Kitchener 
Make the most of your winter break with a wide array of festive lights, indoor entertainment, and outdoor adventures.
Credit: Bingemans
List in the article are a few family-friendly activities across the region from December 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026.
See Holiday Lights
- Gift of Lights: Drive through tunnels of animated lights and enjoy outdoor displays. Open nightly, November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026
- Wonders of Winter at Waterloo Park: Over 100 light displays illuminated by 100,000 bulbs. Lights are on 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm every evening from November 29, 2025 – January 3, 2026.
- Holiday Digital Show in Cambridge: Enjoy a stunning projection on the Old Post Office façade from Thursday to Sunday, November 27, 2025 – January 7, 2026
Live Music and Theatre
Celebrate the holiday season with an array of live music and theatre performances, from festive shows to captivating concerts.
- Plaid Tidings on November 19 – December 28, 2025 @ Hildebrand Schoolhouse Theatre St. Jacobs
- Christmas Carol: The Panto on November 27, 2025 to January 4, 2026 @ St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
- Shrek The Musical on December 3, 2025 to January 11, 2026 @ Hamilton Family Theatre, Cambridge
- Something Rotten! JR. on December 17 – 20, 2025
- Tom Nagy: Christmas Spectacular on December 19 – 20, 2025 @ The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel
- JJ Wilde – Home for the Holidays on Saturday, December 20, 2025 | Doors 7:30 PM @ Maxwells, Waterloo
- Let it be Christmas on December 23 – 24, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM @ Highview Community Church, Kitchener
- Adam James on December 26, 2025 | 8:00 PM @ The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel
- Sam Dickinson on December 27, 2025 | 8:00 PM @ The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel
- Red Hot Ramble on January 2, 2026 | 8:00 PM @ The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel
- Queen Kong on January 3, 2026 | 8:00 PM @ The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel
- HOLIDAY MAKER PASSPORT: U LIGHT ME UP on January 1 – 2, 2026 at TheMuseum
- The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition on Sunday, December 28, 2025 | 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM @ Centre In The Square
Sports
Kitchener Rangers at The Aud.
- vs. Erie Otters on Sunday, December 28, 2025 | 2:00 PM
- vs Barrie Colts on Friday, January 2, 2026 | 7:00 PM
KW Titans at The Aud
- vs. Windsor Express on Saturday, December 27, 2025 | 4:00 PM
- vs. Lake Erie Jackals on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | 7:00 PM
- vs. Montreal Toundra on Sunday, January 4, 2026 | 3:00 PM
Family-Friendly Events
Enjoy a wide range of activities, including festive festivals, creative workshops, holiday tours, and special celebrations.
- Christmas at the Castle from November 19, 2025 – January 4, 2026 at Castle Kilbride
- The Big Screen Christmas on December 20 – 21, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM at The District Square
- Christmas Cheerlight Charter on December 20 – 23, 2025, at St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Station
- Winter Stay and Play on December 20 – 23, 27 – 31, 2025 & January 2 – 4, 2026 at All Cambridge Public Library Locations
- Merry Mission Dayliner on December 20 – 23, 2025, at St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Station
- Santa’s Nightcap (19+) on December 20, 22, 23, 2025 at WCR Farmers’ Market Station
- Old Fashioned Christmas on Saturdays & Sundays, November 29 – December 21, 2025, at Snyder’s Family Farm
- Yuletide at Woodside on December 20 – 21, 2025 @ Woodside National Historic Site
- The Great Gingerbread Throwdown at Kitchener Market on Saturday, December 20, 2025 | 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Wintry Crafternoons at Schneider Haus on December 20 – 21, 27 – 28, 2025 & January 3 – 4, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Vintage Black Canada: A Doon Village Introspection Self-Guided Tour on December 28, 2025 | 1:00 PM
- Christmas at Doon on Sundays, December 21 and 28, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Winter Solstice Forest Bathing – Huron Natural Area on December 21, 2025 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Starry Night on December 19 – 20, 2025 | 6:00 PM at Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum
- Vintage Black Canada: A Doon Village Introspection Self-Guided Tour on Sunday, December 28, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Gingerbread Exhibition on December 22 – 28, 2025 at Tapestry Hall
- Cozy Cabin: Welcoming Winter in Waterloo Park on December 22, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Outdoor Fun/ Winter Adventures
Christmas Bird Count: While the Christmas bird count takes place much before the holidays, visit nature areas around the KW Region and do a bird count as a fun family activity.
(Snow-related activities are weather-dependent. Use your good judgment while enjoying these activities.)
25 Outdoor Winter Activities In Kitchener-Waterloo Region
- Skating: Enjoy rinks in Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo.
- Tobogganing: Glide down designated hills like Westvale Park or Columbia Lake.
- Skiing & Snowshoeing: Explore trails at Chicopee Ski Resort or Shade’s Mill Park. Access Walter Bean Trail from Rim Park in Waterloo to enjoy cross-country skiing.
- Bird Watching: 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.
- Geocaching: Engage with nature and discover hidden treasures. Geocaching is allowed at select Grand River Conservation Areas.
- Winter Walks: Take in the beauty of green spaces across the region.
Visit Local Attractions
Immerse yourself in history, explore tropical wonders, and enjoy interactive exhibits—this region’s attractions offer something for all ages and interests.
- Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum: Discover the area’s history. Closed on Dec 25 – 26 & Jan 1. Doon Heritage Village will remain closed to the public through 2025.
- Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory: Stroll among tropical butterflies. This break view their new “Mexican Axolotl” exhibit, which offers visitors an up-close look at one of the planet’s most fascinating Amphibians. Closed on Dec 24 – 26 & Jan 1
- Schneider Haus National Historic Site: Explore local heritage. Closed on Dec 25 – 26 & Jan 1.
- McDougall Cottage Historic Site: A charming cottage in the downtown Cambridge historic factory district. Closed on Dec 24 – 26, 31 & Jan 1
- Castle Kilbride National Historic Site: Step back in time with a Victorian Christmas experience. Closed December 24 – 26 & 31 & Jan 1
- Bell Homestead National Historic Site: Learn about Alexander Graham Bell’s innovations. Closed the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
- THEMUSEUM: Engage with interactive exhibits for all ages. Closed December 25 – 26
Exciting Indoor Entertainment
Enjoy a variety of exciting activities, including escape rooms, go-karting, trampolines, bowling, virtual reality, indoor golf, and more.
- Escape Rooms: Immerse yourself in thrilling adventures at VR Escapism, KW Escape, & Bingemans EscapeworX.
- Karting Fun: Enjoy adrenaline-filled rides at K1 Speed Cambridge.
- Family Activities: Engage in fun at Bingemans FunworX & Indoor Playground and solve puzzles at Adventure Rooms.
Bowling Entertainment: Bowl your heart out at New Hamburg Lanes and Kingpin Cambridge. - Golf Simulators: Practice your swing with an indoor golf experience at Golf Play.
- Virtual Reality: Step into interactive worlds at NextGen VR or Ctrl V.
Winter Break Camps
Engage kids in creativity, learning, and active fun this winter break with a variety of camps:
- City of Waterloo
- City of Kitchener
- THEMUSEUM
- Region of Waterloo Museum
- Airborne Trampoline
- Homer Watson House & Gallery
Programs at the Library
Enjoy various programs and activities at your local library during the holidays.
Christmas & Boxing Day
Celebrate with family on December 25 and 26. Explore local parks, light displays, or festive dinners.
New Year’s Eve Activities
Ring in the new year.
New Year’s Eve in Kitchener-Waterloo Region
Visit Provincial Parks /National Parks
The Provincial Parks and National Parks offer many outdoor activities. Even if you have visited in spring or summer, winter presents entirely different experiences. You can enjoy a whole lot of activities, from skating to snowshoeing to skiing to camping. How about spending a night in the cozy comfort of a yurt? Winter camping is available in select provincial parks!
