The following is a list of just some of the many holiday-themed events taking place over the next month across Haldimand County.
HAGERSVILLE
December 9 Santa Claus will be touring the streets of Hagersville in the Hagersville Santa Claus Parade! Join us in welcoming Santa to our community as well as seeing some amazing floats from our local businesses. The parade will be leaving from Hagersville Community Centre at 6 p.m.
An Evening with Santa. After the parade, Santa will be stopping in at the Hagersville Community Centre to take free pictures with all the children on the nice list!
December 9 Haldimand Norfolk Concert Band presents Santa Baby! Free concert (donations encouraged). A celebration of the season and the joyous sounds of the most wonderful time of the year.
7 p.m. Part of the Hagersville Santa Claus Parade and Community Centre festivities.
CAYUGA
December 2 Cayuga Light Up Night — Bring the family down to Bob Baigent Memorial Park. Santa will arrive at 5:30 p.m. via a firetruck and will visit with children under the pavilion. Fireworks will go off from the riverbank at 7:30 p.m. Ouse St. S. will be closed to traffic for pedestrian use. Cayuga St. N. will be closed to traffic for families to enjoy hot beverages and food being sold. Vendors on site. All Talbot St. businesses will be open, along with Cayuga’s Library hosting a children’s craft. Evening wraps up at 8:30 p.m.
November 25, 29, December 2, 6, 9, 13 & 16 Ruthven Park Christmas Tours. 5 to 7 p.m. Experience the traditions of Christmases past through the various generations of the Thompson family! Friday Christmas Tour & Cream Tea: Admission $20 (+ tax) per person. Concludes with cream tea experience in the Coach House. Tuesday Christmas Tours: Admission by donation. We will be requesting admission by donation of nonperishable goods that will be given to the Cayuga Food Bank. Tours are approximately 45 minutes and concludes with refreshments in the Coach House. Pre-registration required. Register and find more info at ruthvenpark.ca.
CALEDONIA
Now until December 12 Mail letters to Santa at the special red Santa Letter Box at 127 Argyle St. S. All letters mailed before December 12 will receive a personalized note from Santa! Please mail letters to Santa with a self-addressed (your home address) and stamped envelope. Take a photo of children mailing their letters to Santa and email to director@caledoniabia to have the picture posted on the BIA Facebook and Instagram!
Now until December 12 Enter into the colouring contest. Download a colouring sheet from caledoniabia.ca or pick up sheets at Jones Bakery (26 Argyle St. N.) or Haldimand Insurance Brokers (322 Argyle St. S.). Drop entries into the Santa Letter Box at 127 Argyle St. S. by December 12 to be entered into a prize draw. One prize per age category. All colouring to be displayed in Argyle St. windows for all to enjoy.
November 24 Kick off the festive season at Caledonia’s Light Up Night! Begins 7 p.m. at the Tom Spratt Gazebo, Kinsmen Park, with opening ceremony and illumination of Lights Along the Grand. Live music by “The Hype”. Visit from Santa on his illuminated sleigh. Free Wagon Rides available 7:30 to 9 p.m. with a round trip from Argyle St. N. to Grand Trunk Railway Station. Free photos with Santa at the Railway Station. Open house at Edinburgh Square. Treats from downtown businesses!
November 26 Caledonia Breakfast with Santa. Cooked fresh to order in support of Mary Poppin’s Preschool and the Caledonia Agricultural Society. Two seatings: 8 to 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 to 11 a.m. Enjoy Christmas music and story-time and sing along with Santa on-stage! Park at the Fairgrounds; breakfast in the Grand Hall of the Riverside Exhibition Centre. $15 adult order and $7 children’s order. All tickets must be purchased online: caledoniafair.ca/breakfast.
November 26 Santa Clause Parade with 11 a.m. start. New route: the Santa Claus Parade will start at Nicholson & Cates on Argyle St. N. and travel across the bridge to McKinnon Park Secondary School on Haddington St. Fire Fighters will be collecting donations along the route for the food bank.
December 1-24 Countdown to Christmas Advent Windows. Caledonia is harkening back to the days when we opened advent calendars before Christmas. From December 1 to 24, one downtown window will remove its red covering to show a festive, illuminated display. As we get closer to Christmas, Caledonia will shine brighter and brighter!
December 3 Photos with Santa at the Caledonia Fire Hall, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Bring your camera for your special time with Santa at the Caledonia Fire Hall. This is a pet friendly event.
DUNNVILLE
December 1 & 2 – Take in our living nativity as we portray the events of the first Christmas around Bethlehem. Enjoy the lights, animals, and music; then join us for cookies and hot chocolate. Free admission. 5-7 p.m. Bethany United Church, 180 Carter Rd. Dunnville (Attercliffe Station).
December 3 – Dunnville’s 77th Annual Light-Up & Santa Claus Parade:
Round up the kids and head to the Community Lifespan Centre at the Dunnville Arena for Breakfast With Santa from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., hosted by the Dunnville Lions Club.
Check out the Dunnville Farmer’s Market, located at 218 Main Street East, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. for some delicious treats and locally-grown fruits and veggies! Visit it from 2 to 8 p.m. for the Christmas Market, featuring some unique holiday gift ideas and great home-grown eats from local artisan vendors. Enjoy music and activities to get you and the whole family in the holiday spirit.
Head to the Dunnville Arena to enjoy a Family Skate from 3 to 4 p.m. Please bring non-perishable food items as admission, which will be donated to local causes.
Then, grab your spot for the annual Santa Claus Parade, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Lion’s Park. Enjoy lit-up floats from community organizations and be sure to catch the man of the hour, Santa Claus! Please note: The parade has a new route this year and will travel from Lion’s Park to the Dunnville Farmer’s Market.
Immediately following the parade is the Christmas Light-Up at 7:15 p.m. Make your way back to the Farmer’s Market to enjoy carols and the lighting of Dunnville’s giant Tree of Hope, brought to you by the Dunnville Hospital & Healthcare Foundation.
December 13 Bethany United Church hosts an advent experience! At 2 p.m. hear the Christmas story and sing carols together. Cookies and hot drinks to follow. All are welcome! 180 Carter Rd. Dunnville (Attercliffe Station).
SELKIRK
November 24 Haldimand Norfolk Concert Band presents Santa Baby! Free concert (donations encouraged). A celebration of the season and the joyous sounds of the most wonderful time of the year. Faith Centennial United Church. 7:30 p.m.
November 26 Selkirk Illuminated Tractor Parade. Collecting donations of canned goods and new, unwrapped toys for local food banks.
2 to 3 p.m. Quiet Hour at Selkirk Centennial Hall. A sensory-friendly visit with Santa that is easy on the eyes and ears. Please RSVP to selkirktractorparade@gmail.com.
3-5 p.m. an Afternoon with Santa at Selkirk Centennial Hall. Fun kids’ activities, hot dogs, hot chocolate, candy canes, and one free family photo with Santa.
6 p.m. Illuminated Tractor Parade, in any weather! Variety of tractors, combines, antique vehicles, horses, and Santa Clause! All decorated for the holidays. Starting on Water/Park St., going west on Main St., and ending at the town hall.
November 26, December 3 & 17 Christmas Afternoon Tea at Cottonwood Mansion. 1 p.m. An opulent experience in the beautifully decorated Cottonwood Mansion. Includes a set menu of sandwiches, scones, and treats with a selection of teas, including our new Cottonwood Heritage Tea Blend. Concludes with a holiday house tour.
November 26 & December 2, 9, 19 & 23 Cottonwood by Candlelight. 5 p.m. Step back to a Victorian Christmas in candlelit rooms of a 19th century mansion. Tours run 45 min. to 1 hr. and include apple cider and Christmas cookies. Accessibility to the second level is through main staircase only. November 26 & December 19: Toy Drive: – In lieu of admission, bring a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need. One toy/admission. December 2, 9, 23: $15 admission.
JARVIS & TOWNSEND
Now until December 10 Jarvis Light Up 2022 Colouring Contest. Pick up colouring page from Jarvis Public Library. Prizes for ages 2-6 (scooter) and 7-12 (hoverboard). Submissions due December 10. Winners announced on Facebook Live December 11.
Now until December 16 Jarvis the Elf is back! Visit Jarvis Light Up 2022 on Facebook every week for a clue to his location. Find Jarvis for a free entry to the prize draws. Weekly draws on Sunday on Facebook Live with Grand Prize winner announced December 16.
December 2-3 Santa’s Travelling Dance Party — Check the Jarvis Light Up 2022 page on Facebook for more information. The party will be in Jarvis on December 2 and Townsend on December 3.
December 10 Breakfast with Santa at Jarvis Community Centre. Hosted/catered by the Jarvis Lions. 8 to 10 a.m. Adult $10, child under 12 $5. Presold tickets only. Purchase by December 3. Purchase tickets at WJ Elliott and Sons, Christine’s Bakery, Jack Payne’s (2021 Main St. N.), or Diane Ferguson 226-630-0555.
December 12-January 1 Jarvis Light Up. The popular home decorating contest is back by popular demand. Participate for a chance to win big, and spend some time viewing the over 400 homes expected to decorate. Presented by the Jarvis Board of Trade. Entrants must live in either Jarvis or Townsend and can enter by email at jarvislightup2020@hotmail.com.
December 16 Jarvis Light Up 2022 Fireworks Grand Finale! Jarvis Lions Park.
Note: This list is not inclusive of every holiday event, although The Press has attempted to include as many as possible. Christmas markets and vendor shows have been omitted due to the significant number taking place.
To submit your not-for-profit or charity event to our regular calendar, visit haldimandpress.com/its-a-date, email info@haldimandpress.com, or call 905-768-3111.
