Jennie Stevens MPP, St. Catharines

Government of Ontario

Holiday Events

Happy Holidays! This list of holiday events in St. Catharines supports local businesses as we celebrate safely with our community.

CLICK ON THE ARROWS BELOW TO EXPAND DETAILS OF THE EVENTS

If you'd like your event listed here, please contact my office. We'd love to support you!

Winter at the Market returns on Thursdays starting November 18 to December 23 from 4-8 p.m. bringing 40 local artisans, crafters and resellers to you for a one stop, seasonal shop.

Click here for details

Ruby Red Beautiful will have such an amazing collection of vendors popping up on Saturdays from 11-5 November 20 to December 18.

Click here for more details

The Etsy Market is a virtual market. This event is specifically to unite Etsy sellers and local buyers for the holiday season. Some sellers may be outside of the Niagara Region.

Click here for details

 

The Turkey Roll is back!
To be raffled off this year:
120 Turkeys
2 Glass Turkeys
2 Dinner Pass for 2 to all Lions Events
Doors open at 6:00pm, event starts at 7:00pm. The bar will be open, food for sale as well.
Proof of Vaccination is required to attend the event.
Click here for details

It’s Fitzmas time!! We have a great lineup of holiday festivities and we would love to have you join us!
First up, tomorrow we will have a table at @bushel.and.peck Holiday Market. Swing by and get your Fitz swag and enjoy some amazing local vendors.

Fitzmas! On December 4, we will celebrate being neighbours with coffee outside. More details to come but coffee + Fitz Neighbours = awesome!

On the 19th join us for a alley sing-a-long where we come together in the alley and sing carols, ring some bells and enjoy being together.

December 21 is Winter Solstice and we will be going on a lantern walk to honour the shortest day and longest night of the year. More details to come.

Click here for details

The 42nd Annual Rio Lane Festival of Lights & Community Care Food Drive
Residents have been putting up displays, some starting weeks ago, getting ready for opening night.
They're having an opening night this year! It won't have all the same features as pre-covid years, but the street WILL be: closed to vehicular traffic starting approximately 5pm, there will be music and speeches by some local VIPs, and a countdown to the official lighting of the circle!
Residents and visitors should try to maintain social distance as much as possible, and consider wearing a mask when it's not possible. And no matter what, be kind and respectful of others' needs and choices. After all, we'll all just be there to have fun!
Click here for details

Join us for our Holiday Pottery Market 🎁
November 27th from 10:00 to 4:00 p.m
A Third Space has partnered with 10 incredible artists to bring you a verity of beautiful & unique pottery pieces. This is the perfect place to get your holiday shopping done for that special someone!…maybe even something for yourself.

Click here for details

We invite you to come to our annual Sip & Shop Christmas Craft Show on Nov 27 & Nov 28th 12pm-5pm each day at Hernder Estate Wines. With 2 floors of handmade vendors offering 1000s of handmade items you are sure to find that perfect Christmas gift.
We have partnered up with Community Cares St. Catharines & Thorold and ask that you bring a non-perishable food item in lieu of admission and help us fill the collection bins which will help feed local families.
Safety protocols will be in place and we ask that you please be patient as we do our part to help keep our community safe.
There are a few vendor spaces left to apply [email protected] with a few photos or a business link that describes your small business as this is a curated event to ensure we are able to offer our shoppers an amazing shopping experience.
We are no longer accepting vendors for the following categories:
Jewellery
Wood including home decor
See you soon.

Click here for details

Every year our Tree of Giving campaign helps families enjoy the holiday season. Together our community has donated hundreds of toys and gift cards to deserving children. Now, more than ever we urge you to step in and help by providing a gift this year. No child should have to go without the joy of a surprise toy or gift over the holidays.

Every donation helps.

Now in its 24th year, the community can drop off a new, unwrapped gift or gift card in support of Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold, at City facilities. Barrels will be set up to collect donations until Dec. 13.

While Community Care is moving to distribute gift cards, instead of actual gifts this holiday season, the gifts will still be utilized by the organization over the course of 2021 in helping deserving children mark special occasions.

For Details and Locations Click Here

Come support Stay Strong Collective and get some Christmas shopping done!
Frozen's Elsa will be making an appearance. She will be there 3:00-4:00 to do a sing along and take pictures!
Individuals aged 13+ must be vaccinated.

Click here for details

Holiday Open House + Ruth Unrau interviews Kim Rossi on leadership in philanthropy, and how to stay relevant and innovative. Powered by RBC.

Join us to reconnect, shop local, support women owned businesses and a bonus WINspirational talk

Agenda:

Registration: 5:00pm - 5:15pm

Networking & Shopping: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Fireside Chat: 6:00pm-6:40pm

Networking & Shopping: 6:40pm - 7:00pm

  • Your Ticket Includes Wood Fire Pizza & a Glass of Wine.

  • Additional wine and beverages can be purchased.

 

Click here for details

You are invited to partake in some holiday cheer in the Windward/Leaside/Island/Nassau neighbourhood. 

For more information on how to participate or contribute please contact Laryssa Doig at 289-696-1100

email: [email protected]

Join us for our 2nd annual outdoor Handmade Christmas Market in support of Community Care and Community Crew
This event will feature a variety of local artisans including:
Sparrow Pottery Studio
Helen's Handknit Hats
jsbenchworks
Signs of Life
mino.ode.beadwork
Girlfriends Christmas Baking
We are excited to invite Champs Chips on board this year to serve homemade apple fritters and fresh cut fries.
Stay tuned for the addition of new vendors and market updates!

Click here for details

Bring Donations - St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canal Centre

 

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre invites the public to help those in need as it begins the annual Mitten Tree campaign on December 4, 2021 from 10am to 3pm. Drop off your winter clothing donations at the museum and enjoy a day ofday of COVID-friendly crafts and activities.

Donations are being collected on behalf of Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold and Start Me Up Niagara. All cold weather gear donations are welcome so bring in those gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, socks and help us decorate our tree.

Click here for details

People within every spectrum of special needs and their families are invited to a private photo session, to experience the time-honored tradition of a visit with Santa during dedicated hours. Please reserve your complimentary ticket on Eventbrite - ONE TICKET per group/family, please.

Families are encouraged to arrive at any time during their scheduled 15-minute time period.

Limited space is available. Families will receive a FREE pre-selected photo package.

Look forward to seeing you there!

 

Click here for details

Foster Festival – WIDOW WONDERLAND

December 5 – 16

by Norm Foster
fosterfestival.com

12 Artists. 1 Script. 6 Interpretations. Endless Laughs.

Norm Foster has fashioned a cheerful one act Christmas play that throws a widow and a widower together at their apartment building’s Christmas dinner for those who are alone during the holiday season. Michael and Sharon wind up at a table for two during this December 23’rd dinner and what follows is an evening of getting to know one another with all of the awkwardness and politeness and silliness that a first meeting often includes. Best of all, and most important of all, it is funny.

This holiday season, let your tastebuds go walking in a winter wonderland with Dispatch Restaurant festive menu, holiday cocktails and fabulous performances from Miss. Pride Niagara 16/17 Macy Manolo and Empress Claudia Silva.

For reservations click Exploretock.com/dispatch

Specify your preference (10:30 am or 12:30 pm) 1st or 2nd seating.
LIMITED seating available Physical distancing and Covid-19 safety practices enforced. 

 

Our community has never faced the uncertainty we are facing today. That is why your donation to Community Care is so important. Households who were already struggling daily will be at even greater risk and the number of households that are new to the food bank are starting to increase.

Because of your help, we are able to respond to the changing needs in our community and we are constantly assessing the need and how to meet it. While demand on our organization has increased, so has the support from people like you.

Thank you! 

For Times and Locations Click Here

Lighting Installations

New This Year!

Celebrate the magic of winter in downtown St. Catharines and Port Dalhousie from December 11, 2021 to January 9, 2022.

Let It Glow – A Celebration of Light is a family-friendly, outdoor festival featuring interactive light installations, entertainment, winter workshops and cultural programming.

Dine, shop and explore amongst the glow of twinkling lights.

Click Here for Details

Let it Glow – A Celebration of Light Downtown Launch Event

Saturday, December 11 from 5-8pm

Feel the Glow Window Display Reveal 6pm

Drawing inspiration from the awe-inspiring displays of many major department stores, the front windows of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, will be transformed into 4 vibrant window box displays. This large installation will be developed and created by community partners showcasing the diversity and unity of our community through the lens of Let it Glow- A Celebration of Light.

Window Display Partners

 

My Son the Hurricane– FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Stage 5-7pm

My Son the Hurricane is a multi horn, multi drummer, multi singer brass funk beast. The  Niagara, Ontario 12-piece brass-dance crew has toured over multiple countries and some of Canada, USA and Europe’s biggest festivals. Over 40 sold out shows in 2019 and early 2020 just proved that there is no live show like My Son the Hurricane. Featuring trumpets, sax, trombones, drums, guitar, percussion and two wild front- people…we dare you not to dance!

Holiday magic is made year after year by Ballet Jörgen’s traditional treasure The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition. Created by acclaimed choreographer and Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen to Tchaikovsky’s well-loved score, this delightful classic is a favourite that brings magic to the holidays.
________
14 + 15 DEC 2021 at 7pm.
Partridge Hall.
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: https://bit.ly/TheNutcrackerSTC
“Canada’s Ballet Jörgen combines respect for tradition with a canny eye for what will make its productions distinct.” – The Toronto Star
Born from a collaboration with Kleinburg’s world renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and with well over 100 costumes in richly coloured fabrics, The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition brings out the magic of Canada. 20th Century landscapes make up the stunning 30-foot backdrops, including Franklin Carmichael’s Church and Houses at Bisset (1931), Tom Thompson’s Snow in the Woods (1916), and L.L. Fitzgerald’s Trees and Wildflowers (1922). This is a beautiful Canadian work, and audiences are taken on Klara’s familiar, magical dream journey as she arrives in Canada and experiences winter landscapes filled with snowflakes, lumberjacks, Mounties, and creatures of the woods.
This celebration of the wonder of the season is based on the popular traditional story The Nutcracker and the King of mice by E.T.A. Hoffman, enjoyed by audiences for years. The ballet’s second act is remembered for its celebration of varied dances, and our charming divertissements of raccoons, loons, dragonflies, and bears demonstrate Klara’s longing for the summer months as she travels excitedly through her dreams. The iconic, show-stopping pas-de-deux in the final act is lovingly danced by Lord and Lady Birch as they usher Klara safely home at the end of the adventure.
Canada’s Ballet Jörgen’s Nutcracker is destined to become a national treasure that will warm the hearts of young and old alike. It is a holiday tradition that has showcased the magic of the season for years. Rediscover the joy of dance with the show that audiences flock back to again and again.

Watering Can Flower Market Winter Workshop – Market Square

Wednesday, December 15 from 5-8pm

Create a special piece using a combination of Winter greens, dogwood, curly willow and your choice of berries, pine cones, Christmas balls and various other decor.
Tickets available through Eventbrite, space is limited.

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON.

The Watering Can Flower Market

Let it Glow – A Celebration of Light Port Dalhousie Launch Event

Saturday, December 18 from 5-7pm

Join us in launching Let it Glow – A Celebration of Light in Port Dalhousie. Grab a hot chocolate and head to Lock One Commons at the base of the business district for contactless selfies with Santa and a special performance of the Nutcracker by Niagara Ballet School.  Get your cameras ready as we light the 9ft Winter Wreath designed by the Watering Can Flower Market. Raise your glass and your selfie stick and celebrate the season.

Drop in style festival & market
Santa & Mrs Claus - Family Photo shoot Mini Sessions by Selfie Mode Niagara
Walk through the Gingerbread House Garden!
Petting Zoo
Photo Opps by Selfie Mode Niagara
Raffle Prizes
Craft Stations
Holiday Shopping with local Vendors
Food available - Cash Bar - Dj by dynamic entertainment
Live Music by Sophia De Luca & Brooke Georgeneau
Click here for details

A Night by the Fire with Indigenous Story Tellers – FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

Tuesday, December 21 from 6-8pm

In acknowledgement of winter solstice, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is hosting A Night by the Fire with Indigenous story tellers on Tuesday, Dec. 21, from 6-8 p.m. Gather your thoughts and open your hearts to hear the traditional indigenous stories presented by members of the Niagara Regional Native Centre. A short question-and-answer period will follow. All ages are welcome. Hot beverages will be available.

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