From tree lightings and Santa Claus parades to a holiday train and millions of twinkling lights, this is the season to get out and enjoy the region. Here is your guide to the best holiday lights and Christmas events near Burlington, Ontario in 2026, with confirmed dates for Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville, and Niagara. Dates and times come from the organizers and local tourism sites, and can change, so check each event's website before you go.
Holiday Events Near Burlington: Quick Calendar
Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
Sat., Nov. 14 | Hamilton Santa Claus Parade (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) | Hamilton |
Sat., Nov. 14 | Winter Festival of Lights opens (runs to Jan. 10) | Niagara Falls |
Sun., Nov. 15 | Brightest Lights home tour opens | Burlington |
Fri., Nov. 20 | Light Up The Night tree lighting | Downtown Oakville |
Fri., Nov. 20 | CPKC Holiday Train | Hamilton |
Fri., Nov. 27 | Festival of Lights opening night | Burlington |
Nov. 27 to 29 | Holiday HandMade Market | Niagara Falls |
Sat., Nov. 28 | Kerr Village Tree Lighting and Holiday Market | Oakville |
Fri., Dec. 4 | Holiday Lights by the Lake begins (runs to Feb. 2027) | Oakville |
Holiday Events in Burlington
Burlington Festival of Lights
The Burlington Lions Club and community volunteers light up Spencer Smith Park for more than 30 years of holiday tradition. Opening night is Friday, November 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the lighting of a new 35-foot tree, music from the Burlington Teen Tour Band, and a visit from Santa. Read our full guide to the Burlington Festival of Lights, and pair your visit with a skate on the free outdoor rink at Spencer Smith Park.
More Festival of Lights Events
Brightest Lights home tour: opens November 15. Follow a digital map to the city's brightest home displays, vote for your favourite, and visit six or more homes to enter a weekly prize draw.
Let It Glow: Saturday, November 28, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at St. Luke's Anglican Church, 1382 Ontario Street, with a quartet from the Burlington Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $25 plus a service fee.
Sip & Shop: Thursday, December 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Burlington, with a mixology demonstration and late-night shopping.
Parade Day Pop-Up: Sunday, December 6, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lions Club Hall, with hot cocoa, crafts, food trucks, and the Grinch.
Holiday Events in Hamilton
Hamilton has one of the busiest holiday calendars in the region, and Tourism Hamilton lists a full lineup of events.
Santa Claus Parades
Hamilton hosts four Santa Claus parades across the city, and you can pick the one that suits you:
Hamilton Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, November 14, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Flamborough Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, November 28
Stoney Creek Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, December 5
Binbrook Santa Claus Parade: Saturday, December 12
CPKC Holiday Train
The CPKC Holiday Train arrives in Hamilton on Friday, November 20. The brightly decorated railcars stop at West Kinnear Yard, across from Gage Park, where Magic! and MARIS perform a free concert from the train's stage.
Hess Village and Downtown
The Christmas Tree of Hope Lighting Ceremony takes place in Hess Village on November 20 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the Hess Village BIA Holiday Market runs from November 20 to 22.
Victorian Christmas at Dundurn Castle
Dundurn Castle's Victorian Christmas invites visitors on a guided tour of Sir Allan MacNab's 1850s estate, decorated for the season with cedar boughs, ribbons, and dried flowers. The First Day of Christmas Open House kicks off the season on Sunday, November 22, and tours run on multiple dates. Read more in our post on Victorian Christmas at Dundurn Castle.
Craft Breweries and Other Markets
Hamilton's craft breweries get into the holiday spirit, too. Collective Arts Brewing hosts a Holiday Market at its Hamilton taproom, and Fairweather Brewing holds its Fairweather Holiday Market on December 5 and 6. Binbrook also has a Tree Lighting and Christmas Bazaar on November 15, and Locke Street's "Experience the Magic of Locke" runs November 13 and 14.
Holiday Events in Oakville
Light Up The Night
Friday, November 20, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Downtown Oakville Towne Square, 94 George Street
Kick off the holiday season in Downtown Oakville with festive lighting, live music by The Ault Sisters, a visit from Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, hot chocolate, and holiday carollers. The tree lighting countdown is at 6 p.m., and Lakeshore Road East from Thomas Street to Dunn Street becomes a car-free pedestrian street for the evening.
Kerr Village Tree Lighting and Holiday Market
Saturday, November 28, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
This community tree lighting has been happening for more than 30 years. Enjoy the Holiday Pop-Up Market and live music, plus a visit from Santa, with the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
Bronte Tree Lighting
Bronte's Market Square hosts its annual tree lighting, with the lighting at 5:30 p.m. Check Visit Oakville for this year's date.
Holiday Lights by the Lake
December 4, 2026 to February 2027, Coronation Park
Take a stroll or drive through Coronation Park and enjoy one of Oakville's most beloved seasonal traditions, as the waterfront is transformed with thousands of sparkling lights. In recent years, the display has featured more than 130,000 lights. For more, see our post on Oakville's Winter Wonderland of Lights.
Holiday Events in Niagara
Winter Festival of Lights
November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027
Canada's largest free outdoor light festival returns to Niagara Falls, with more than three million lights and over 75 displays along the Niagara Parkway, Dufferin Islands, and Queen Victoria Park. Winter fireworks are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. from November 14 to December 12, plus January 8 and 9. See our post on the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls and our guide to the best day trips from Burlington.
Holiday HandMade Market
November 27 to 29, Niagara Falls Convention Centre
More than 200 Canadian makers, a wine bar, food trucks, and live music fill the convention centre. Adult tickets are $10.95, children under 16 are free, and tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Tips for Enjoying Holiday Events
Check before you go. Dates, times, and routes can change, especially for parades and weather-dependent events.
Dress warmly, and bring layers for evening events, especially along the waterfront.
Arrive early for tree lightings and parades to find a good spot.
Book ahead for ticketed events like Let It Glow and the Holiday HandMade Market.
Plan your transportation. Burlington Transit, GO Transit, and local parking lots can fill up near big events.
Holiday Events FAQ
When Does the Burlington Festival of Lights Start?
Opening night is Friday, November 27, 2026, at Spencer Smith Park.
When Is the Hamilton Santa Claus Parade?
The Hamilton Santa Claus Parade is on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Flamborough, Stoney Creek, and Binbrook have their own parades on November 28, December 5, and December 12.
When Does Holiday Lights by the Lake Start in Oakville?
It runs from December 4, 2026 to February 2027 at Coronation Park.
When Does the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls Open?
It opens on November 14, 2026, and runs through January 10, 2027, with free admission.
When Is the CPKC Holiday Train in Hamilton?
The train arrives on Friday, November 20, 2026, at West Kinnear Yard across from Gage Park.
Where Can I Find the Burlington Santa Claus Parade Details?
Check the City of Burlington's website for the official route and time, and note that the Festival of Lights' Parade Day Pop-Up is on Sunday, December 6.
Explore More This Season
Looking for even more holiday ideas? Follow Burlington 365 for local events, holiday happenings, and things to do across Burlington and the surrounding area.
Thoughts & Comments
Disclaimer
Please note that the information in this blog is for general guidance only and may not always be up to date or accurate. We recommend double-checking details directly with local cities, businesses, or official sources before making any plans or acting on the information. We are not a news outlet, and while we do our best to make sure information is accurate, sometimes we make mistakes. It is always best to verify with official sources. The inclusion of any business, individual, event, or service on the Burlington 365 platform does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of its quality, performance, or reliability. Users are solely responsible for conducting their own research and due diligence before engaging with any third-party businesses or services listed on the platform.