Plan your holiday adventure in Milton with our ultimate event guide. Get ready for a festive season filled with joy and celebration.
Kick off your holiday spirit at the Milton HolidayFest, where the town comes alive with vibrant lights and festive activities for everyone. Experience the dazzling displays at the Winter Festival of Lights, showcasing a breathtaking array of illuminated sculptures and installations. And the Toronto Christmas Market, filled with charming stalls and seasonal delights, is something you definitely don't want to miss. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Milton
See these and even more events listed below!Milton Holiday Markets and Shopping
Milton Christmas Craft Show
What to Expect:
Emphasis on traditional and forgotten crafting techniques
Description:
Milton Christmas Craft Show revives and celebrates historical crafting methods. This event features artisans demonstrating techniques that have largely disappeared from modern manufacturing. Visitors can try their hand at traditional quilling, creating intricate paper designs for holiday cards. The show pays homage to Milton's agricultural roots by featuring many crafts that were once common on local farms. The rhythmic sound of hand looms fills the air as weavers create holiday-themed textiles. Since its beginning in 1985, the show has become a vital platform for preserving and sharing traditional craft knowledge.
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Milton Other Holiday Activities
Milton HolidayFest
What to Expect:
Community-wide celebration with diverse activities
Description:
Milton HolidayFest transforms the entire town into a winter celebration hub. This event stands out for its wide array of activities spread across multiple venues. Visitors can participate in ice sculpting workshops, learning the art from local experts. The festival originated in 1857 as a small gathering of local farmers and has since evolved into a major regional attraction. Twinkling lights illuminate the historic downtown, creating a warm glow against the crisp winter air. Milton's rich agricultural heritage is showcased through special exhibits and demonstrations during the festivities.
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Milton Santa Claus Parade
What to Expect:
Interactive parade with community-built floats
Description:
Milton Santa Claus Parade stands out for its high level of community involvement in float creation. This event features dozens of floats built entirely by local organizations and families. Visitors can marvel at the creativity on display, with many floats incorporating moving parts and special effects. The parade route follows historic Main Street, passing by buildings that date back to Milton's founding in 1818. The sound of jingle bells fills the air as elaborately costumed performers dance alongside the floats. Since its inception, the parade has grown to include over 50 entries, becoming a beloved annual tradition.
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Elf Walk and Run
What to Expect:
Charity run with participants dressed as elves
Description:
Elf Walk and Run turns Milton into a sea of green and red. This event combines physical activity with holiday cheer, as participants don elf costumes for a charitable cause. Visitors can join in various distance categories, from a leisurely walk to a challenging 10K run. The run route showcases Milton's natural beauty, winding through parks and along scenic trails. The jingling of bells attached to runners' shoes creates a festive soundtrack. Since its inception in 2010, the event has raised significant funds for local children's charities while promoting community health and wellness.
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Nearby Events
Winter Festival of Lights (Niagara Falls)
What to Expect:
Massive illuminated displays along Niagara Parkway
Description:
The Winter Festival of Lights illuminates Niagara Falls with an awe-inspiring spectacle. This event boasts over 3 million lights along an 8km route, making it Canada's largest illumination festival. Visitors can embark on a guided tour to learn about the intricate designs and themes of each display. The festival began in 1982 and has grown to become a significant economic driver for the region during the winter months. Illuminated sculptures cast colorful reflections on the snow-covered landscape, creating a stunning visual experience. The event also features innovative light technology, showcasing cutting-edge illumination techniques.
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Toronto Christmas Market (Toronto)
What to Expect:
European-inspired market in the historic Distillery District
Description:
Toronto Christmas Market brings old-world charm to the heart of the city. This event recreates the ambiance of traditional European Christmas markets within the Victorian-era architecture of the Distillery District. Visitors can sample authentic German mulled wine while browsing handcrafted gifts. The market pays homage to Toronto's diverse cultural heritage, featuring traditions from various European communities that shaped the city. Carolers in period costumes serenade shoppers, their voices echoing off the cobblestone streets. The event has become a cherished tradition since its inception in 2010, drawing visitors from across North America.
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Bronte Creek Holiday Events (Oakville)
What to Expect:
Historical reenactments in a 19th-century setting
Description:
Bronte Creek Holiday Events transport visitors back to a Victorian-era Christmas. This unique celebration takes place in a restored 19th-century farmstead, offering an immersive historical experience. Guests can participate in traditional candle-dipping workshops, creating their own holiday luminaries. The events showcase the holiday customs of early Ontario settlers, providing insight into the region's cultural heritage. Costumed interpreters bring history to life, demonstrating period-accurate cooking and crafting techniques. The aroma of freshly baked gingerbread fills the air, evoking memories of holidays past.
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Christmas Town Village (Burlington)
What to Expect:
Interactive North Pole-themed village
Description:
Christmas Town Village brings the North Pole to Burlington. This immersive experience features a fully realized Santa's workshop, complete with working toy-making stations. Visitors can assist the elves in creating toys, gaining hands-on insight into the toy-making process. The village draws inspiration from Canadian winter folklore, incorporating elements of Indigenous and settler traditions. Life-sized animatronic polar bears and penguins delight guests with their realistic movements. The event began as a small community project in 2005 and has since grown into a major regional attraction.
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Streetsville Christmas in the Village (Mississauga)
What to Expect:
Historic village transformation with period-specific decorations
Description:
Streetsville Christmas in the Village revives the charm of a 19th-century holiday celebration. This event transforms the historic Streetsville area into a living museum of Christmas past. Visitors can ride in horse-drawn carriages through streets adorned with period-accurate decorations. The celebration honors Streetsville's founding in 1819, showcasing the area's rich history through carefully curated exhibits. The scent of roasting chestnuts wafts through the air, adding to the authentic atmosphere. Local artisans demonstrate traditional crafts, offering a glimpse into the skilled trades of yesteryear.
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Streetsville Christmas in the Village
Mississauga Festival of Trees (Mississauga)
What to Expect:
Professionally designed themed Christmas trees
Description:
Mississauga Festival of Trees showcases an array of creatively decorated Christmas trees. This event features dozens of trees, each uniquely designed by professional decorators and local artists. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree, with proceeds benefiting local charities. The festival originated in 1997 as a fundraiser for a local hospital and has since expanded to support multiple community organizations. Twinkling lights reflect off ornate ornaments, creating a dazzling visual spectacle. The event also highlights Mississauga's cultural diversity through trees representing different global holiday traditions.
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Christmas by Candlelight (Waterloo)
What to Expect:
Authentic 19th-century Christmas experience by candlelight
Description:
Christmas by Candlelight offers an intimate glimpse into holiday celebrations of the past. This event takes place in a restored 19th-century village, illuminated solely by candlelight and oil lamps. Visitors can join in traditional caroling sessions, learning songs that were popular during the Victorian era. The celebration pays homage to Waterloo Region's German heritage, incorporating elements of traditional Weihnachten customs. The soft glow of candles casts dancing shadows on historic buildings, creating a captivating atmosphere. Costumed interpreters share stories of Christmas traditions from different periods in Canadian history.
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Burlington Festival of Lights (Burlington)
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays in a lakeside setting
Description:
Burlington Festival of Lights transforms the city's waterfront into a luminous wonderland. This event features over 60 animated light displays, many of which visitors can interact with. Guests can activate light shows through motion sensors or control color changes via smartphone apps. The festival celebrates Burlington's connection to Lake Ontario, with many displays featuring nautical themes. The reflection of lights on the lake's surface creates a mesmerizing double image. Since its inception in 1995, the event has evolved to incorporate cutting-edge lighting technology and eco-friendly LED bulbs.
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Light Up the Hills (Halton Hills)
What to Expect:
Community-wide light display competition
Description:
Light Up the Hills turns Halton Hills into a friendly competition of holiday illumination. This event encourages residents and businesses to create elaborate light displays, transforming the entire community. Visitors can embark on self-guided tours, using a mobile app to vote for their favorite displays. The celebration began in 2010 as a way to boost community spirit during the winter months. Intricate light sculptures depict local landmarks and wildlife, showcasing the area's natural beauty. The event also features a special category for eco-friendly displays, promoting sustainable holiday decorating practices.
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Oakville Tree Lighting Ceremony (Oakville)
What to Expect:
Community-decorated giant Christmas tree
Description:
Oakville Tree Lighting Ceremony centers around a massive community-decorated Christmas tree. This event invites residents to contribute handmade ornaments, creating a unique symbol of town unity. Visitors can watch as a cherry picker carefully places the final decorations atop the towering tree. The ceremony dates back to 1953, making it one of the oldest continuous holiday events in the region. Choirs from local schools perform traditional and modern carols, their voices rising into the crisp night air. The event also showcases Oakville's maritime heritage through nautical-themed decorations and displays.
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Oakville Tree Lighting Ceremony
Oakville Christmas Tree Lighting (Oakville)
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and music show
Description:
Oakville Christmas Tree Lighting elevates the traditional ceremony with a high-tech twist. This event features a precisely choreographed light show synchronized to holiday music. Visitors can witness thousands of LED lights dance in perfect harmony with classic and contemporary tunes. The celebration honors Oakville's rich cultural diversity by incorporating holiday music from various traditions. The air fills with the aroma of hot apple cider, served from vintage streetcars converted into mobile cafes. Since 2015, the event has used cutting-edge lighting technology to create increasingly complex and stunning displays.
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Oakville Christmas Tree Lighting
Holiday Street Market (Hamilton)
What to Expect:
Fusion of international holiday traditions
Description:
Holiday Street Market in Hamilton celebrates the city's multicultural heritage through diverse holiday traditions. This event brings together vendors representing holiday customs from around the world. Visitors can sample traditional holiday foods from various cultures, expanding their culinary horizons. The market pays homage to Hamilton's industrial past by incorporating steampunk-inspired decorations and displays. The sound of international holiday music creates a unique auditory tapestry. Since its inception in 2012, the market has grown to showcase holiday traditions from over 30 different cultures.
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Royal Botanical Gardens Winter Exhibit (Burlington)
What to Expect:
Living holiday displays using rare and exotic plants
Description:
Royal Botanical Gardens Winter Exhibit showcases holiday themes through innovative use of plant life. This event features intricate displays created entirely from living plants, including rare and exotic species. Visitors can attend workshops on creating holiday arrangements using sustainable, plant-based materials. The exhibit highlights the gardens' role in plant conservation, featuring several endangered species in holiday-themed displays. The subtle fragrance of winter-blooming flowers permeates the greenhouse air. Since its inception, the exhibit has become a leader in promoting eco-friendly holiday decorating practices.
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Royal Botanical Gardens Winter Exhibit
Holiday House Tour (Oakville)
What to Expect:
Tour of historically significant homes decorated for the holidays
Description:
Holiday House Tour in Oakville offers a glimpse into the town's architectural heritage. This event features guided tours of historically significant homes, each decorated in period-appropriate holiday style. Visitors can learn about the evolution of holiday decorating trends from the 19th century to the present day. The tour highlights Oakville's role in the Underground Railroad, with several homes featuring exhibits on this important history. The creaking of old floorboards adds to the authentic atmosphere of these historic residences. Since its inception, the tour has become an important fundraiser for local heritage preservation efforts.
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Christmas Tree Lighting at City Hall (Brampton)
What to Expect:
Multicultural holiday celebration reflecting Brampton's diversity
Description:
Christmas Tree Lighting at City Hall in Brampton embraces the city's cultural mosaic. This event features holiday traditions from the many diverse communities that call Brampton home. Visitors can witness performances of holiday dances from around the world, showcasing the city's global connections. The celebration honors Brampton's rapid growth and transformation from a small town to a major city. The aroma of international holiday treats fills the air, reflecting the city's culinary diversity. Since 2000, the event has evolved to become a symbol of Brampton's commitment to inclusivity and multiculturalism.
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Christmas Tree Lighting at City Hall
Etobicoke Santa Claus Parade (Toronto (Etobicoke))
What to Expect:
Parade floats representing Etobicoke's industrial heritage
Description:
Etobicoke Santa Claus Parade celebrates the area's rich industrial history. This event features unique floats that pay homage to the factories and businesses that shaped Etobicoke. Visitors can marvel at intricate moving displays that recreate historic industrial processes. The parade route passes by several heritage industrial sites, providing a backdrop that connects past and present. The rhythmic sound of marching bands echoes off the facades of historic buildings. Since its beginnings in the 1950s, the parade has evolved to reflect Etobicoke's transformation from an industrial hub to a diverse urban community.
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Holiday Light Tour (Oakville)
What to Expect:
Guided tour of Oakville's most elaborate residential light displays
Description:
Holiday Light Tour in Oakville showcases the town's most impressive residential light displays. This event features a curated route that takes visitors past homes with extraordinary holiday illuminations. Guests can learn about the planning and effort that goes into creating these elaborate displays from the homeowners themselves. The tour highlights Oakville's commitment to energy efficiency, featuring many homes that use innovative LED and solar-powered lighting. The gentle hum of generators powering the displays adds to the ambient soundscape. Since its inception in 2008, the tour has inspired a friendly competition among residents, raising the bar for holiday decorating each year.
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Holiday Open House (Mississauga)
What to Expect:
Behind-the-scenes look at holiday preparations in public spaces
Description:
Holiday Open House in Mississauga offers a unique behind-the-scenes experience. This event provides access to normally restricted areas of public buildings as they're prepared for the holidays. Visitors can watch professional decorators transform City Hall into a winter spectacle. The open house showcases the city's commitment to inclusivity, featuring decorations that represent Mississauga's diverse cultural makeup. The scent of fresh pine fills the air as enormous wreaths are hung in grand entranceways. Since its beginning in 2005, the event has become a valuable educational tool, inspiring residents to elevate their own holiday decorating.