Christmas season is full-on in this household. We aren’t really decorating yet (we get a real tree, and need to wait a little so it doesn’t get too dry), but we did attend our first Santa Claus parade already. There are more parades ahead, check out my complete list here. This week is when the first of Ottawa’s best Christmas attractions really kick off, and by next weekend, almost all will be going full force! There are a few new Christmas events taking place in town that seem worth checking out…let me know what your favourite events are to hit up with the family!

Magic of Lights

Wesley Clover Parks Campground

Open nightly November 21 – January 4, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Magic of Lights is a 2 km long drive thru holiday lights show featuring more than 300 displays. It costs $20 a vehicle. Bring cash or even better, purchase your ticket online ahead of time. It can get really busy so I recommend trying to pick an “off” time, maybe a week day and the earlier in the evening the better. It is an easy and fun activity that takes around 20 minutes to complete. It’s wonderful on a cold evening when you can stay inside the warmth of the car, maybe grab a hot chocolate before you go and then crank those holiday tunes to get in the spirit.

Alight at Night

Upper Canada Village

November 29 – January 4, operates Thursday-Sunday from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

It’s a picture perfect setting featuring lights, carollers, a horse drawn carriage, visits with St.Nicholas, and hot chocolate. I absolutely love visiting Alight at Night with my family. Families will discover a colourful vintage 1965 merry-go-round of prancing horses that will be offering rides for young visitors. And if you want a holiday keepsake photo, there will be life-size reproduction carousel horses staged especially for picture-taking in a booth nearby. Last year my family visited for New Year’s Eve and had a wonderful time. I highly recommend buying your tickets online ahead of time!

Vintage Village of Lights

Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

November 29 – December 22, open Friday-Sunday 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Explore seasonal scenes and activities inspired by classic Christmas stories and songs of years past at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. Take in the 30,000 lights illuminating the Museum, visit with Santa and send a telegram to the North Pole. Decorate a cookie or a make a Christmas craft. Singalong to your favourite carol then experience a horse-drawn wagon ride. This festive display was surprisingly not busy at all when my family visited and very affordable. When there is snow on the ground, this experience is especially memorable.

Christmas Lights Across Canada

Parliament Hill and Confederation Park, December 4 – January 7

Combine Christmas shopping downtown with a magical evening walk amongst thousands of colourful lights illuminating the Capital as part of Christmas Lights Across Canada. Don’t miss the winter lightscape multimedia show that will be projected nightly onto Parliament Hill’s Centre Block. Inspired by Canada’s nature, climate and culture, this 13-minute fairy tale runs nightly in a loop, from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. We have a tradition of going out for dinner as a family downtown and then taking in this awesome light show!

Glow Ottawa

EY Centre, December 5 – January 4

This is the first year ever of Glow Ottawa. It has taken place in other cities in Canada to rave reviews. It is an illuminated family-friendly indoor celebration. You can enjoy interactive light gardens, illuminated structures, food, drinks, train rides, live entertainment and of course, Santa! It is all indoors, so it could be a great activity on a frigid evening. You can reserve tickets for individual days and evenings, or buy a seasons pass. I look forward to checking this out and seeing what it’s all about!

Ottawa Christmas Market

Lansdowne, November 29 – December 22 (check website for days and times)

The Ottawa Christmas Market is another brand-new holiday attraction in our city. It is Ottawa’s first European style Christmas market with vendors, food and drink and live entertainment including a tree lighting and performance by Chantal Kreviazuk at 6:30 pm on opening evening November 29.

The Byward Market

November 30 – December 15, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Stroll through the Byward market stalls selling holiday wares and decorations. Visitors can also enjoy complimentary wagon rides on the first three weekends of December. Wagon rides are offered every Saturday and Sunday at William Square from noon – 4 p.m. Christmas choirs will perform every Saturday and Sunday on the George Street Plaza from noon – 4 p.m.

Taffy Lane

It’s always fun to take a drive or stroll along Taffy Lane in this residential neighbourhood in Orleans. Taffy Lane is famous for the number of homeowners who like to do it up big for the holidays, so much so that it attracts thousands of visitors every year. The narrow residential street can get quite congested in the days leading up to Christmas, but this is a fun and free holiday attraction worth checking out.