Christmas is inching closer and closer and the many festivities that come along with this time of year are getting underway.
First up is the 55th Help Santa Toy Parade in downtown Ottawa on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The route will start at Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue at 11 a.m. and then head west to Bank Street. The parade will then turn south onto Bank towards Lansdowne Park where it will end.
New, unwrapped toys will be accepted along the parade route, as well as monetary and ‘tap’ donations.
Rundown of other Santa Claus parades across the region:
- Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade — 3560 Strandherd Drive: Sunday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
- Kanata Santa Claus Parade – Hazeldean Mall: Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m.
- Manotick Kiwanis Santa Claus Parade –Main Street: Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
- Riverside South Community Association Toy Mountain Parade – 4330 Spratt Road: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m.
- Santa’s Parade of Lights – St-Joseph Boulevard, Orléans: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.
- Carleton Place Santa Claus Parade – Carleton Place High School: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.
- Osgoode Village Parade of Lights – Main Street: Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
- Constance and Buckham’s Bay Santa Claus Parade — 262 Len Purcell Drive: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m.
- Richmond Christmas Parade – Richmond Memorial Park: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m.
- Stittsville Parade of Lights – Stittsville Main Street: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
- Pakenham Santa Claus Parade – 112 MacFarlane Street, Mississippi Mills: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m.
- Almonte Christmas Parade – Mill Street, Mississippi Mills: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m.
- Huntley Community Association Santa Claus Parade – Huntley Curling Club entrance: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
- Fitzroy Harbour Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
- Metcalfe Santa Claus Parade – Victoria and Johannes Streets: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
The City of Ottawa has also released a list of other holiday activities, including Christmas markets and light shows.
Here if your full rundown:
Another very popular holiday event is the ‘Alight at Night’ festival at Upper Canada Village.
During the festival, over one million lights adorn the heritage buildings, trees, and fences. There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides.
‘Alight at Night’ is open select nights from Nov. 29 – Jan. 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Learn more and book your tickets here.
Visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/event-calendar for more holiday events in the National Capital Region.