It’s official… Santa has been spotted in and around Bradford West Gwillimbury!
A visit from Sinterklaas! Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) will be visiting Dutch Treats, 15 Holland St. East, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30. Good little girls and boys can pose for pictures with Sinterklaas, and receive free traditional Dutch treats.
Breakfast with Santa at Bradford United Church, 66 Barrie Street. Saturday Nov. 30 from 8 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage or bacon, fruit, yogurt, coffe, tea and juice. Santa will be visiting between 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. for photos. Tickets are $10 and RSVP's and etransfers can be sent to Amy Stepanek at [email protected] or by calling 905-960-0826
Light Up Night in Cookstown returns on Saturday, Nov. 30, starting at 4 p.m. Shops will be decorated for the holiday season, and open late for treats and special sales. The Cookstown Chamber of Commerce welcomes everyone to this annual event, featuring a Victorian Santa, carollers and more on Queen St. from 4 to 6 p.m., a tree-lighting at 6 p.m., and a night-time, illuminated Santa Claus Parade at 6:30 p.m. There will be music, hot chocolate and cookies at the Cookstown Library from 7:30 to 9 p.m., after the parade.
The Innisfil ideaLAB & Library hosts Festivities with Friends – a chance to meet Santa, courtesy of the Friends of the Innisfil Public Library. From 10:30 a.m. to noon on Nov. 30 at the Lakeshore Branch, 967 Innisfil Beach Rd. in Alcona; Dec. 4 at the Stroud branch; and Dec. 7 at the Cookstown Library. Free crafts, storytime and chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.
BWG Celebrate Christmas on Friday, Dec. 6 – a free family event at the BWG Leisure Centre, 471 West Park Ave., from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Santa arrives at 6 p.m. for a tree-lighting and carolling with the York Harmony Chorus in Sunshine Square. Then head inside the Centre for free photos with Santa, sponsored by KJ Sikkema Photography; free skating from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.; holiday crafts and cupcake decorating; free cookies from Sweet B’s, and free hot chocolate courtesy of RBC Insurance. Sarah and Emily Dahlgren will have their ‘pop-up’ shop of crafts, raising funds to provide Christmas Cheer hampers to families registered with the Food Bank. Everyone is invited to enjoy this free community event.
Victorian Christmas at the Cookstown Antique Market, Dec. 6-8. From 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on all three days, the romance of a Victorian Christmas comes alive at the Cookstown Antique Market’s barn, on County Rd. 27 just north of the village. Twin 10’ tall Christmas trees decorated with new and vintage ornaments, music, sweet and savoury treats – plus 10 percent off all purchases. The Market is collecting donations of new, unwrapped toys for Innisfil Christmas for Kids.
Trim the Tree at the BWG Public Library, a free family Saturday on Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Crafts, treats and seasonal activities for ages 2 and up, accompanied by a parent or care-giver. Free drop-in program will be followed with a performance by the Bradford School of Dance, 1 p.m. in the Zima Room.
Christmas Open House at Dickey Bee Honey, Dec. 7 and 8 at the Honey House, 4031 Line 3 Innisfil, north of Cookstown. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., drop in for tours of the Honey House and teaching facility, enjoy a complimentary barbecue and honey treats, enjoy apple cider and hot chocolate, shop for wonderful gift baskets, and visit with Santa! Admission is a donation of non-perishable food or cash for the Innisfil Food Bank. This year, Dickey Bee Honey is partnering with the Rotary Club of Innisfil and the Food Bank, to help families in need in the community, this Holiday Season. Help fill the Rotary Club’s Candyland Express train with donations!
Christmas at the Auld Kirk. Join the BWG Local History Association and St. John’s Presbyterian Church at the Auld Kirk Heritage Site, 3880 Line 6 BWG, for an old-fashioned Christmas on Dec. 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. Music, the Christmas Story, refreshments at the 200-year-old Scotch Settlement.
Victorian Christmas at the Simcoe County Museum. Thurs., Dec. 12 and Fri., Dec. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. The Museum is located at 1151 Hwy. 26, north of Barrie, and the event includes Holiday music, seasonal treats, horse-drawn wagon rides on the museum grounds, artisans, vendors and more in a Victoria setting. Bring a new unwrapped toy for the Simcoe County Paramedics annual Toy Drive, purchase a hand-made bowl and soup to support Barrie & District Christmas Cheer. Admission is by donation, with proceeds going to the Friends of the Simcoe County Museum.
St. John’s Presbyterian Church presents C.A.K.E. – Christmas Acts of Kindness Experience, a Christmas Pageant, on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. Do you love to sing? Be part of the program – practices held every Sunday after Service, at 12:15 p.m. For info, contact Brenda Reimer at 705-250-5474.
Multicultural Holiday Storytime at the BWG Public Library explores holiday traditions from around the world, on Monday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Stories and crafts in this free program geared to kids ages 3 to 8, accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Santa is at the Holly Jolly Lodge in Market Court at Newmarket's Upper Canada Mall, posing for photos with his young fans. He’ll be at the Lodge from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon. through Sat. until Nov. 28 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays) with breaks to feed the reindeer; then from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon. through Sat. from Nov. 29-Dec. 23 (10 a.m. -7 p.m. on Sun.), and until 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Pet Photos with Santa on Nov. 20 and 27, from 6 to 8 p.m., with all proceeds to the OSPCA.
