WINTER BREAK 2023 – 2024
Here’s a list of fun activities to enjoy as a family during the winter break from December 23, 2023 – January 7, 2024.
More Fun Things to Do During Winter Break
See Christmas Lights
1. Drive through two tunnels with animated and static light displays at the Gift of Lights. You can also enjoy a dazzling walk with giant light sculptures, music, and a 40-ft twinkling tree centerpiece while exploring Jingle Bell Rock.
2. Embrace the holiday season with Cambridge Celebrates ‘Winterfest’. Take a walk through the interactive light displays in Central Park until January 1.
3. Experience the magic and delight of Jingle Bell Rock. Wander through outdoor displays of dazzling light features surrounding a 40 foot dancing tree illumination, sequenced to contemporary holiday music.
4. Enjoy the Wonders of Winter at Waterloo Park. Over 100,000 light bulbs will be used to illuminate over 100 colourful and fun displays.
5. Every evening from December 16 to 31, enjoy a sparkling fun drive-through event at Riverside Park in Guelph.
6. Take in a special Holiday digital light show projected onto the façade of the Old Post Office in downtown Cambridge.
7. Drive through winter light display at Scholars’ Hall – St. Jude’s School.
Winter Break Camps
- City of Waterloo Winter Break Camps
- City of Kitchener Winter Break Camps
- THEMUSEUM Winter Break Camps
- Winter Break Camp at Schneider Haus
- Winter Holiday Camp at Airborne Trampoline
New Year’s Eve Activities
A list of things to do on New Years Eve including family events, activities, and adult parties in Kitchener-Waterloo Region to ring in 2024.
Christmas & Boxing Day
Christmas is an extra special day to spend with family. Check out our list of things to do on December 25 & 26 in Kitchener-Waterloo Region.
Live Music/ Theatre/ Holiday Events
Celebrate the holiday season with live music and theatre.
- Tom Nagy Christmas on Friday, December 22, 2023 | 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM @ The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel
- Ukrainian Bandura Christmas on Saturday, December 23, 2023 | 07:00 PM – 08:30 PM @ The St. Matthews Centre
- Bittergirl – The Musical on October 4 – December 24, 2023 @ St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre
- Peter Pan: The Panto on November 29 – December 31, 2023 @ St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
- Fiddler on the Roof on November 29 – December 24, 2023 @ Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge
- Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on December 21 -23 2023 @ Guelph Little Theatre
- The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition on Thursday, December 28, 2023 | 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM @ Centre In The Square
- An Evening with Blue Rodeo: Celebrating 30 Years of Five Days In July on December 29 – 30, 2023 | 8:00 PM @ Centre In The Square
- Santa’s Christmas Caboose on until December 23, 2023
- Santa’s Countryside Ride on December 23, 2023
- Stars on Ice – A Special Holiday Perfromance on Friday, December 22, 2023 | 7:00 PM @ The Aud
Christmas Bird Counts
Join the birding enthusiasts for Christmas Bird Counts. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 24-km diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It’s not just a species tally—all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.
Or, visit conservation areas or other natural areas nearby and do an unofficial bird count.
- Linwood Christmas Bird Count on Friday, December 29, 2023
Children’s Activities
Keep your child engaged at home with these fun activities.
Visit Attractions
Delve into Waterloo’s rich culture at Uptown Gallery, THEMUSEUM, and the Three Sisters Cultural Centre, while also immersing yourself in local history at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, Schneider Haus National Historic Site, and Homer Watson House & Gallery. Explore further with visits to Castle Kilbride and Bell Homestead, both National Historic Sites, and experience the beauty of butterflies at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory or enjoy the arts at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts.
- Uptown Gallery Waterloo
- Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum
- Schneider Haus National Historic Site
- Three Sisters Cultural Centre
- THEMUSEUM
- Homer Watson House & Gallery
- Castle Kilbride National Historic Site
- Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
- Cambridge Centre for the Arts
- Bell Homestead National Historic Site
Visit Entertainment Centres
Experience thrilling adventures at VR Escapism, Speed Quest Go-Karting, and Bingemans EscapeworX, or enjoy family fun at Airborne Trampoline KW, Bingemans FunworX, and New Hamburg Lanes. For creative entertainment, visit Play-a-Latte Cafe, Adventure Rooms, KW Escape Inc, Kingpin Cambridge, and K1 Speed Cambridge, and if you’re up for golf, head to Golfplay.
- VR Escapism
- Speed Quest Go-Karting
- Bingemans EscapeworX
- Adventure Rooms
- Play-a-Latte Cafe
- Airborne Trampoline KW
- Bingemans FunworX Indoor Playground
- New Hamburg Lanes
- KW Escape Inc
- Kingpin Cambridge
- K1 Speed Cambridge
- Golfplay
- Button Factory Arts
- Ctrl V
- Boston Pizza Kingpin Bowlounge
Live Music at The Jazz Room
Enjoy live music at The Jazz Room. Details
Elvis Goes Jazz | Friday, December 23, 2023 | 8:00 PM
JV’s Boogaloo Squad | Friday, December 29, 2023 | 8:00 PM
Pol Coussee’s JERU-4-TET featuring the music of Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker | Saturday, December 30, 2023 | 8:00 PM
Tim Louis and his Annual “New Years Levee” | Friday, January 5, 2024 | 8:00 PM
Heillig Manoeuvre | Saturday, January 6, 2024 | 8:00 PM
Avery Raquel Special SUNDAY Matinee | Sunday, January 7, 2024 | 4:00 PM
The Jazz Room, 59 King St N, Waterloo
$20 – $35
Free Holiday Skating at the North Dumfries Community Complex
Enjoy free skating at the North Dumfries Community Complex courtesy of RDK Concrete. Details
December 28 – 29, 2023 & January 2, 4 – 5, 2024
North Dumfries Community Complex, 2958 Greenfield Road, Ayr
Free
Free Holiday Skating in Wellesley Township
Come join us for public Skating at the St. Clements arena and the Bill Gies Rec Centre.
All ages welcomed! Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or legal aged guardian. Details
December 27 – 29, 2023 & January 3 – 5, 2024
St. Clements arena, 1 Green St., St. Clements
Bill Gies Rec Centre, 1401 Queens Bush Rd., Wellesley
Free
Christmas at the Castle
Step back and marvel at the sights and sounds of a merry Victorian Chirstmas. Details
November 15, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Castle Kilbride, 60 Snyder’s Road West, Baden
$6.66 – $10.92
Wintry Crafternoons at Schneider Haus
The weather may be frightful, but our Wintry Crafternoons are nothing but delightful! We will be holding our family friendly Wintry Crafternoons every weekend in December from 12 until 4 pm to celebrate the winter season! Details
December 23, 27- 30, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Schneider Haus NHS, 466 Queen St S, Kitchener
Included with paid admission
Drop-in Indoor Skatepark
Join us at the indoor drop-in skatepark at Queensmount Arena until March 16, 2024. Join us on Saturday, December 30, between 6:30 and 11:30 p.m. for an end-of-year celebration! For ages 8+ Details
Mondays and Thursdays | 3:30 to 5:30 PM
Saturdays | 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Closures | December 25 and 28, January 1, February 24
Saturday, November 25, December 2, December 16, and December 23 program hours will be extended 6:30-9:30 PM
Queensmount Arena, 1260 Queen’s Blvd, Kitchener
Free
Family Holiday Night
Join us at Centreville-Chicopee Community Centre (141 Morgan Ave.) on December 27 from 6 – 8 p.m. for an evening of family fun including fun-filled games, crafts and holiday treats. Details
Thursday, December 27, 2023 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Centreville-Chicopee Community Centre, 141 Morgan Ave, Kitchener
Free
Winter Artisan Market 2023
The event will showcase a curated selection of some of the best artisan vendors in the region, along with delicious food and drink favourites from the local vendors and restaurants that you love. Details
Saturday, December 23, 2023 | 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Kitchener Market, 300 King Street East, Kitchener
Free
The Magic of WonderPhil
This is more than a wonderful magic show, it’s a WonderPhil Magic Show! This is a magic act that is built to amaze the whole family, delivering big laughs and unbelievable magic, to delight kids and adults alike. A dancing tie, appearing dice, painting with magic, and so much more! Details
Saturday December 30, 2023 | 5:00 PM
Apollo Cinema, 141 Ontario St. N, Kitchener
$20-29
High Tea at Little Mushroom Dining Lounge
Little Mushroom Dining Lounge invites you to indulge in a delightful High Tea Event Every Sunday from 1.00 pm to 3:30 . Enjoy a selection of premium tea or coffee while relishing an array of exquisite finger sandwiches. Details
Sundays | 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Little Mushroom Dining Lounge, 131 Sheldon Drive #Suite 17 Cambridge
$43.93
Brae Ridge Alpacas Private Tour and Visit
In this exclusive private tour for up to 5 guests (8 for an additional cost), you will get close and personal to Champion alpacas as you walk through their paddocks and home. Hand feeding these majestic creatures is an intimate experience that will leave you in awe. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about alpacas such as the sounds they make and why. Details
By reservation
Brae Ridge Farm & Sanctuary, 7667 Maltby Rd East, Puslinch
$95
Kidspark Winter Festival
Kidspark Winter Festival is a fun-filled week of free programs and activities at all Kitchener Public Library locations. Details
December 28 – 30, 2023 and January 2 – 6, 2024
various Kitchener Public Library locations
Free; Some events require registration
The Brick 39th Annual New Year’s Run
Register and Participate from December 28, 2023 to January 31 2024
Wherever you are
$10 – $65
Hockey: Faster Than Ever
HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever takes visitors through the evolution of the sport, highlighting the remarkable technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs that have shaped hockey over time. Details
September 30, 2023 to January 14, 2024
Glovebox, 120 Victoria Street, South, Kitchener
$14 – $22.50
Programs at the Library
Enjoy various programs and activities at your local library during the holidays.
You might like: Unusual Things to Borrow your Idea Exchange membership card.
José Luis Torres: Drifts
Dérives, at the intersection of art and architecture, offers limitless possibilities through an immersive wooden structure, inviting visitors to explore and engage with diverse modes of movement, ultimately encouraging a broader understanding of their environment. Details
December 9, 2023 – March 17, 2024
Preston Gallery, 1 North Square, Cambridge
Free
Cipher|Decipher
Cipher | Decipher breaks down communications encryption: what it is, how it works, and how it affects our lives. The 500-square-foot exhibition showcases a wide range of historic communications encryption artifacts on loan from the CSE, and contains both hands-on and digital experiences, as well as custom illustrations that visually demonstrate key processes in cybersecurity, and making and breaking ciphers. Visitors will be able to scramble their own messages using a cipher wheel, see how an Enigma cipher machine works and tackle puzzles to learn if they have what it takes to work in the field of cryptology. Details
Tuesday-Friday, July 11 – December 29, 2023
City of Waterloo Museum, 550 King St. North, Waterloo
In Conestoga Mall; The museum entrance is located to the left of the food court mall entrance
Free
Kitchener Rangers
Catch the Rangers in action at the Aud. Details
vs. Flint Firebirds on Friday, December 29, 2023 | 7:00 PM
vs. Saginaw Spirit on Thursday, Janaury 4, 2024 | 7:00 PM
The Aud, 400 East Ave, Kitchener
$22 – $26
Winter Activities
25 Outdoor Winter Activities In Kitchener-Waterloo Region
(Snow-related activities are weather dependent)
1. Go skating at the outdoor rinks in Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo.
2. Cross-country skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts can head out t0 the Walter Bean Trail.
3. Shade’s Mill Park is a popular destination in winter. The park has 10 kms of groomed ski trails and a snowshoe loop. Ice fishing is another popular activity to do here.
4. Enjoy tobogganing? Check out the City-designated tobogganing hills. You can also check out the hill at Westvale Park or Columbia Lake, Waterloo. Use your good judgement while enjoying these activities.
5. Enjoy a family walk in the green spaces in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region. Pack a picnic and plan to spend an afternoon outside playing games with your loved ones.
6. Find hidden treasures and discover the many geocaches located throughout the region. This family-friendly activity uses a mobile app or a GPS device. This is also a fun way to interact with nature while getting mild exercise and explore new areas.
7. Birding is a fun activity to do in winter. What are the popular winter birds that you can spot? Can you notice any winter adaptation changes in them? Grab a pair of binoculars, download a bird ID app, and try to name all the birds that you can spot. If you don’t want to venture outside do an unofficial count of the birds that visit your bird feeder.
8. For easy fun winter sports try snowshoeing. This is an excellent way to exercise in winter and a great way to enjoy the trails!
9. Enjoy fun days on the slopes at Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort.