Plan your perfect holiday season in Windsor with our comprehensive guide. Whether you're a Windsor veteran or a rookie, this guide ensures you don't miss a moment of holiday magic.
Winter Fest is a must-see event, bringing together charming holiday markets, ice-skating, and local performances that capture the festive spirit. Experience the dazzling displays and enchanting light sculptures at Bright Lights Windsor, a true spectacle for all ages. And don’t forget the Santa Claus Parade, a cherished tradition that fills the streets with joy and cheer. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Windsor
See these and even more events listed below!Windsor Holiday Light Displays
Bright Lights Windsor
What to Expect:
Immersive light tunnels and themed display areas
Description:
Bright Lights Windsor illuminates Jackson Park with over a million twinkling lights. The event boasts immersive light tunnels that transport visitors through a kaleidoscope of colors. Themed display areas showcase Windsor's diverse cultural heritage, with installations representing different holiday traditions from around the world. Stroll through the enchanted forest, where motion-activated lights respond to your presence. The event honors Windsor's automotive history with a classic car display adorned in festive lights.
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Windsor Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Nutcracker Ballet
What to Expect:
Local twist on the classic ballet with Windsor-specific characters and scenes
Description:
Windsor's production of The Nutcracker Ballet adds a local flavor to the beloved holiday classic. The performance incorporates Windsor-specific characters and scenes, such as a dance of the Detroit River and appearances by historical Windsor figures. Elaborate costumes and sets showcase the city's multicultural heritage. Listen for the familiar Tchaikovsky score interwoven with subtle nods to Windsor's musical traditions. The production involves local dance students, fostering community involvement in the arts. This unique adaptation has become a cherished annual tradition for Windsor families.
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Windsor Other Holiday Activities
Winter Fest
What to Expect:
Interactive ice sculptures and winter sports demonstrations
Description:
Windsor's Winter Fest transforms the city into a frosty playground. Visitors can marvel at intricate ice sculptures crafted by skilled artisans, some standing over 10 feet tall. The event showcases winter sports demonstrations, including curling and ice skating, allowing you to try your hand at these chilly pastimes. Rooted in Windsor's rich hockey tradition, the festival pays homage to local sports legends through themed exhibits. Bundle up and explore the outdoor adventure zone, featuring snowshoeing trails and igloo-building workshops.
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Santa Claus Parade
What to Expect:
Reverse parade format with stationary floats
Description:
Windsor's Santa Claus Parade reinvents tradition with a unique reverse format. Spectators drive by stationary floats, allowing for a more intimate viewing experience. The parade route winds through historic Walkerville, showcasing the area's charming architecture. Elaborately decorated floats tell the story of Windsor's multicultural holiday celebrations. Listen for the merry sounds of local marching bands as they perform holiday classics. This innovative approach to the parade began during the pandemic and has since become a beloved new tradition in the city.
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Whoville Christmas
What to Expect:
Dr. Seuss-themed holiday village with interactive storytelling
Description:
Whoville Christmas brings the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss to life in Windsor. The event transforms a local park into a life-sized Whoville, complete with curved buildings and colorful decorations. Costumed characters roam the village, engaging in interactive storytelling sessions. Visitors can participate in Grinch-themed games and crafts. The event incorporates Windsor's automotive heritage with a display of Seuss-inspired vehicles. Sample Who-pudding and roast beast at themed food stations throughout the village.
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Nearby Events
Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village (Dearborn)
What to Expect:
Living history Christmas celebrations from different eras
Description:
Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village transports visitors through time to experience Christmas celebrations from various historical periods. Costumed interpreters bring past holiday traditions to life, from Victorian-era caroling to 1940s wartime Christmas observances. Lantern-lit paths guide you through the village, where you can witness artisans demonstrating traditional holiday crafts. Sample historic holiday recipes prepared using authentic methods. The event highlights Dearborn's connection to Henry Ford, featuring holiday displays in his reconstructed workshops and homes.
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Holiday Nights at Greenfield Village
Christmas in Tecumseh (Tecumseh)
What to Expect:
Community-wide decorating contest and scavenger hunt
Description:
Christmas in Tecumseh sparks friendly competition with its town-wide decorating contest. Residents and businesses vie for the title of most creatively adorned property, resulting in a dazzling display throughout the community. Participate in a holiday-themed scavenger hunt, searching for hidden ornaments in local shops and landmarks. The event celebrates Tecumseh's agricultural roots with a farmers' market featuring seasonal produce and handcrafted gifts. Admire the towering community Christmas tree, adorned with ornaments handmade by local schoolchildren.
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Lights Before Christmas (Toledo)
What to Expect:
Wildlife-themed light displays and animal encounters
Description:
Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo combines holiday cheer with wildlife education. The event features animal-shaped light displays, including a 35-foot tall illuminated giraffe. Visitors can enjoy up-close animal encounters with the zoo's cold-weather residents. Warm up in the Arctic Encounter exhibit while observing polar bears in their winter habitat. The zoo's historic WPA-era buildings serve as a backdrop for the light displays, blending architecture and illumination. Learn about wildlife conservation efforts while enjoying the festive atmosphere.
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Leamington Christmas Market (Leamington)
What to Expect:
Greenhouse-hosted market with locally grown poinsettias
Description:
Leamington's Christmas Market flourishes inside a working greenhouse, surrounded by a sea of locally grown poinsettias. The event showcases the town's agricultural heritage, known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada." Browse stalls offering artisanal goods and seasonal produce from nearby farms. Sample warming drinks infused with locally grown herbs. Visitors can create their own holiday arrangements using fresh-cut greenery from the greenhouse. The market highlights Leamington's diverse community with international holiday treats and crafts.
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Christmas by Candlelight (Kingsville)
What to Expect:
Historic mansion tours by candlelight with period-accurate decorations
Description:
Christmas by Candlelight in Kingsville offers an intimate glimpse into holiday celebrations of the past. Tour a beautifully preserved 19th-century mansion adorned with period-accurate decorations, all illuminated by the soft glow of candles. Costumed guides share stories of Victorian Christmas traditions and the mansion's history. Visitors can participate in traditional parlor games popular during the era. The event pays homage to Kingsville's connection to Jack Miner, the famous Canadian conservationist, with nature-themed holiday decorations.
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Holiday Walk at Meadow Brook Hall (Rochester)
What to Expect:
Self-guided tours of a lavishly decorated historic estate
Description:
The Holiday Walk at Meadow Brook Hall showcases the opulence of a bygone era. This Tudor-revival mansion, once home to the widow of auto pioneer John Dodge, opens its doors for self-guided tours. Each room is lavishly decorated in a different holiday theme, blending historic charm with modern creativity. Discover hidden architectural details as you explore the 110-room estate. The event highlights the influence of the automotive industry on Rochester's development. Visitors can admire the hall's extensive collection of original art and furnishings amid the holiday decor.
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Holiday Walk at Meadow Brook Hall
Holiday Nights of Lights (Vaughan)
What to Expect:
Drive-through light show synchronized to music
Description:
Holiday Nights of Lights in Vaughan dazzles with a two-kilometer drive-through light show. The event features over a million LED lights synchronized to holiday music, which visitors can tune into on their car radios. Animated displays bring favorite holiday characters to life in vibrant color. The route winds through themed sections, each telling a different holiday story. This modern take on light displays reflects Vaughan's reputation as a hub for innovation and technology. Snap photos at designated selfie stations along the route to capture lasting memories.
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Christmas Craft Fair (Essex)
What to Expect:
Emphasis on locally sourced materials and traditional crafting techniques
Description:
Essex's Christmas Craft Fair celebrates the art of handmade gifts. The event showcases artisans who use locally sourced materials and traditional crafting techniques. Watch live demonstrations of woodworking, quilting, and glassblowing. Visitors can try their hand at creating their own holiday ornaments using natural materials found in Essex County. The fair honors the region's agricultural heritage with displays of vintage farm equipment decorated for the holidays. Sample artisanal food products made from local harvests, including preserves and baked goods.
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Frozen in Time Festival (Collingwood)
What to Expect:
Ice carving competition and winter sports demonstrations
Description:
Collingwood's Frozen in Time Festival celebrates the artistry of ice and snow. The centerpiece is a competitive ice carving event, where sculptors transform blocks of ice into intricate works of art. Visitors can watch the carving process and vote for their favorites. The festival also features demonstrations of winter sports popular in the Blue Mountain region, including skiing and snowboarding. Warm up with locally sourced comfort foods at the winter culinary village. The event pays tribute to Collingwood's shipbuilding history with ice sculptures of famous Great Lakes vessels.
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Christmas Bird Count (Point Pelee)
What to Expect:
Citizen science project contributing to wildlife conservation efforts
Description:
The Christmas Bird Count at Point Pelee combines holiday tradition with important scientific research. This annual event, part of the longest-running citizen science survey in the Western Hemisphere, invites bird enthusiasts to help count and identify local bird species. Participants contribute valuable data used to assess the health of bird populations and guide conservation efforts. The count takes place in one of Canada's most biodiverse national parks, known for its importance to migratory birds. Learn about the park's unique ecosystem and its winter bird residents from experienced naturalists.