Festive Family Outings During the Holidays

Embrace every minute of the holiday season with your children! There’s a certain twinkle in the eye of every kid at this time of year - make the most of that magic and plan to attend workshops, events, tree lightings, Santa events, craft days and even live reindeer sightings, to keep that sparkle all month long. Wondering what to do after the holiday rush? We’ve got you covered with ideas for stress-free family outings. South Eastern Ontario is the place to find fun with your family throughout the holidays!

1. Light up their holidays in Bay of Quinte
Light up their holidays! The Belleville Festival of Lights display is running from now until January 6, 2025 at Jane Forrester Park. Don’t miss Quinte West’s annual Fantasy of Lights in both Fraser Park and Frankford Tourist Park. Lastly, Greater Napanee’s Light Up the Park will stay lit until early January as well.

2. Explore play: elf workshops, Christmas Art Camp, NYE party at Paragon of Play
Wowzers! Paragon of Play in Belleville is dashing through the snow towards some amazing children’s programming. Check out all the magic for creative little hands!

3. Quinte Museum of Natural History
Did you know whales used to have legs? Find out more at the Quinte Museum of Natural History during a whale of an exhibit on now. Learn about these ocean giants through life-sized whale skeletons and spend time discovering local fossils up close at this museum in Trenton.

4. Regent Theatre 
Leading up to Christmas, the beloved Regent Theatre in Picton has holiday movie classics and live stage performances to warm your hearts and tap those toes. Live performances include Brian Barlow's Big Band: Ellington's Nutcracker and A Charlie Brown Christmas and  Cinderella. Check out the full line-up!

5. A Merry Magical Pantomime in Lennox & Addington
A fantastic holiday treat for the entire family. Jack and the Beanstalk: A Merry Magical Pantomime is packed with action and zingers, with a couple of magical surprises tossed in for good measure. Come see Jack and the Beanstalk in Lennox and Addington County, where you will find his humble cottage and a beanstalk that grows. Runs Dec 23 - January 3.

6. Books on Main
Do your kiddos love books? Escape the hustle and settle down for some reading time. Books on Main is an Indie bookstore located in Bath’s historic downtown. With boardgames, puzzles, bestsellers, fiction and even a great kids section, Books on Main will soon be your regular spot to stop and browse.

7. Ring, ring! Christmas Trolley Tour
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. Tours operate throughout December.

8. The Bunker
Dark-light mini putt anyone? This super cool mini putt experience is the biggest indoor facility in eastern Ontario and leaves a big impression with kids! Look here for multi-sport simulators, too!

9. Dinosaurs Among Us at the Pumphouse Museum
Step into a world where dinosaurs still roam at Dinosaurs Among Us at the PumpHouse Museum! This exciting exhibit features eye-popping displays from the American Museum of Natural History, real dinosaur fossils you can touch, and incredible raptor casts and prehistoric treasures. Families will love discovering how today’s birds are actually living dinosaurs—right before their eyes! With hands-on artifacts and fascinating local fossils, it’s the perfect adventure for curious kids, dino lovers, and visitors of all ages. Come explore the prehistoric secrets hiding in plain sight!

10. Boiler Room Climbing Gym
The Boiler Room Kingston is the city’s only indoor gym offering bouldering, top rope, auto-belays, lead and it’s Ontario’s first full-size two-lane speed wall! Develop climbing skills, boost confidence and work towards personal goals. Kids learn basic techniques for bouldering and auto-belay and will be challenged whether it’s their first time climbing or they’re a seasoned pro. Look for youth programs here, too!

11. Escape the dull
Immerse your family in a different world and work together to solve puzzles and mysteries! Entertainment and adventure combine at the award-winning, Improbable Escapes. Family-friendly indoor and outdoor escape rooms, theatrical games, a board game café and more await at this fun and unique experience that will have you cheering for each other.

12. Glide into the holidays at Slush Puppie Place
Glide through the holiday season with a fun-filled series of Kingston Frontenac Hockey Games and Holiday event live shows. Don't miss Stars on Ice Holiday Tour on December 7, fun for the whole family!

13. Get in the spirit at The Christmas Farm
All kinds of festive feels happening here! The Christmas Farm near Harrowsmith offers a unique family fun experience outdoors, with hot chocolate, apple cider, candy canes and bonfires! Cut your own tree and enjoy the merriment. 

14. Holiday glow up at Festival of Lights and Candy Cane Lane
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 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.

15. Hidden Meadows Alpacas
After the holiday bustle, take some time to reconnect by meeting the pack at Hidden Meadows Alpacas. Learn about these curious, not-so-ordinary fibre animals near Seeley’s Bay. Hidden Meadows is home to a small herd of alpacas and store, The Paca Shack, featuring their soft, luxurious yarns. Be sure to call ahead for a free farm visit to make the most of the fun with your new fleecy friends!

16. Ferguson’s Forest Fun
Enjoy and explore Ferguson Forest Centre in Kemptville! With more than 1,000 acres managed, 22 km of trails, and 35,000 visits per year, Ferguson Forest Centre is a popular place for your next family outing in nature. Complete with a large arboretum, tree nursery, off-leash fenced dog park and parks, be sure to visit Anniversary Park, which offers a waterfront trail, Kinderwood children’s trail, picnic shelter and more.

17. Tree-ific Johnston Brothers Tree Farm
Celebrating more than 75 years! Known for offering cut-your-own Christmas trees available until Christmas eve. Look here for horsedrawn wagon rides on Dec. 7 and 8, as well as Dec. 14 and 15, which are always a favourite with young and old. We hear the holiday swags are also gorgeous at Johnston Brothers!

18. Visit the animals at Stealing the Bloom Farm
Get outside and onto the farm! Tours are available if booked ahead at Stealing the Bloom Farm in Rideau Lakes. Meet and learn about their pigs, goats, sheep and more while also being immersed in the rotational grazing, animal husbandry and farm systems of this small scale agriculture enterprise. 

19. Watch lights dance at the River of Lights
This enchanting holiday light display on Blockhouse Island in Brockville features thousands of twinkle lights set to music. The free show is about 40 minutes long and on a repeating loop – drive down and enjoy the show from your car while tuning your radio to the show frequency, or walk about in the crisp winter air to see and hear the full show! Watch the trees dance with lights while contemporary and classic holiday tunes entertain you. Runs November 20 to Jan 4.

20. Throw some axes: Capitol Axe Throwing
Got teens? Throw some axes and make some memories! This fast-growing and popular sport is perfect for beginners to pros so give it a try at Capitol Axe Throwing for an impressive night out!

21. Explore together: The Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing
Ready to discover the St. Lawrence region in a whole new light? The Aquatarium in Brockville takes your family on an interactive adventure from shipwrecks to fish to a touch tank and watching real river otters frolick. Be sure to visit the beaver during special presentations and see frogs, turtles and much more. The high ropes course at the Aquatarium is the perfect challenge for teens wanting to test their climbing skills! It’s one of the Aquatarium’s most engaging activities for youth, who can experience climbing through the rigging of a tall ship on a high ropes course with nine element obstacles. It’s all suspended high above the third floor. Finish it off with a 40-foot quick jump called the AquaDrop! 

22. Be inspired at Clow’s Christmas Trail on Hallecks
Be transported back to your childhood with magic memories of Christmas! This 1.5 km walking trail through the woods is decorated by the Clow Family each year to bring cheer to families. 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. Various dates starting Dec 5, 2026.

23. 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.  Starting November 28, guests can celebrate with the return of old-fashioned carol singing, a sound and light show, festive dining, and more. New this year! The Village’s Family Activity Centre transforms into a magical Toy Factory. Meet Saint Nick, share your holiday wishes, and capture a festive photo to remember.

24. Adventure in the Country
Where can you find axe throwing, archery, late-night bonfires, trails to explore and hot chocolate at dusk? At Countryside Adventures! This place is well-known for its legendary, magical skate trail through the woods in winter.

25. Rush Hour Escapes
A whole different world awaits – two challenging escape rooms here will put you and your friends to the test as you work together to crack codes, find clues and solve puzzles. Escape before the time runs out!

26. Small art, big impression: Merry Minis
Have an older kid? They might be all about this art show! The Cline House Gallery and Studio is hosting everyone’s favourite art show and sale, the Merry Mini collection. Until Dec. 21 visit this artist’s showcase of more than 250 original mini masterpieces by over 50 talented regional artists. Visit Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

27. The Cornwall Aquatic Centre
Two-storey waterslide! Need we say more?! The Aquatic Centre is a six-lane 25 metre indoor swimming facility in Lamoureux Park. With a leisure pool and whirlpool – and of course the tall waterslide – it’s a great place to hang out.
 

28. St-Albert Cheese Co-Op Tour
Cheese lovers won’t want to miss a stop at the St-Albert Cheese Co-Op! Take a walk along the observation hall on the second floor to peek inside the state-of-the-art factory, visit the St-Albert Museum to see the cheese-making process from start to delicious finish. Then stock up in the on-site shop! 

29. Free public skating
Keep an eye out for postings about free public skating throughout the holidays at local arenas and outdoor rinks! Every year, local businesses sponsor skating times in December to lace up and hit the ice with families and friends for free. Grab your skates and go!

Get ready to make festive memories with the kids before, during and after the holidays in South Eastern Ontario! Do you have an event for littles that you’re looking forward to?