Favorite Holiday Fun Events Coming to the Waterloo Region in 2016
As November winds down the excitement surrounding the build up to Christmas, Hannukah and New Year’s heats up, for kids and adults alike. And while technically these holidays only take up a few days on the calendar there is nothing to stop you getting into the spirit of things all month long, especially here in the Kitchener – Waterloo region.
If you have been busy recently (haven’t we all?) you may not have had time to check out what our area has to offer this year to help residents celebrate the season, no matter how old they are. To help you plan – and stay entertained – Here’s a little about just some of the great holiday events that will be brightening up our area in the coming weeks.
Wonders of Winter
The Wonders of Winter – or WOW as some of us like to call it – has been a much beloved tradition in our area for years now.
If you’ve never attended before this is a beautiful festival of lights that this year will be staged between November 25th and December 31st in Waterloo Park. There will be over 100,000 lights and more than 100 lighted displays illuminated every evening at 530pm for the whole community to enjoy. Admission is free and on some evenings there will also be firework displays, trolley rides and concession nights at the Park Inn.
For more information visit the Festival’s website here.
Lamplight
Woodside National Historic Site, in Kitchener was once the boyhood home of Canada’s tenth, and longest serving, Prime Minister, Lyon Mackenzie King. The home is a beautiful example of a Victorian home and Parks Canada do an amazing job of maintaining it so that it remains very much the same way as it was when he lived there. For the holiday season this year the house will be hosting ‘Lamplight’, an evening, on December 1st, in the tradition of a Victorian Woodside Christmas by the soft glow of lamplight. Visitors will be encouraged to cozy up under the mistletoe and enjoy hot apple cider or head out into the grounds to warm up by the crackling fire and sample roasted chestnuts.
In addition, every day from December 1st – December 18 you can visit Woodside and learn all about how the Victorians celebrated Christmas and even sample a few delicacies from the past as you tour the fully decorated property.
For more information visit the Parks Canada website here
Lunch with Santa and Craft Show
The CORE Lifestyle & Recreation Complex is a great place to get fit in Kitchener but it also hosts a number of great community events, including, on December 3rd, a Lunch with Santa Event that will also feature a bustling Christmas Craft Fair featuring the wares of a number of different local merchants. The breakfast buffet sounds truly yummy as it will feature scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, home fries, yogurt, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and juice and part of the proceeds from the event ill be donated to a Local Respite Care Facility: Sunbeam Lodge on Pinnacle Drive, so you’ll be doing good while having a great time!
For more information check the event website here
Milk & Cookies with Santa & Mrs. Claus @ Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
If the kids can’t get enough of dining with Santa then you can also head to spectacular Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory on December 4th not only to hang out with him but the lovely Mrs. Claus as well. Everyone will get the chance to decorate their own Christmas cookies and take pictures with the Santa family while also meeting all of the beautiful creatures who call the Conservatory home.
For more information visit the event website here.
These are just a few of the holiday happenings lined up for our area this year to look forward to. To find even more Visit the Explore Waterloo Region website here.