Excitement is building for the holidays in Cambridge! Use our guide to discover all the festive fun. For those who know Cambridge like the back of their hand and those still finding their way, our guide is your holiday compass.
The Cambridge Christmas Market is a charming event featuring local vendors, unique gifts, and seasonal treats. Experience the community spirit and festive entertainment at the Christmas in Cambridge Festival, with family-friendly activities and beautiful holiday displays. And Candyland is something you definitely don't want to miss, with its sweet decorations and interactive fun for kids. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Cambridge
- Cambridge Christmas Market
- Christmas in Cambridge Festival
- Candyland
- Music and Lights in the Village
- Christmas in Cambridge Light Up the Night
- Christmas with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
- A Homemade Christmas Market
- Holiday Train
- Santa Claus Parade
- Holiday House Tour
Cambridge Holiday Light Displays
Music and Lights in the Village
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and music shows in a historic village setting
Description:
Music and Lights in the Village illuminates Cambridge's historic Dickson Hill area with a spectacular synchronized light and music show. The century-old homes provide a charming backdrop for the dazzling displays. Visitors can take guided tours to learn about the area's architectural heritage while enjoying the light show. This event combines modern technology with the preservation of local history, creating a unique holiday experience.
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Music and Lights in the Village
Christmas in Cambridge Light Up the Night
What to Expect:
Community-wide simultaneous light-up event
Description:
Christmas in Cambridge Light Up the Night unites the entire city in a simultaneous illumination. At precisely 7 PM, thousands of homes and businesses switch on their holiday lights, creating a breathtaking citywide spectacle. You can join a rooftop viewing party for a panoramic view of the event. This tradition began in 2010 as a way to showcase Cambridge's community spirit and has since become a beloved annual occurrence.
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Christmas in Cambridge Light Up the Night
Cambridge Holiday Markets and Shopping
Cambridge Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Authentic European-style market stalls
Description:
Cambridge Christmas Market transforms the city center into a bustling European-style marketplace. Wooden chalets line the streets, offering handcrafted gifts, artisanal foods, and unique decorations. The aroma of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fills the air. Visitors can try their hand at traditional glass-blowing demonstrations. This market draws inspiration from the historic Christmas markets of Germany, bringing a slice of Old World tradition to Ontario.
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A Homemade Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Exclusively handmade and locally crafted items
Description:
A Homemade Christmas Market showcases the talents of Cambridge's local artisans and crafters. Every item sold is handmade within a 50-kilometer radius of the city, ensuring a truly unique shopping experience. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of traditional crafting techniques, from quilting to woodworking. This market emerged from Cambridge's strong DIY community and commitment to supporting local makers.
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Cambridge Holiday Giving Opportunities
Jingle Bell Run
What to Expect:
Costume contest integrated into the run
Description:
The Jingle Bell Run combines fitness with festive fun, encouraging participants to don their most creative holiday-themed costumes. The sound of jingling bells fills the air as runners make their way through the scenic course. Prizes are awarded not just for speed, but also for the most innovative costumes. This event supports local charities and has become a beloved Cambridge tradition since its inception in 2005.
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Santa’s Workshop
What to Expect:
Children create gifts for local seniors
Description:
Santa's Workshop in Cambridge puts a charitable spin on the traditional Santa's grotto. Children visiting Santa are invited to create handmade gifts for local seniors, fostering intergenerational connections. The workshop is set up in a replica of a historic Cambridge toy factory, complete with vintage toy-making equipment. This event draws inspiration from Cambridge's history as a major toy manufacturing center in the early 20th century.
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Cambridge Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
What to Expect:
Interactive audience participation in the performance
Description:
Christmas with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra elevates the traditional holiday concert with interactive elements. The audience is invited to join in playing handbells during certain pieces, creating a truly immersive musical experience. The concert features a world premiere of a holiday composition by a local composer. This event celebrates Cambridge's rich musical heritage, which dates back to the city's founding in the 19th century.
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Christmas with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
Christmas Story Time
What to Expect:
Stories performed in multiple languages reflecting community diversity
Description:
Christmas Story Time brings holiday tales to life in a uniquely inclusive way. Stories are performed in multiple languages, reflecting Cambridge's diverse population. Professional actors and community members collaborate to create engaging performances. You can experience beloved classics and lesser-known tales from various cultures. This event began as a grassroots initiative to promote literacy and cultural exchange in Cambridge's immigrant communities.
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Christmas Eve Caroling
What to Expect:
Candlelit procession through historic neighborhoods
Description:
Christmas Eve Caroling in Cambridge takes the form of a candlelit procession through the city's most historic neighborhoods. Participants carry lanterns and candles, creating a warm glow as they move through the streets. The carolers perform a mix of traditional and modern songs, filling the night air with melody. This event revives a Victorian-era Cambridge tradition, documented in local newspapers from the 1870s.
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Cambridge Other Holiday Activities
Christmas in Cambridge Festival
What to Expect:
Month-long celebration with diverse activities
Description:
The Christmas in Cambridge Festival spans an entire month, offering a diverse array of holiday experiences. From ice sculpture competitions to reindeer petting zoos, the festival brings together community groups and local businesses to create a comprehensive celebration. You can participate in gingerbread house workshops led by professional bakers. The festival originated in 1997 as a way to unite the city's three core areas during the holiday season.
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Christmas in Cambridge Festival
Candyland
What to Expect:
Life-sized candy-themed installations
Description:
Candyland in Cambridge brings childhood fantasies to life with enormous candy-themed installations throughout the city. Towering lollipop trees and gingerbread houses large enough to walk through captivate visitors of all ages. Children can embark on a sweet-themed scavenger hunt, searching for hidden candy canes. This event pays homage to Cambridge's history as a confectionery manufacturing hub in the early 20th century.
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Holiday Train
What to Expect:
Vintage train ride through scenic winter landscapes
Description:
The Holiday Train offers a journey through time and picturesque winter scenery. Passengers board a beautifully restored vintage train, complete with festive decorations, for a scenic ride through the countryside. The gentle clacking of wheels on rails provides a soothing backdrop to the winter vistas. You can enjoy hot cocoa service in authentic dining cars. This event pays tribute to Cambridge's railway history, which played a crucial role in the city's development.
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Santa Claus Parade
What to Expect:
Parade floats designed and built by local schools
Description:
Cambridge's Santa Claus Parade stands out for its community involvement, particularly the participation of local schools. Each school designs and builds a unique float, showcasing student creativity and craftsmanship. The parade route winds through all three of Cambridge's core areas, uniting the city in celebration. This tradition began in the 1970s as a way to foster inter-school cooperation and community pride.
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Holiday House Tour
What to Expect:
Self-guided tours of historically significant homes
Description:
The Holiday House Tour opens the doors to some of Cambridge's most architecturally significant homes, all decked out in holiday splendor. This self-guided experience allows visitors to explore these private residences at their own pace. You can marvel at the intricate Victorian-era details preserved in many of the homes. The tour highlights Cambridge's rich architectural heritage, with some featured houses dating back to the 1830s.
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Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Trees decorated by local cultural groups representing their heritage
Description:
The Festival of Trees celebrates Cambridge's cultural diversity through holiday decorations. Local cultural groups decorate trees to represent their heritage, creating a vibrant display of global traditions. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree, with proceeds benefiting multicultural programs in the city. This event originated in 1995 as a way to showcase Cambridge's growing diversity and promote cultural understanding.
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Cambridge Christmas Bird Count
What to Expect:
Citizen science project contributing to national wildlife database
Description:
The Cambridge Christmas Bird Count combines holiday tradition with environmental conservation. Participants of all ages and skill levels fan out across the city to count and identify bird species. The data collected contributes to a national wildlife database, aiding in conservation efforts. You can join expert birders to learn identification techniques. This event is part of the longest-running citizen science survey in North America, dating back to 1900.
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Cambridge Christmas Bird Count