By golly, stay jolly: 38 cheerful events in South Eastern Ontario this December

This is it, folks! It may be the darkest month of the year but South Eastern Ontario events are bringing some serious light to the season. Your lead up to the holidays is sure to be festive with baking, live music, art markets, trolley tours, light shows and much more to amp up the holiday cheer in the region! Read on for 38 heart-warming December events in South Eastern Ontario!

1. December 3, 10 and 17: DJ Great White at Wolfe Island Hotel

DJ Great White is a celebrated chef of the Limestone City in Kingston, now also spinning tunes! Drop by Wednesday at Hotel Wolfe Island from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to groove to anything from the 60s to 90s. You just might need your dancing shoes!

2. Throughout December - December Open Trails at Wintergreen

Get into nature this month! Enjoy a self-guided hike on one of Wintergreen’s trails in Frontenac County through mixed forests, wetland, ponds and granite outcrops. Trail maps and hiking poles available in the lodge! Free and open to all.

3. December 4: Merry Little Main Street in Bath
The holidays get even brighter in Bath on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 5 p .m. to 8 p.m. when Main Street lights up with festive cheer. Enjoy Santa visits, horse-drawn wagon rides and holiday shopping - and even watch for pop-up vendors. Don’t forget to dress warmly for this outdoor event - Merry Little Main Street will take care of warming your heart.

4. December 4, 11, 14, 18, 21: Cornwall Colts Games at Civic Complex 
There’s nothing like junior hockey action during the holiday! The Cornwall Colts take on the competition during five home games this month in Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) play. Be there to cheer them on!

5. December 5: Jay Davis performs Bublé Christmas

This Canadian tribute show authentically captures the essence of Michael Bublé's performances! At the Grand Theatre this Friday evening, the show is led by Canadian musical theatre star Jay Davis. This one to see!

6. Throughout December: Christmas Light Trolley Tours in Kingston
Get festive with the family! Carol along to Christmas classics on a light viewing tour from the comfort of a red trolley. This 75-min tour is fun for the whole family. Travel in style in an iconic red Kingston Trolley for a fun way to experience the evening hours while feeling festive!

7. Until Dec. 20: Merry Minis at Cline House Gallery
The Cline House Gallery and Studio is hosting everyone’s favourite art show and sale, the Merry Mini collection! Until Dec. 20 visit this artist’s showcase of more than 250 original mini masterpieces by talented regional artists. Visit Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to check out the holiday market, too!

8. December 5, 12 and 19: Friday Night Lights at the Museum of Lennox & Addington

The Museum of Lennox & Addington will be the light of your holiday season as you step into a world of wonder on Fridays throughout December! The magical courtyard bursts with colour, live music lights up the interior of the museum, while festive holiday crafts are ready for making at the Creation Station. Explore the galleries, too! 

9. Running until Jan. 15: Alight at Night – Upper Canada Village
Stroll through one of Ontario’s largest outdoor light festivals! More than a million lights sparkle in the postcard-perfect setting at Upper Canada Village near Morrisburg. Alight at Night transforms the historic village into a captivating winter wonderland, providing a fun, festive and family-friendly experience for all ages.  Running in the evenings until January 15, 2026 from guests can celebrate with the return of old-fashioned carol singing, a sound and light show, meet St. Nick, enjoy the displays and more.

10. December 5: NQ Arbuckle Live at Signal Brewery
Get your tickets now: beloved Canadian alt-country troubadour NQ Arbuckle is coming to Corbyville for a night of roots-driven rock at Signal Brewery! 

11. December 5 to 13: Snow: The Panto Lennox Community Theatre

A holiday tradition returns to Lennox Theatre in Selby! Don’t miss Snow: The Panto, written and directed by Michelle Dorey Forestell. Running December 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 - don’t miss it!

12. Dec. 5 to 6: Prescott Riverwalk Wonderland
Bring the kiddos to experience the Magic at RiverWalk Wonderland! The Prescott Pop-Ups are turning into a holiday wonderland with enchanting lights, festive inflatables, and Prescott’s Christmas tree! Be there for children’s games and activities, wagon rides, photos with Santa, hot drinks, and lighting of the big tree.

13. Throughout the holidays: Festival of Lights and Candy Cane Lane in Gananoque
Gananoque is enchanting in Town Park with trees full of lights, holiday cut out displays, a walkway of lights to wander, as well as the big twinkling tree out front of Town Hall strung with lights. Join in the grand illumination of the park stroll through Candy Cane Lane. Revel in live music, photo ops and lights galore. Make your holidays sparkle in Gananoque this season.

14. December 6: Christmas in Merrickville
From the place that looks like a Christmas card - celebrate all things Christmas with your family on Saturday Dec. 6! From Breakfast with Santa, to a cookie walk, bonfires, children’s games and much more, it’s a day to feel festive and find that Christmas community magic for all ages.

15. Running until January 4: River of Lights Brockville
This enchanting holiday light display on Blockhouse Island in Brockville features thousands of twinkle lights set to music. The free show is on a repeating loop – drive down and enjoy the show from your car while tuning your radio to the show frequency. Watch the trees dance with lights while contemporary and classic holiday tunes entertain you!

16. December 6: Quinte West Holly Trolley Tour

Free! Light up your weekend by hopping on and off the Holly Trolley at size stops throughout Quinte West between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Dec. 6. From the Festival of Trees to the holiday market at the pop-ups, the locations are a boost of holiday spirit!

17. December 6: Indigenous Arts Festival at Loyalist College

Discover handcrafted creations at this unique event - celebrating its 31st year! This celebration of Indigenous entrepreneurship through music, food, art and craft has become a tradition and incorporates a free public market.

18. December 6: Winter Serenade in Belleville
Get in on the shared joy during this heartwarming afternoon of song at St. Mathew’s United Church with Shout Sister, Happy Harmony and the Military Wives Choir!

19. December 7: BIG LAKE Let it Snow in PEC

Witness one of Canada’s most celebrated youth choirs! The Canadian Children’s Opera Company is bringing to life an enchanting program of holiday classics and winter songs. Seventy singers will fill Wellington United Church - and fill your heart with joy.

20. December 7: Barking Goats Farm Winter Open House in L&A County

A fun, outdoor experience in the country awaits! Snuggle with a goat, take a donkey selfie, crunch on a smore at a bonfire and check out the farmstand for crafts, baked goods, homemade dog treats, and goat milk caramel sauce!

21. Special Days in December: Clow’s Christmas Trail near Brockville
Be transported back to your childhood with magic memories of Christmas! This walking trail through the woods is decorated by the Clow Family each year to bring cheer to families. Running Friday-Sunday throughout December from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with special hours around Christmas. Spend time together in this outdoor wonderland visiting the Christmas displays including the Elves Lodge, the Candy Shop, the North Pole office, winter sports land and more. We hear that you might even spy some special visitors walking the trails! Tickets can be purchased online. 

22. December 7: Winter Wanderland in PEC

Locally-sourced home goods, wellness treats, unique gifts, and touring the Wander ground including the new Lakefront Nordic Spa!?! Sign us up! Don’t forget a special menu from Gather - plus FREE professional family photos with Santa in a luxury cabin. Feel the “wow” at Wander!

23. December 9: Base31 Holiday Centrepiece workshop
Dress up your table or give a thoughtful handmade gift! Create your own holiday centerpiece at Base31 with Coriander Girl. Along the way, sip hot apple cider and learn floral design tips and take home a stunning arrangement. 

24. December 12: Downtown Napanee Holiday Shopping Party
Cross items off your Christmas lists and have fun at the same time! Napanee’s 18th annual Downtown Shopping Party is set for Dec. 12 starting at 4 p.m. With campfires, horse and wagon rides, the L&A Museum’s Friday Night LIghters, late night shopping, free parking and more it’s a surefire way to support local while feeling festive!

25. December 12: Jazz & Sparkle Tapas Event in PEC

Date night? A night out with friends? The Cape has you covered! Live jazz, curated tapas by Bocado, an intimate performance by Lauren Falls & The Thompson Egbo-Egbo Duo. It’s going to be delightful.

26. December 13: Dino Train at the PumpHouse Museum Kingston

This annual holiday event returns with a festive dinosaur theme in the Swyrich Train Room! Weekday drop-in activities start on Dec. 9 but the main event on Dec. 13 will see kiddos enjoying dino crafts, interactive games and even a photo booth!

27. December 13 and 14: Nutcracker Sweets in Belleville

Step into the world of Nutcracker Sweets at Centennial Secondary School! Dancers from the Quinte Ballet School of Canada are bringing the magic to life with sparkling choreography, festive music, and moments you won’t forget.

28. December 13: Vinter Fireside Feast at Karlo Estates

A curated and carefully crafted three course dinner by renowned chef, Chris Byrne, meets exceptional vintages in the exclusive Vintner’s Fireside Wine Dinner at Karlo Estates. A Bubble Reception flows into a gourmet and inspirational cuisine dinner, which culminates in being guided through exquisite wines.

29. Until December 12: the House Guest 2 at Macpherson House

Returning for a second year with a new story, House Guest 2 is being staged at the almost 200-year-old Macpherson House in L&A County! This unique story is performed as an immersive room-by-room play set during the holiday season in this historic house. It’s one-of-a-kind and will make your holidays memorable!

30. December 12: Downtown Greater Napanee Christmas Shopping Party

Stroll and browse late-night shopping specials, warm up by the Market Square campfires in Market Square, ride on a horse-drawn wagon and sip on hot apple cider! 

31. December 13 and 20: Santa Saturdays in Kingston

Meet the jolly old elf himself at Santa’s Village in Springer Market Square! Take a festive photo with Santa with your friends or the whole family and enjoy free horse and wagon rides, skating and even free trolley rides around town. Find your winter magic in downtown Kingston!

32. December 13: Elvis - A Christmas Special with Pete Paquette at the Grand Theatre
See Pete take the stage at the Grand Theatre to celebrate the holidays through a special tribute to the King’s greatest carols and songs. We’re talking Blue Christmas, Here Comes Santa Claus, O Come, All Ye Faithful and many more. This will inspire all ages!

33. December 19: Good Lovelies Christmas Concert
The Good Lovelies’ much-loved Christmas tour returns this December! JUNO award-winning songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough, and Susan Passmore are ready to bring rich harmony and nostalgic sound with holiday classics and winter favourites at the Isabel Bater Centre for the Performing Arts. Boost your Christmas magic!

34. December 20: Christmas Bird Count at Wintergreen

Christmas is going to the birds - literally at Wintergreen! Find joy in winter birding and learning their strategies for survival. The Christmas Bird Count is North America’s longest-running Citizen Science project. In collaboration with Audubon and Birds Canada, people in more than 2,000 locations throughout the Western Hemisphere participate in the CBC each year! Listen and watch for birds at Wintergreen - while making your mark on citizen science.

35. Dec. 20 and 21: The Nutcracker at Aultsville Theatre, Cornwall
Experience the magic of The Nutcracker! The Syracuse City Ballet joins local dancers for this unforgettable holiday tradition at Aultsville Theatre. Three shows from Dec. 20 to 21 encompass this enchanting holiday event. 

36. December 21: Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk

Walk through the labyrinth to take a pause and reflect! From noon until 2 p.m. guests will be guided through a walking meditation and come together after to discuss and deepen the process of reflection. 

37. December 23 to January 3: Jack and the Beans Talk in Odessa

A humble cottage, a beanstalk that grows, lots of humour, a few surprises and a Merry Magical Pantomime! A musical holiday treat staged in the Hall at Emmanuel United Church in Odessa. Get tickets and plan to attend.

38. December 31: Boarding Pass to 2026 at the Dev Centre in Cornwall

Join the ultimate NYE party at the DEV Hotel & Conference Centre! Ring in the new year with Boarding Pass to 2026, an all-inclusive New Year’s Eve celebration that promises flavour, fun, and first-class entertainment. Your culinary passport awaits!

See how many events you can attend across South Eastern Ontario to keep that holiday spirit pumped all month long! Sleigh the holidays!