Everything you need for the holidays in Thunder Bay is in our comprehensive guide. Discover all the top festive events. Whether Thunder Bay is your everyday backdrop or your dream destination, our guide brings festive dreams to life.
The Festival of Lights is a dazzling tradition that transforms the city into a twinkling wonderland of holiday cheer. Families gather to enjoy the elaborate displays and festive atmosphere. The Christmas Parade features stunning floats, and energetic performers, capturing the spirit of the season. And the Santa Claus Fundraiser is something you definitely don't want to miss, as it blends holiday fun with a charitable cause. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Thunder Bay
- Festival of Lights
- Christmas Parade
- Santa Claus Fundraiser
- Holiday Pop-up Market
- Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Christmas at Fort William
- Holiday Ice Skating
- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
- Victorian Christmas
- Holiday Wine Tasting
Thunder Bay Holiday Light Displays
Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays synchronized to music
Description:
Thunder Bay's Festival of Lights illuminates the winter sky with a dazzling array of interactive light displays. Visitors can stroll through a twinkling landscape where lights dance in sync with holiday melodies. This annual tradition began in 1992 as a community effort to brighten the long northern nights. You'll discover themed areas showcasing local culture, including a tribute to the region's Indigenous heritage. The festival's centerpiece is a towering light sculpture that changes colors at the touch of a button, allowing guests to become part of the show.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Tree decorated with handmade ornaments from local schools
Description:
Thunder Bay's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony illuminates a majestic evergreen adorned with handmade ornaments created by local schoolchildren. This community-centered event brings together generations of residents to celebrate their shared heritage. The tree stands in Marina Park, overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Superior. Visitors can admire the diverse array of ornaments, each telling a story of Thunder Bay's multicultural community. This tradition, dating back to 1967, has evolved into a symbol of unity and creativity. The ceremony features performances by Indigenous drum circles, honoring the area's First Nations roots.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Thunder Bay Holiday Markets and Shopping
Holiday Pop-up Market
What to Expect:
Market exclusively features handmade items from Northern Ontario artisans
Description:
Thunder Bay's Holiday Pop-up Market showcases the talents of Northern Ontario's finest artisans. This curated event exclusively features handmade items, from intricate birchbark crafts to gourmet preserves made with locally foraged ingredients. The market takes place in a restored grain elevator, a nod to the city's industrial past. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts, including snowshoe weaving and quillwork. You'll discover unique gifts that capture the essence of the rugged northern landscape. This market has become a vital platform for preserving and promoting the region's artistic heritage since its inception in 2010.
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Christmas Flea Market
What to Expect:
Market specializes in vintage and antique Christmas decorations
Description:
Thunder Bay's Christmas Flea Market stands out for its focus on vintage and antique holiday decorations. This treasure trove of nostalgia brings together collectors and enthusiasts from across the region. Visitors can hunt for rare ornaments, mid-century aluminum trees, and other retro holiday items. The market takes place in the city's historic Finnish Labour Temple, built in 1910 and once the hub of the local Finnish community. You'll discover the stories behind cherished decorations, many of which have been passed down through generations of Thunder Bay families. This event has become a key player in preserving the material culture of Christmas in Northern Ontario since its inception in 2005.
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Thunder Bay Holiday Giving Opportunities
Santa Claus Fundraiser
What to Expect:
Santa arrives by dog sled to kick off the fundraiser
Description:
Thunder Bay's Santa Claus Fundraiser kicks off with a dramatic entrance as Santa arrives by dog sled, honoring the region's rich mushing history. This event combines holiday cheer with community support, raising funds for local children's charities. Participants can join Santa in various winter activities, including snowshoe races and ice fishing demonstrations. The fundraiser takes place at the historic Prince Arthur's Landing, once a bustling fur trading post. You'll have the opportunity to learn traditional winter survival skills from local experts while contributing to a worthy cause.
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Thunder Bay Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Parade floats made entirely of recycled materials
Description:
Thunder Bay's Christmas Parade marches through the city with a unique eco-friendly twist. Every float in this procession is crafted entirely from recycled materials, showcasing the community's commitment to sustainability. The parade route winds through historic downtown streets, passing by century-old architecture. Spectators can marvel at the ingenuity of local artisans who transform discarded items into whimsical holiday scenes. This green initiative, started in 2015, has inspired other cities to adopt similar practices. Listen for the joyful sounds of local school bands performing original compositions celebrating Thunder Bay's natural beauty.
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Christmas at Fort William
What to Expect:
Reenactment of a 19th-century fur traders' Christmas celebration
Description:
Christmas at Fort William transports visitors back to the early 19th century, recreating the holiday celebrations of fur traders at this historic site. Costumed interpreters bring the past to life, demonstrating traditional crafts and sharing tales of life on the frontier. Visitors can participate in period games and dances, immersing themselves in the festive atmosphere of a bygone era. The fort, established in 1803, was once the inland headquarters of the North West Company. You'll witness the blending of European, Indigenous, and Métis holiday traditions that shaped the unique culture of the Canadian fur trade.
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Thunder Bay Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Ice Skating
What to Expect:
Skating rink features an illuminated ice sculpture garden
Description:
Thunder Bay's Holiday Ice Skating event glides into the season with a unique twist – an illuminated ice sculpture garden surrounding the rink. Skaters can weave through a frozen wonderland of glowing sculptures, each depicting a different aspect of northern wildlife. This outdoor rink, first established in 1950, has become a cherished community gathering place. Visitors can warm up with a cup of locally harvested chaga tea, known for its health benefits and deep connection to boreal forest traditions. You'll glide past intricate ice carvings that seem to come alive under the glow of carefully placed lights.
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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
What to Expect:
Service incorporates elements of Ojibwe spiritual traditions
Description:
Thunder Bay's Christmas Eve Candlelight Service blends Christian traditions with Ojibwe spiritual elements, creating a unique and inclusive celebration. The service takes place in a historic log church, built by early settlers in 1891. Participants join in singing hymns in both English and Ojibwe, while the scent of sacred herbs used in smudging ceremonies fills the air. Visitors can experience the harmonious coming together of diverse cultural practices that reflect the region's rich heritage. You'll witness the lighting of the Christ candle alongside the traditional Ojibwe Seven Grandfather Teachings, symbolizing wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth.
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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Victorian Christmas
What to Expect:
Guests participate in authentic Victorian-era holiday activities
Description:
Thunder Bay's Victorian Christmas immerses visitors in the refined elegance of 19th-century holiday traditions. This immersive event takes place in a meticulously restored Victorian mansion, showcasing the opulence of the city's lumber baron era. Guests can try their hand at making traditional Christmas crackers or participate in a proper English tea service. The mansion, built in 1872, features original furnishings and decorations true to the period. You'll learn about the complex social etiquette of Victorian holiday gatherings while enjoying the gentle strains of a string quartet playing period-appropriate carols.
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Holiday Wine Tasting
What to Expect:
Tasting focuses on wines made from cold-climate grapes
Description:
Thunder Bay's Holiday Wine Tasting event celebrates the unique flavors of wines crafted from cold-climate grapes. This specialized tasting showcases vintages from northern vineyards, including local producers who have adapted grape varieties to thrive in harsh conditions. Participants can sample robust reds and crisp whites that capture the terroir of the north. The event takes place in a renovated grain elevator, a nod to the region's agricultural heritage. You'll learn about the innovative techniques used by northern winemakers to produce award-winning wines in challenging climates. Sommeliers guide guests through pairings that highlight the distinct characteristics of these hardy northern grapes.
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Nearby Events
Winter Carnival (Kaministiquia)
What to Expect:
Carnival includes a traditional Finnish wife-carrying contest
Description:
Kaministiquia's Winter Carnival embraces the region's Finnish heritage with a thrilling wife-carrying contest, a nod to the area's significant Finnish population. This lively event transforms the small community into a hub of winter activities. Participants can try their hand at ice sculpting or compete in the popular log-sawing competition. The carnival grounds feature an ice maze constructed using techniques passed down through generations of local families. You'll experience the warmth of northern hospitality as residents share stories of winters past. The aroma of freshly baked Finnish pulla bread wafts through the air, tempting visitors to sample this traditional treat.
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Christmas Bird Count (Silver Islet)
What to Expect:
Count contributes to North America's longest-running citizen science project
Description:
Silver Islet's Christmas Bird Count invites nature enthusiasts to participate in North America's longest-running citizen science project. This annual event, part of the Audubon Society's 124-year-old tradition, provides crucial data on winter bird populations. Participants trek through the pristine wilderness of the Lake Superior shoreline, documenting both common and rare species. The count takes place in the shadow of the historic Silver Islet Mine, once the world's richest silver mine. You'll have the opportunity to spot boreal specialties like the Great Gray Owl or the elusive Spruce Grouse. This event combines holiday spirit with meaningful conservation efforts, contributing to our understanding of changing bird populations.