Cambridge Celebrates ‘Winterfest’

Cambridge Celebrates ‘Winterfest’ will feature many of the great seasonal events the community has come to know and love over the last 20 years.

Cambridge Santa Claus Parade 2025 | Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 6 PM

Parade route: Dunbar Rd. to Langs Drive.

The City of Cambridge is excited to bring the cherished annual event to the community this year, and sends utmost appreciation to the dedicated volunteers who brought the event to life for over 50 years.

This holiday tradition continues as a special night time parade, one of few in Ontario where the twinkle and glow of magical parade floats, groups and bands sparkle in the eyes of all to see!

CPKC Holiday Train | Friday, November 21, 2025 @ Malcolm Street Train Station, 20 Malcolm Street

The 2025 CPKC Holiday Train will tour Canada and the U.S. Nov. 19 through Dec. 21, raising money, food and awareness to support food banks across our network. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train’s stage. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages all attendees to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation. 2025 marks the 21th anniversary the CPKC Holiday Train has stopped in Cambridge.

Since its inaugural journey in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $26 million and collected approximately 5.4 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S.

Schedule of Events
3 pm – Winterfest preshow with Matt Campbell

4 pm – CPKC Holiday Train arrives
4:15 to 4:45 pm – CPKC Holiday Train concert with JJ Wilde and Smash Mouth

4:55 pm – CPKC Holiday Train departs the train station for its next stop
Please note times are subject to change. If the train arrives for the event early, the concert will begin at the scheduled time.

Winterfest Preshow
The City has partnered with the Cambridge Food Bank to host a preshow building anticipation of the train’s arrival. Enjoy live music with Matt Campbell and the band!

 

Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night | Friday, December 5, 2025 | 6:50 PM @ Cambridge City Hall, Civic Square, 50 Dickson Street and Downtown Cambridge

6:50 p.m. – Opening remarks at City Hall Civic Square
7 p.m. – Countdown to begin walk through downtown

This modern twist on caroling is held in more than 26 cities around the world. Cambridge is proud to have the largest attendance of all host cities around the world! All ages will enjoy walking through downtown Cambridge with thousands of participants as you enjoy interactive light installations and live LED performers who will be along the route.

Please note, some lighting used may be disruptive to people who are sensitive to light.

The music of Phil Kline will be played through speaker stations on the route. We welcome you to listen or play on your own devices too. You can download the music here.

Turn yourself into a walking light display. We encourage participants to wear something that glows or lights up!

Relive the magic with videos from past years: 2016 video and a 2019 video.

This year we are excited to host Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night along with the first night of our Cambridge Holiday Market! Be sure to visit all the vendors at City Hall and Cambridge Centre for the Arts from 5:30p.m.-10p.m.

Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night in Cambridge was nominated for the Canadian Special Events Awards for Best Event for a City or Municipality 2025.

Preston Tree Lighting | Monday, December 1, 2025 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony at 7p.m. @ Central Park, 615 King St E

Event Highlights:

• Tree Lighting Ceremony – Celebrate the season as we illuminate the community tree in a dazzling display of lights.
• Live Music & Performances – Enjoy festive tunes and performances that capture the joy of the holidays.
• Togetherness & Community Spirit – Gather with friends, family, and neighbours to commemorate the season in unity.
• Light Displays – Wander through twinkling displays that bring the magic of the holidays to life.

Let’s come together to celebrate the season, share in the joy, and make lasting memories. All are welcome!

Music and Lights in the Village | Friday, November 28, 2025 | 6 – 8:30 p.m.

7:10 p.m. Tree Lighting

Locations: Cambridge Public Library Hespeler (5 Tannery St E), Hespeler Town Hall (11 Tannery St E) and St Andrew’s Hespeler Presbyterian Church (73 Queen St E)

Gather in Hespeler Village to celebrate the festive holiday season. Enjoy the festive holiday lights and tree lighting, food, musical entertainment, crafts and more!

Schedule of Entertainment

Hespeler Towne Centre

• From 6 to 8 p.m. enjoy crafts, activities, and free hot chocolate.
• Santa, Mrs. Claus, Willy Melt will be available for photos and festive greetings.
• RBC Royal Bank will also have some giveaways! Beavertails available on-site for purchase.
• 6:50 p.m. – Girlfriends Choir
• 7:10p.m. – Tree Lighting Ceremony

Cambridge Public Library Hespeler

• 6:00- 6:45 p.m. Jacob Hespeler Secondary School Band
• 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Jessie T

St. Andrews Church – Choirs performing:

Performances in the church begin at 6 p.m. and finish at 7 p.m.

• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Elementary School,
  Woodland Park School Choir,
  The Concordia German Language Association Kinderchor,
  Mass Choir Finale

Candyland | Saturday, December 13 |10 a.m. – 6 p.m. @ Central Park, 615 King St E

Get ready for a whimsical day of fun and fantasy at Candyland – a delightful celebration for children and families!

Event Highlights:

• Ice Slide Adventure – back by popular demand, Zoom down a frosty slide in a swirl of excitement!
  Special custom Candyland ice sculpture you won’t want to miss taking a family photo beside
• Candyland Games – Enjoy interactive, candy-themed games for all ages.
  Top Shot Hockey interactive sports game all day long
• Lights in the park featuring unique giant letters perfect for photo moments with friends and family
• Live Performances – Be entertained by music, dance, and theatrical acts throughout the day including:
  Energetic fun by Team T&J at 10a.m., 12p.m. and 2p.m.,
• Tinsel and Jingle, two of Santa’s top elves, throw a holiday music party like no other. Come dance and play with T&J!
• Hilarious comedy show by Comedy in Motion with Bob Cates at 11a.m.Unforgettable sounds of the Panwaves Steelband at 1p.m!

  Wandering Characters – Meet magical guests like Willy Melt, Santa, and Mrs. Claus, spreading joy and holiday cheer.
  Face painting all day long! Request your favourite design

  Hot Chocolate Station – Cozy up with a warm cup of hot chocolate provided by Preston Heights Neighbourhood Group
  Beavertails on-site serving delicious, sweet treats!
  Dress in your sweetest candy-inspired outfits and bring the whole family for a day full of laughter, imagination, and wintery fun! We cant wait to celebrate with you all.

Cambridge Holiday Market | December 5 – 7, 2025 @ Cambridge City Hall

 

New Year’s Eve Party | Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 3 to 7 pm – doors will open at 2:30 pm @ Preston Memorial Auditorium 1458 Hamilton St, Cambridge

Come ring in the New Year with the City of Cambridge with an evening packed with free activities for all ages on and off the ice.

Festivities will include:

• free public ice skating on 2 ice pads,
  one with fantastic light up DJ rink, one family rink, and skate and helmet rentals,
  a Turbo Max inflatable obstacle course,
  live entertainment with Comedy in Motion with Bob Cates, games, children’s crafts and more!

The arena concession stand will be open with snacks and drinks for purchase.

Ice skating

• Upon arrival, each family will be offered 1 hour of skating at a time of their choice. Ice times are limited for the safety of everyone. Skate times: 3 to 3:50 pm, 4 to 4:50 pm, 5 to 5:50 pm and 6 to 6:50 pm.
  To obtain your free skate wristband for the 3p.m. and 4p.m. ice times you can arrive at opening. To obtain your wristband for the 5p.m. and 6p.m. ice times you must wait until 4:30p.m. in an effort to ease congestion at the entrance and enable skaters to get on the ice in a more timely fashion.
  Skating will be available on the DJ rink with dimmed lighting and the Family rink will play family friendly music.
  Skate aids are permitted on the Family rink only and are not available to rent. Please bring your own if necessary.
  Helmets are recommended while skating.
  We are pleased to offer free skate and helmet rentals available with identification. Quantities and sizes are limited and will be rented on a first come, first serve basis. It is recommended to bring your own skates/helmets if you can to avoid disappointment. Skate rentals must be returned as quickly as possible after use to ensure they can be available for the next skate time.
  The helmet and skate rentals are available on the lower level of Rink 1 near dressing room 6. Please take note of signage and ask a volunteer for assistance if needed.
  Skate sharpening is not available at the arena.
  Strollers are not permitted on the ice rinks. Stroller parking will be available on the main floor where you can leave your stroller with staff/volunteers while you enjoy the event.

Who is it for?

All ages – Family

Date & Time:

November 15 to December 31, 2025

Venue & Address: Various locations in Cambridge