Celebrate the holidays in Waterloo Region

Celebrate the season in Waterloo Region, where holiday cheer shines bright!

Throughout November and December, explore festive markets, dazzling light displays, and community celebrations that capture the warmth and wonder of the holidays.

2026 Holiday Events – November

Several lit up deer figures outside of a shop in St Jacobs during the annual Sparkles holiday shopping evert. — ST. JACOBS SPARKLES
November 12-15 & 18-22
The Village of St. Jacobs lights up for this annual shopping event that includes holiday festivities and entertainment.

Exterior view of the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market at night. There are lights strung up from the building, and snow on the ground. There are trees with lights and fire pits also decorating the grounds. — HOLIDAY SIP ‘n SHOP
November 20 & 27
Two festive nights at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market where you can sip while you enjoy live entertainment and shop for the perfect gift!

The decorated engine and cars of the CKPC Holiday Train as it travels, lit up by colourful lights, at night. — CPKC HOLIDAY TRAIN
November 21
The CPKC Holiday Train makes its annual stop at the Malcolm Street Train Station in downtown Cambridge.

A car driving through the large light tunnel that is part of Gift of Ligths at Bingemans — GIFT OF LIGHTS
Nov. 20, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027 Experience the magic of Waterloo Region’s most spectacular and dazzling light displays with this drive through holiday experience.

A closed red curtain across a theatre stage. There is a spotlight shining onto it — DRAYTON ENTERTAINMENT
Nov. 18, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027
Celebrate the season with three spectacular productions:
– Disney’s Frozen
– All is Calm:
The Christmas Truce of 1914
– Snow White & the Seven Tenors:
A Panto

An actor in a nutcracker costume entertains the passengers on one of Waterloo Central Railway's holiday train rides. — WATERLOO CENTRAL RAILWAY HOLIDAY TRAINS
Nov. 13 – Dec. 20
Three heritage Christmas train rides full of fun and holiday cheer that kids of all ages will enjoy!
Choose from Daylight, Nightlight, and Santa’s Night Cap rides.

a Victorian Christmas at castle kilbride — CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE
Nov. 18, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit Castle Kilbride in Baden, ON!
Warm yourself in the glow that emanates from every room of this beautifully decorated Castle.

The outdoor entrance of the Cambridge Holiday Market at the Cambridge City Hall. It is night, and there are holiday lights shining. — CAMBRIDGE HOLIDAY MARKET
November 27-29
This award winning holiday market features over 100 vendors, holiday music, a fire pit lounge, visits from Santa, and food trucks.

A large crowd of people walking down the streets of downtown Cambridge at night. It is winter: they are participating in the annual Phil Klein's Unsilent Night event. — PHIL KLEIN’S UNSILENT NIGHT
November 27
Walk through downtown Cambridge to take in interactive light installations and live LED performers.

Two people sitting around a campfire and roasting s'mores at Snyder's Family Farm — SNYDER’S FARM OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
Weekends Nov. 28-Dec. 20
Bring the whole family to enjoy Holiday cheer on the farm!
Cut your own tree, shop at the Christmas Gift Barn, gather around a cozy winter campfire and more.

Two people standing underneath the entrance to the lights display at Wonders of Winter in Waterloo Park — WONDERS OF WINTER
Nov. 28, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027
This free display lights up Waterloo Park nightly from 5-10:30PM. Features over 200 displays and 100,000 bulbs.

2026 Holiday Events – December

A drone view of Carl Zehr Square at Kitchener City Hall during Christkindl Market. The square is filled with people, vendor huts, a large lit-up Christmas tree and a stage with entertainment — CHRISTKINDL MARKET
December 3-6 and 10-13
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Christkindl Market. For two weekends the streets of Kitchener transform into a traditional festival of German Christmas..

Close up of a person holding a lit lantern on a winter's night. You can see sparkly little lights in the background. — DOON HERITAGE VILLAGE BY LANTERN LIGHT
December 4, 5, 11, 12
Doon Heritage Village is dressed up for Christmas 1914. Enjoy unique and tasty treats, music and horse drawn wagon rides, all by lantern light.

An actor in a nutcracker costume entertains the passengers on one of Waterloo Central Railway's holiday train rides. — WATERLOO CENTRAL RAILWAY HOLIDAY TRAINS
Nov. 13 – Dec. 20
Three heritage Christmas train rides full of fun and holiday cheer that kids of all ages will enjoy!
Choose from Daylight, Nightlight, and Santa’s Night Cap rides.

A car driving through the large light tunnel that is part of Gift of Ligths at Bingemans — GIFT OF LIGHTS
Nov. 20, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027 Experience the magic of Waterloo Region’s most spectacular and dazzling light displays with this drive through holiday experience.

A closed red curtain across a theatre stage. There is a spotlight shining onto it — DRAYTON ENTERTAINMENT
Nov. 18, 2026 – Jan. 10, 2027
Celebrate the season with three spectacular productions:
– Disney’s Frozen
– All is Calm:
The Christmas Truce of 1914
– Snow White & the Seven Tenors:
A Panto

Two people sitting around a campfire and roasting s'mores at Snyder's Family Farm — SNYDER’S FARM OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
Weekends Nov. 29-Dec. 21
Bring the whole family to enjoy Holiday cheer! Cut your own tree, gather around a cozy winter campfire and more.

a Victorian Christmas at castle kilbride — CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE
Nov. 18, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit Castle Kilbride in Baden, ON!
Warm yourself in the glow that emanates from every room of this beautifully decorated Castle.

Two people standing underneath the entrance to the lights display at Wonders of Winter in Waterloo Park — WONDERS OF WINTER
Nov. 28, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027
This free display lights up Waterloo Park nightly from 5-10:30PM. Features over 200 displays and 100,000 bulbs.

❄️❄️ Discover more holiday happenings on the Explore Waterloo Region Events Calendar! ❄️❄️