Check these off your Christmas List: Holiday events in Waterloo Region
Christmas is in full swing in Waterloo Region with plenty of events to get you in the holiday spirit.
Here are a few of those activities that are sure to make you feel merry and bright!
GIFT OF LIGHTS
This holiday drive-thru at Bingemans will feature two light tunnels and more than 300 animated and static light displays.
The event opened daily on Nov. 26. The following days will be open for walk-through visitors only: Dec. 13, and Jan. 2. Gift of Lights closes Jan. 9.
More information here: Gift of Lights
SANTA’S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE
Santa’s schedule is set for his upcoming trips on the Waterloo Central Railway.
The Christmas trains will take kids of all ages from the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Station on Farmers Market Drive to the North Pole. In addition to music, contests and plays, the Big Man in Red will be on board for the one-hour trip.
Travelers are encouraged to wear their Christmas best or pajamas, and don’t forget to bring along your letters!
The trains depart Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Santa will also be there for nighttime trips called the “Christmas Lights Experience,” with 15,000 twinkling lights decorating the train. Those rides depart on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
More information here: Waterloo Central Railway
CHRISTKINDL MARKET
This year marks the 25th anniversary of this beloved German-themed tradition, but this year they’re doing something a little different.
The Christkindl Market is set up in downtown Kitchener from Dec. 2 to Dec. 5.
In addition to the in-person event, there will also be an online marketplace with gifts and a digital advent calendar.
For more information go to: Christkindl Market
CAMBRIDGE CELEBRATES WINTERFEST
Winterfest is back in Cambridge from Nov. 22 to Jan. 2, with three main events: Cambridge Christmas Market, Winter Illumination and the New Year’s Eve Skate.
More information can be found here: Cambridge Celebrates Winterfest
OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS AT SNYDER’S FARM
Snyder’s Family Farm, just outside of Kitchener, is hosting weekend events for the family. There will be a Farm Christmas Bakery, gift barn and visits from Santa, as well as campfire pods where you can roast s’mores and other menu items.
They will also be selling trees from their farm.
More information here: Snyder's Family Farm
CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE
Take a trip back in time, celebrating a Victorian Christmas at Castle Kilbride in Baden.
The holiday event will continue all month until Jan. 2.
More information here: Castle Kilbride
CHRISTMAS ON STAGE
Drayton Entertainment has a special show at the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge.
“Back Home for the Holidays”, running from Dec. 1 to Dec. 26, will inspire holiday cheer.
More information here: Back Home for the Holidays
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.