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, holding vivacious parades and festal celebrations. With all these diverse festive cheer 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 specific places from where you can gather some special Canadian celebratory experiences. This list will tell you about the unique Christmas experience that each place offers. So start planning for the big day!
19 Best 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 its true spirit. Choose which out 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
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With visitor counts reaching well over half a million people, Canada’s largest city holds the annual Santa Claus Parade, being the largest of its kind in the world. Besides attending that, throughout the month of 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
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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. Inclusions in the ceremony are hot chocolate, melodious Christmas Carols and Beaver Tails. This ceremonious celebration is followed by a month of lustrous beauty throughout the city, where the Parliament Hill and more than 60 sights including the 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 about more than 3 million lights throughout the city. This includes the world’s largest Canadian/American illuminated flag. Weekly fireworks over the falls for the duration of the festival treat guests to an awe-inspiring view, and a number of 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
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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, some of the most striking and historic architecture in Canada, this place including its capital – of la Belle province has a lot going on. QuebecAdabra! – a festival that offers illuminations on a massive scale, an authentic German Christmas market along with an impressive light show, where you can sip mulled wine and browse for gifts. If you are yet to decide where to spend Christmas in Canada vacation, Quebec City will surely not be a disappointment.
Location: La Belle, Quebec City, Canada
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 where it has been shown 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 for the 25th of December, and you’ve got yourself 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, but 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 are arranged and Christmas carols are arranged which 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
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Montreal is another city in Canada which is darn cold during the holiday seasons, but still charming all the same, especially Old Montreal. Lined with historic buildings and winding cobblestone roads, one can enjoy a frosty Christmas over parade of lights overhead, soaking in the calmness and the beauty. So, if you’re a history lover and want to escape the hustle and bustle of the 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 for celebrating Christmas. But in the Canadian city of Calgary, it’s a closely observed tradition. Every year, from late November to early January, the Calgary Zoo organises the annual event called Zoolights. A sum total of 1.5 million lights will greet you as you traverse through the zoo premises sipping hot chocolate, and visit the kids-only Elf’s Toy Shop, or Candyland, and even something called “Santa Vision” which allows kids to directly 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 largest 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 in 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 to people opting 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 takes place here around Christmas and one can be a part of this interesting tradition if they are in Dawson City for the festival. The locals decorate their boats and the parade is quite a spectacle. One can also enjoy sled 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, then this is where you should be headed.
13. St. John’s: Mummers Festival
The Christmas spirit begins early in St. John’s and there are multiple events that take place here around the festival. One such event is the Mummers Festival, which is both unusual and interesting. Newfoundlanders during this festival dress themselves in masks from head to toe, and after their identity is hidden, they head out to sing and dance. This is one such trsdition that takes place here and you can be a part of more 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 in Canada. The city is full of festivities and Christmas vibes. One can take a walk along Inner Harbour or shop at the beautiful cobblestone streets. Sip on Christmas cocktails and celebrate with your folks at the dazzling yet Christmas cozy pubs of Victoria.
15. Airdrie: Festival Of Lights
Airdrie is another great place to celebrate Christmas in Canada. The highlight here is Airdrie Festival of Lights which is a dazzling festival that takes place in December here. This is an annual festival taking place from December 1st to 31st and features Christmas lights and decorations. If one wants to see Christmas decorations in Canada, then this is one of the places and festivals to be a part of. 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 which has a plenty of activities for its visitors. Other than Christmas charm, there are so many winter activities that one can enjoy here. Skiing and horse sledding are two eciting activities to do in Mont Tremblant in Canada.
17. Simcoe: A Sparkling Wonderland
If you are planning a trip to Canada for Christmas with family and kids, then 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, then a beautiful place covered in pretty lights. This town turns into a gleaming paradise each year, and you could be a partof it, this Christmas!
18. Fernie: Skiing And Special Events
Image Credit: Murray Foubister for Wikimedia
The beautiful town of Fernie makes for an amazing place to celebrate Christmas in Canada. The place gets all decked up during the holidays. To add to the fun, the ski areas areas are opened and the season is filled with multiple exciting events and programs. The place literally turn 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
Disclaimer: The image is for representation purposes only.
Barkerville is one of the other best places to visit in Canada during Christmas. The Barkerville historic town celebrartes Christmas with its Old Fashioned Victorian Christmas. The highlight of the events includes warm drinks, blacksmith demonstrations, and shopping. It is indeed one of the most wonderful time of the year.
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Now, you know how to spend Christmas in the best manner! With this plethora of options at your disposal, you can choose your way of celebrating Christmas in Canada. In this multicultural country, you will easily find something that floats your boat, and you might easily 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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