Foley. This is a fundraiser to pay wages for teachers in a small school in Liberia W Africa. Details

Sunday December 16, 2018 | 2:00PM

Showplace Performance Centre
290 George Street North
Peterborough

$10 to $20 + charges

Sultans of String: Christmas Caravan

Celebrate the season with an adventurous musical trip around the world! Billboard charting Sultans of String deliver an exuberant performance featuring band originals, world-music inspired classics and seasonal favorites to warm your heart on a cold winter’s night. From fiery fiddle tunes to a Caribbean sleigh ride, this surprising & delightful holiday fiesta heats up when these 3x Canadian Folk Music Award winners bring their signature sound to well-known gems such as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, The Huron Carol, a djembe-driven Little Drummer Boy, a Turkish twist on Greensleeves, a Gypsy-jazz inspired Django Christmas and a Rumba Flamenca-fuelled Jingle Bells. Details

December 17, 2018  | 7:00 PM

Academy Theatre for Performing Arts
2 Lindsay St., Lindsay

$35.00.

Handel’s Messiah

Peterborough Singers “Handel’s Messiah”.  It’s been written that Handel wept and saw angels while composing the Hallelujah chorus. Handel’s great work Messiah captures the joy and wonder of the holiday season and has remained popular since its first performance in Dublin in April 1742. Experience the power of 100 voices and the majesty of the mighty Casavant organ in this time-honoured celebration. Featuring: Shannon McCracken, soprano; Daniel Taylor, countertenor; Benjamin Butterfield, tenor; Geoffrey Sirett, baritone; Ian Sadler, organ; Paul Otway, trumpet; Syd Birrell, conductor.. Details

Monday, December 17, 2018  | 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Emmanuel United Church East 534 George St. N.
Peterborough

$15 to $35

Splash’N Boots Big Yellow and Blue Holiday Show

It’s the most yellow and blue time of the year – it’s time for Splash’N Boots Big Yellow and Blue Holiday Show – JINGLE BOOTS! Join the entire Big Yellow Boot family – Splash, Boots, Charlie, Chef Brock Lee and our very own Jumping Jack Granny as they celebrate the HOLIDAYS!
Jingle Boots is Splash’N Boots most interactive show yet, so dress in your best yellow and blue holiday gear and get ready to dance and sing along with holiday classics and Splash’N Boots originals!  Details

Thursday December 20, 2018 | 6:00PM

Showplace Performance Centre
290 George Street North
Peterborough

$28 to $46

A Celtic Family Christmas

This holiday season join Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, the award-winning fiddle virtuosos, in an intimate and unique Christmas concert series you will never forget. With the duo accompanied by an incredible array of talented session musicians – and their entire family – A Celtic Family Christmas will guide you into the wonderful world of a true Cape Breton Christmas celebration. Through a mix of both song and dance, they will take you on a journey of virtuoso performances, telling the story of the night before Christmas in the Leahy/MacMaster household. Details

December 21st & 22nd |  7:00 PM

Showplace Performance Centre
290 George Street North
Peterborough

$60 to $69

Splendour of the Season

Featuring talented artists, the audience will enjoy both time-honoured and modern musical selections performed by soloists, instrumentalists and ensembles, in both the traditional Splendour style and our new cabaret presentation. Highland, ballet and lyrical dance numbers presented by the Lindsay Dance Studio add to the show’s creativity. Details

December 22 | 7:30PM

Academy Theatre for Performing Arts
2 Lindsay St., Lindsay

Adults: $25
Seniors/Students/Groups: $22

Legends of Motown

Legends of Motown is a 16-piece cast of singers and musicians performing live look-a-like/sound-a-like tributes to The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Jackson 5, Martha and Vandellas and more and features all your favourite songs of the Motown era. With dazzling choreography, authentic costumes, stunning vocal performances and a fabulous live band, this high-energy show with the most timeless music of our lives is not to be missed!  Details

Saturday December 29, 2018 | 8:00PM

Showplace Performance Centre
290 George Street North
Peterborough

$49 to $54 + charge

Holiday Live Theatre

Misty’s Mistletoe Misfortune

Join us for an evening of mystery and mayhem (and a fabulous buffet!) as you turn detective and try to figure out which guest is dying to be the center of attention and who’s making a little too merry about a murder! Details

November 15, 16 & 17, 22, 23 & 24 | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Lakeview Arts Barn
2300 Pigeon Lake Road, Bobcaygeon

Adults: $71 + HST
Students: $61.50 + HST

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Peterborough Memorial Centre 151 Lansdowne Street West
Peterborough

$29.50 – 59.50 + HST

Cirque Musica  presents Wonderland

Cirque Musica presents Wonderland, a concert and visual experience where audiences will journey into a world of high-flying adventure with amazing acrobats, aerialists, hilarious hijinks and holiday cheer that is Wonderland. The show blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with the sensory majesty of a symphony orchestra performing the greatest holiday music of all time. Cirque Musica presents Wonderland is the perfect opportunity for the entire family to experience great holiday music live while enjoying an edge of your seat circus experience. Details

Sunday, November 25, 2018 | 03:00 PM

Peterborough Memorial Centre 151 Lansdowne Street West
Peterborough

$60.00-$75.00

Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure

All paws on deck! Nickelodeon and VStar Entertainment Group present PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure,” an action-packed, music-filled production. The heroic pups from the top-rated animated preschool series PAW Patrol, produced by Spin Master Entertainment, embark on a pirate-themed adventure to uncover hidden treasure during the hit live stage show. Details

Tuesday November 27 2018 | 6:00 PM
Wednesday, November 28 2018 | 10:00 AM & 6:00 PM

Peterborough Memorial Centre 151 Lansdowne Street West
Peterborough

$22.00 to $135.00

The Nutcracker

Holiday magic is made year after year by Ballet Jorgen’s The Nutcracker: a Canadian Tradition. Created by acclaimed choreographer and artistic director Bengt Jorgen to Tchaikovsky’s well-loved score, the work is based on the popular traditional story The Nutcracker and the King of Mice by E.T.A. Hoffman. Details

Thursday, November 29 | 7:00 PM

Showplace Performance Centre
290 George Street North, Peterborough

Adults: $35 + HST + Online Ticket Fee
Under 12 years: $30 + HST + Online Ticket Fee

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Join Ali Baba, his brother Rhum and their buddy Mustapha Screwloose as they battle against the evil Kai Ote and her band of marauding thieves. Fun for adults and kids alike! Details

December 4 – 16, 2018

Lakeview Arts Barn
2300 Pigeon Lake Road, Bobcaygeon

$25 to $34.50

The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale

“The Other: A Strange Christmas Tale” takes you on a journey through historic downtown Millbrook while following a story similar to the Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. A mysterious woman arrives in Millbrook on the night of the annual Christmas pageant. Who is she and where has she come from? A girl and her grandfather search the streets and shops of Millbrook to find out, with audience members following closely behind. Each performance will also feature a local community choir singing carols and hymns throughout the journey.  Details

December 5 | 7:00 PM
December 7, 8 | 7:00 PM
December 12, 13, 14 | 7:00 PM

 St. Thomas Anglican Church, 16 Centre Street, Millbrook

$25

Other Holiday Themed Events

Kawartha Lakes Festival of Trees

The Festival of Trees or F.O.T., is a four day event where visitors stroll amongst Kawartha Settlers’ Village and see (and potentially win) the many trees, wreaths, garlands, and items that have been generously sponsored by businesses within the City of Kawartha Lakes (and some from even further). Visitors can also experience the different activities that are happening in the different buildings. Details

November 15th-18th, 2018

Kawartha Settlers’ Village – 85 Dunn St. Bobcaygeon

$10

Lindsay Winterfest

Winterfest is the family event of the season, highlighting the beauty and excitement of the holidays. This fun-filled four day event brings family and friends together to participate in exciting activities and kick off the holiday season celebrations. Details

Thursday, November 22, 2018 | 9:30 AM. – 9:00 PM
Friday, November 23, 2018  | 9:00 AM. – 9:00 PM
Saturday, November 24, 2018 |  9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 25, 2018  | 11:00 AM. – 3:00 PM

Lindsay Square, 401 Kent Street West

FREE

Peterborough Winterfest

Winterfest is the family event of the season highlighting the beauty and excitement of the holidays. It will take your breath away! This fun-filled event brings your family and friends together to participate in exciting activities. Taking place at Peterborough Square, visit our spectacular Tree Forest and cast raffle ballots to win one of the beautifully decorated trees. We will have a free KidsZone with crafts, games and activities and you can enjoy a variety of free entertainment. Best of all, you will be helping to support the children at Five Counties Children’s Centre. Details

Thursday, November 22, 2018 | 10:00 AM. – 2:00 PM
Friday, November 23, 2018  | 10:00 AM. – 6:00 PM
Saturday, November 24, 2018 |  10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday, November 25, 2018  | 10:00 AM. – 3:00 PM

Peterborough Square 340 George St. N.
Peterborough

FREE

Christmas in the Village Lakefield Holiday House Tour

This wonderful, annual, charitable event is the perfect way to get you into the Christmas spirit. Tour 6 lovely homes in the Lakefield area all dressed up for the season.  Friday evening ticket holders can enjoy seeing the houses by night with a horse and wagon ride (sleigh if it has snowed) around Lakefield College School Campus, mulled apple cider and cookies all included in the fun. Friday Evening tickets allow ticket holders to revisit any time on the Saturday or Sunday too.
Details

November 30 to December 2, 2018

6 lovely homes in the Lakefield area

$25 – $55

Christmas Celebration at South Pond Farms

Celebrate the holidays at South Pond Hot festive drinks! Hot outdoor holiday lunch around the Fire
Pretzel bar, Walk/snowshoe the trails, Winter games, Great gift ideas, Special sweet and savory offerings for the holidays. Details

Saturday December 1, 2018 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

South Pond Farms 1020 Gray Road
Pontypool

FREE

Christmas by Candlelight

Get into the merriment of the season with a traditional Pioneer Christmas at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.Join along in a carol sing, shop in the Christmas market, enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, meet Father Christmas and more. On Sunday, witness a live nativity. Come delight in the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season! Details

December 1 & 2, 2018 | 05:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Lang Pioneer Village Museum 104 Lang Road Keene

Adults: $15
Students/Seniors (60+): $10
Children (5-14): $7

Christmas In The Village

Please plan to join us in Downtown Millbrook for this fun-filled family event featuring, wagon rides, gingerbread house contest, caroling, pictures with Santa and much more!!
Details

Thursday, December 06, 2018 | 5:00 PM to 09:00 PM

 King Street, Downtown Millbrook

FREE

A Christmas Carol

Listen to Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ in the Keeping Room by firelight. We will be listening to a recording of the 1939 Campbell Soup radio show, as presented by Orson Wells, and starring Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge. A choice of dessert, tea and coffee will be served. Details

Saturday, December 8, 2018 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Hutchison House Museum, 270 Brock Street
Peterborough

$20

A Child’s Christmas in Wales/The Gift of the Magi

Listen to Dylan Thomas’ ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ and O. Henry’s ‘The Gift of the Magi’ in the Keeping Room by firelight. A choice of dessert, tea and coffee will be served. Details

Sunday, December 9, 2018 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Hutchison House Museum, 270 Brock Street
Peterborough

$20

Victorian Christmas for Kids

Hutchison House Museum has decked the halls and is ready to celebrate the holiday season. Join us for a special Victorian Christmas for kids. Get into the holiday spirit with special treats, hearth demonstrations, crafts, fun and more! Finish your Christmas shopping by checking out the selection of books and seasonal items in our gift shop. Details

Saturday, December 15, 2018 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Hutchison House Museum, 270 Brock Street
Peterborough

$5 per person