10 of the Best Christmas Towns in Ontario
Once the calendar flips to November all things festive start popping up. And one of my favourite things to do during the holiday season is visit cute Christmas towns in Ontario that make you feel like you’ve walked onto the set of a Hallmark movie!
As a frequent small town explorer, one of the best times of year to visit small towns is around the holidays when downtown is all dress up with festive displays, twinkling lights and markets are filled with tasty treats and great local gifts. Ontario is filled with so many magical Christmas towns and I’m sharing my top picks for you to add to your holiday wish list. In this guide you’ll find everything from famous Christmas towns in Canada like Niagara-on-the-Lake as well as hidden gems without the crowds.
Let’s don our cozy sweaters, gas up the car and head out for a festive day trip!
Orangeville
One of my favourite small towns to visit is Orangeville! And during the holidays downtown Orangeville is dressed up with a wealth of wreaths, Christmas décor and plenty of fun photo-ops.
You’ll find plenty of things to do downtown during your visit. Along with all the year-round attractions, there’s a variety of restaurants and wonderful shops. It’s an ideal town to find unique local gifts, especially at shops like Dragonfly Arts on Broadway, Pear Home and Readers’ Choice.
Orangeville also has an annual market, Joy & Lights Holiday Gift Market, that takes place downtown on the last two weekends of November. It features European-style huts with vendors selling everything from treats to local goods, twinkling lights and live music.
To add to the magical Christmas vibe, Orangeville is home to one of the best free Christmas light displays! Every year Kay Cee Gardens is transformed into a winter wonderland of holiday décor and lights.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
One of the best Christmas towns in Ontario, and Canada for that fact, is Niagara-on-the-Lake! Packed full of Victorian architecture, its historic streets are a winter wonderland during the holidays.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the best places for a winter getaway! Visitors will find a jolly good mix of things to do and see for the festive season. You can take in a performance of A Christmas Carol at The Shaw Festival or enjoy the annual Candlelight Stroll.
Take a wander through the historic downtown dressed in holiday décor and indulge in some shopping, like at one of the best Christmas stores in the province – Just Christmas!
Families will love the Christmas parade with Santa making an appearance and foodies will swoon over the Dickensian Feast at the Prince of Wales. But there’s plenty more to do, like the Holiday House Tour, visit one of the wineries, or enjoy one of the best afternoon teas.
Unionville
If you’re looking for a Hallmark movie town near Toronto then Unionville is exactly what you’re looking for!
As one of the best places to visit in Markham, Unionville is a Victorian slice of charm–especially during the holidays. All the store windows are adorned with festive vibes and Main Street is decked out with sleigh-fulls of seasonal displays, from lights to festive photo-ops.
Mid-December every year, Unionville puts on their Olde Tyme Christmas celebration. The event hosts holiday activities like a Christmas parade, carolers, and more. Plus, it’s when they light up the bandstand – which is one of my favourite holiday displays!
Unionville is also full of shops to browse, my fav is Pretty Thingsz, and incredible restaurants, cafes and bakeries. Plus, don’t miss the Varley Art Gallery, they always have festive things to do. This year (2025) they are running a workshop where you can make your own festive mini Christmas tree ornament.
Blue Mountain Village
If you’re looking for a slice of Europe here in Ontario then plan a trip to Blue Mountain Village this winter! This four-season resort town is 15 minutes west of Collingwood and has so much more than skiing to offer.
During the holiday season the village is dressed to impress Santa and his elves! Each store window is decorated, trees are strung with colourful lights and there’s snowdomes to enjoy a cocktail with friends.
One of my favourite reasons to visit Blue Mountain Village in the winter is their annual Holiday Magic event. Running from mid-November through to the beginning of January there’s a ton of festive events taking place.
I love wandering the Holiday Magic Light Trail that boasts thousands of lights twinkling along the 1 km trail. And the best part is it’s free!
Port Perry
When it comes to Christmas towns near me, one I return to every year is Port Perry! It is the whole package when it comes to festive towns. The entire downtown, with its Victorian architecture is often featured in movies and tv shows – making it a perfect Hallmark movie day trip!
Along with the historic downtown that’s dressed with the festive spirit, during the holidays Santa is often hanging out along main street on weekends and there’s a free holiday trolley tour.
While there’s plenty of great places to visit in Port Perry, a hidden gem to add to your holiday list is the library. Inside a room at the library is their annual Gingerbread Village.
This massive Gingerbread Village is all made by locals and features iconic sights in Port Perry like the old grain elevator as well as other fun little details that you have to see for yourself. And it’s free to visit!
You’ll also find plenty of great shops for doing some Christmas shopping, like the Nutty Chocolatier and POE Design. Plus, there’s a variety of incredible restaurants like The Piano Inn as well as small cafes and bakeries. Don’t miss the seasonal treats at Hank’s Pastries – home to some of the best donuts!
Uxbridge
Best known as the Trail Capital of Canada for its wealth of trails. But did you know that Uxbridge is one of the best small Christmas towns in Ontario?
As one of my go-to places to visit, there’s plenty of things to do and see in Uxbridge throughout the year. But during November and December it’s transformed into a festive town straight out of Christmas movie.
The season starts around the middle of November with the Santa Claus parade as well as Christmas markets. There’s one at Tindall Farm and the Uxbridge Farmers’ Market runs holiday markets the few weeks leading up to Christmas.
A fun annual holiday event in Uxbridge that’s a must is their Holiday Trail. The event takes place the first weekend in December and transforms downtown with festive window displays, live music, free trolley rides and more.
I love making an afternoon of it by wandering the charming downtown that looks like a Hallmark movie during the festive season. Browse the fabulous shops and grab dinner at one of the amazing restaurants before you head over to see the lights.
Every year Elgin Park, minutes south of downtown, becomes one of the largest Christmas displays that’s free for visitors. The Uxbridge Optimist Fantasy of Lights is a drive through experience where you’ll cruise past thousands of lights, holiday displays and enjoy it all from the comfort of your car.
Elora
Another great day trip from Toronto is Elora! This beautiful small town filled with limestone buildings feels like a village in Europe.
A popular spot in the summer for day trippers, thanks to all the fun things to do in town, including hiking the gorge, browsing the unique shops and soaking up the charm.
But Elora is a festive small town during the holiday season too! Embrace the holiday décor and get some gifts during their annual Starlight Shopping event. The event takes place on Thursdays and Fridays during the end of November.
One of the best Christmas markets is in Elora! The Elora Christmas Market runs Wednesday through Sunday from mid-November until Christmas. You’ll find so many great finds, like local art, tasty treats, and stocking stuffers.
Other fun events in Elora during the holidays include a Christmas market at the Wellington County Museum, Elora Festival Singers Winter Concert Series, and the Christmas Show and Sale at the Elora Centre for the Arts.
Erin
A hidden gem of a Christmas town in Ontario is Erin. Located an hour northwest of Toronto, in Wellington County, Erin is a fun and festive day trip from the city.
Downtown Erin is full of holiday décor and light displays. You’ll also find one of my favourite chocolate shops, Debora’s Chocolates, and a must-visit bakery, Holtom’s, for all your holiday treats. And one of my favourite places to visit in Erin is the Tin Roof Café – during the holidays they make the most festive drinks – like the Grinch latte!
Just minutes from downtown is my favourite Christmas tree farm – Elliott Tree Farm. Run by the loveliest family – they’ll make you feel like you’re a part of it immediately! Not only is it the perfect place to pick up a fresh tree, but they also host a Christmas experience from mid-November through December.
At Elliott’s you’ll find plenty of jolly good times, from hot chocolate and treats to a gift shop in a picturesque heritage barn. Their marvelous maple syrup makes a sweet gift!
Another farm in the area, Erin Hill Farm, also hosts a variety of events during the season. Famous for their Highland cows, they do a Christmas market, holiday tea, Santa experience and more!
Almonte
If you’re looking for festive small towns near Ottawa to visit then I highly recommend Almonte! As one of the best day trips from Ottawa, Almonte is known as Ontario’s Christmas Town!
With around two dozen Hallmark movies filmed in Almonte, it’s no surprise why! Take a stroll around town to see the striking architecture and festive décor.
One of my favourite things to do in Almonte is shop! Filled with unique shops like Cheerfully Made Goods and Tin Barn Market, it’s easy to tick off your holiday shopping list. But don’t miss Hummingbird to stock up on chocolate for the holidays!
The festivities start off at the beginning of November when the Christmas Craft Show takes place. But the biggest holiday event in Almonte is Light up the Night! Said to be one of the largest outdoor Christmas shows in Ontario, Light up the Night typically takes place the first Friday in December.
Light up the Night is a magical event boasting live music, fireworks, vendors, food, and fires to cozy up to.
Stratford
A popular summer road trip destination for their world famous theatre festival, Stratford is a gem of a place to visit during the holidays in Ontario!
This charming town is filled with stunning architecture, has plenty to do and see during the Christmas season. With so much to offer, I highly recommend making your visit a holiday getaway! A few of my top picks for cozy places to stay are Henry House and Hotel Julie.
First, indulge in a festive drink at one of the many great cafes downtown, like Livery Yard. Then stop by the tourism office to grab yourself a Christmas Trail package. This fun holiday trail includes a number of vouchers to exchange for unique items at various shops. It’s a great way to enjoy some holiday shopping and grab some gifts.
There’s also a number of Christmas markets in town, like the one at the Tom Patterson Theatre. But one of my favourite winter attractions is the Lights On Stratford’s Winter Festival of Lights. Throughout town you’ll find a bunch of unique light displays that have a different theme every year.
Looking for more fun things to do during the holidays?
Best Christmas Markets in Ontario
Top Places to Get Your Christmas Tree
Dreamy Winter Getaways in Ontario
Fun Christmas Stores to Browse
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