Canada is a nation where winter is a way of life, and folks here warmly embrace the vacation season, lighting up their homes and streets and holding vivacious parades and festal celebrations. With all these diverse festive cheers to settle on from, one can be easily overwhelmed by the oncoming of Christmas. If you are fortunate enough to spend Christmas in Canada, there are a few places to gather some special Canadian celebratory experiences. This list will tell you about each place’s unique Christmas experience. So start planning for the big day!
Top Places To Spend Christmas In Canada
This comprehensive listicle will help you navigate your way through the multitudes of options in terms of locations where you can spend Christmas in Canada in its true spirit. Choose which of these is the best place to spend Christmas in Canada for you.
- Toronto: Santa Claus Parade
- Ottawa: Christmas Carols
- Niagara Falls: Fireworks & Musicals
- Quebec City: Snowy Serenity
- Saskatoon: Fancy Candies & Toy Stores
- Vancouver: Parade Of Lights
- Montreal: Magical Snowfall
- Calgary: Zoo Trip
- Newfoundland: Two Santa Clause Parades
- Edmonton: Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
- Dawson City: Boat Parade
- Almonte: Canadian Christmas Food
- St. John’s: Mummers Festival
- Victoria: Christmas Cocktails
- Airdrie: Festival Of Lights
- Mont Tremblant: Skiing And Horse Sledding
- Simcoe: A Sparkling Wonderland
- Fernie: Skiing And Special Events
- Barkerville: Old Fashioned Victorian Christmas
1. Toronto: Santa Claus Parade
With visitor counts reaching well over half a million people, Canada’s largest city holds the annual Santa Claus Parade, the largest in the world.
Besides attending that, throughout December, you can take in the barrage of lights for a festival that kicks off with the lighting of a massive Christmas tree in front of the City Hall at Nathan Philips Square. So, do not miss out on this event!
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2. Ottawa: Christmas Carols
Beginning with an illumination ceremony in early December, the capital city drowns the Parliament Buildings in dramatic lights. The Prime Minister often himself flips the switch. The ceremony includes hot chocolate, melodious Christmas Carols, and Beaver Tails.
This ceremonious celebration is followed by a month of lustrous beauty throughout the city, when Parliament Hill and more than 60 sights, including Confederation Boulevard, are immersed in lovely illumination displays.
3. Niagara Falls: Fireworks & Musicals
The already majestic Niagara Falls is made even more so during the city’s annual Winter Festival of Lights, which strings more than 3 million lights throughout the city.
This includes the world’s most enormous Canadian/American illuminated flag. Weekly fireworks over the falls for the duration of the festival treat guests to an awe-inspiring view, and several other festive events like musicals, shopping fairs and concerts can keep them busy.
Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
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4. Quebec City: Snowy Serenity
This one has such a natural appeal to it that even if they did nothing out of the ordinary, one can still have a memorable Christmas in Quebec City. With its Cobblestone Lanes, white and fluffy snow, and some of the most striking and historic architecture in Canada, this place, including its capital – la Belle province, has a lot going on.
QuebecAdabra! – a festival that offers illuminations on a massive scale, an authentic German Christmas market, and an impressive light show where you can sip mulled wine and browse for gifts. If you have yet to decide where to spend your Christmas vacation in Canada, Quebec City will surely not be a disappointment.
5. Saskatoon: Fancy Candies & Toy Stores
There is no better place to be a kid than in Saskatoon during Christmas. University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management recently published a study that showed that Saskatoon has the highest number of candies and toy stores per capita compared to anywhere else in the country. Combine that with the good probability of having snow on the 25th of December, and you’ve got a magical Christmas right there.
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6. Vancouver: Parade Of Lights
The weather stays moderately mild in Vancouver through the season of holidays. Still, the city, on the other hand, stays wholeheartedly festive with the Rogers Santa Claus Parade, and you’re always an hour away from deep snow.
Here, as many as 80 boats strung with over 100,000 lights parade around False Creek, Port Moody and Deep Cove. Bonfires and Christmas carols are arranged, and you can sing as you watch the spectacle and book yourself a spot on a dinner cruise on board one of the ships.
7. Montreal: Magical Snowfall
Image Source: Pixabay
Montreal is another city in Canada that is darn cold during the holiday seasons but still charming, especially Old Montreal. Lined with historic buildings and winding cobblestone roads, Old Montreal is a great place to enjoy a frosty Christmas over a parade of lights overhead, soaking in the calmness and beauty. So, if you’re a history lover and want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, visit Montreal!
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8. Calgary: Zoo Trip
It’s not usually a trip to the zoo that’s the first thought off of an average person’s head when it comes to ways to celebrate Christmas. But it’s a closely observed tradition in the Canadian city of Calgary. Every year, from late November to early January, the Calgary Zoo organises the annual Zoolights event.
A total of 1.5 million lights will greet you as you traverse the zoo premises, sipping hot chocolate. You can also visit the kids-only Elf’s Toy Shop, Candyland, and even “Santa Vision,” which allows kids to speak to the white-bearded man in the red suit up in the North Pole!
9. Newfoundland: Two Santa Clause Parades
The small Newfoundland community on the Avalon Peninsula hosts an annual Festival of Lights that includes the most significant Nativity scene on the east of Montreal – an intelligent light park, fireworks, concerts and two Santa Claur Parades-one during the broad daylight and another for all the nocturnal birds out there. It is one of the best places to celebrate Christmas in Canada.
Location: Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, Canada
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10. Edmonton: Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
The Candy Cane Lane is home to a homely and lively atmospheric crowd, eight blocks from Edmonton’s West Lane, which becomes a festive wonderland every December. At the height of its popularity on weekends, before Christmas, the outstanding spectacle can lead to humongous traffic jams, leading people to walk instead or use the websites to book horse-drawn sleigh rides.
11. Dawson City: Boat Parade
Another place to spend one’s Christmas holiday in Canada is Dawson City. A boat parade occurs here around Christmas, and if one is in Dawson City for the festival, one can participate in this exciting tradition. The locals decorate their boats, and the parade is quite a spectacle. One can also enjoy sledge rides on their trip to Canada during Christmas.
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12. Almonte: Canadian Christmas Food
Celebrate Christmas in Canada in Almonte. It is a beautiful small town in Ontario which transforms into a winter wonderland around Christmas. A pretty place to visit all year round, Christmas brings out the charm and magic of this place.
With chic cafes to sit and sip coffee, the town looks like a perfect movie set. So, if you are looking for an Instagrammable Christmas in Canada, this is where you should be headed.
13. St. John’s: Mummers Festival
The Christmas spirit begins early in St. John’s, and multiple events occur around the festival. One such event is the Mummers Festival, which is unusual and exciting.
During this festival, Newfoundlanders dress themselves in masks from head to toe, and after hiding their identities, they head out to sing and dance. This is one such tradition that takes place here, and you can be a part of it if you plan to celebrate Christmas at St. John’s in Canada.
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14. Victoria: Christmas Cocktails
Christmas is one of the best times to visit Victoria, Canada. The city is full of festivities and Christmas vibes. One can take a walk along the Inner Harbour or shop on the beautiful cobblestone streets. Sip on Christmas cocktails and celebrate with your folks at Victoria’s dazzling yet Christmas-cozy pubs.
15. Airdrie: Festival Of Lights
Airdrie is another excellent place to celebrate Christmas in Canada. The highlight is the Airdrie Festival of Lights, a dazzling festival held in December.
This annual festival, from December 1st to 31st, features Christmas lights and decorations. If you want to see Christmas decorations in Canada, this is one of the places and festivals to attend. Other highlights are the bonfires and delicious hot chocolate.
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16. Mont Tremblant: Skiing And Horse Sledding
A Christmas day in Canada can’t be better than the one at Mont Tremblant. It is a city with plenty of activities for its visitors. In addition to Christmas charm, there are so many winter activities that one can enjoy here. Skiing and horse sledging are two exciting activities to do in Mont Tremblant.
17. Simcoe: A Sparkling Wonderland
If you are planning a trip to Canada for Christmas with family and kids, Simcoe in Ontario is a great town to be in for the festival. Christmas vibes turn this town into a sparkling wonderland, and what would be a better Christmas for kids than a beautiful place covered in pretty lights? This town becomes a gleaming paradise each year; you could be a part of it this Christmas!
18. Fernie: Skiing And Special Events
Image Credit: Murray Foubister for Wikimedia
The beautiful town of Fernie makes for a fantastic place to celebrate Christmas in Canada. The place gets all decked up during the holidays. To add to the fun, the ski areas are open, and the season has multiple exciting events and programs. The place turns down into a vibrating party place, and you could be a part of this glam holiday.
19. Barkerville: Old Fashioned Victorian Christmas
Image Credit: Gerd Altmann for Pixabay
Barkerville is one of the best places to visit in Canada during Christmas. The historic town celebrates its Old Fashioned Victorian Christmas, which includes warm drinks, blacksmith demonstrations, and shopping. It is indeed one of the most wonderful times of the year.
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Now, you know how to spend Christmas in the best manner! With this plethora of options, you can choose how to spend your vacation for a trip to Canada. In this multicultural country, you will easily find something that floats your boat, and you might quickly expect one of the best Holiday seasons of your life!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas In Canada
What is a traditional Canadian Christmas dinner?
A traditional Canadian Christmas dinner includes turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables such as carrots, turnip, and parsnips.
What is there to do in Toronto at Christmas?
One can indulge in several things in Toronto during Christmas. Some of the popular ones include you can visit Christmas market, attend the Santa Claus parade, Christmas craft shows and so on.
What do they do for Christmas in Canada?
Christmas is celebrated in Canada by decorating one’s houses with Christmas trees, lights and other decorations. The meal prepared for Christmas is often roast turkey.
Do they celebrate Christmas in Canada?
Yes, Christmas is celebrated in Canada, and it is an official holiday there.
Which is the best place to spend Christmas in Canada?
Some of the best places to spend Christmas in Canada are:
1. Toronto
2. Ottawa
3. Quebec
4. Montreal
5. Vancouver.
How long is Christmas break in Canada?
Christmas break is usually for 2 weeks and it includes both Christmas and New Year.
Does it snow in Canada at Christmas?
Yes, its more likely to snow in Canada during Christmas and one can easily celebrate a white Christmas here.
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