The Holiday Season 2026 in Durham Region
Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
Santa Claus parades, Christmas markets and light festivals in every corner of Durham, from Uxbridge to Ajax.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026 by the Durham Happening editorial team.
Durham's holiday season starts early: Uxbridge holds its Santa Claus Parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2026, and Pickering's parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 28. Ajax's evening parade, Santa's Spectacle of Lights, runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the same day. Below are the parades, markets and light festivals each organizer has confirmed for 2026. Our calendar adds holiday concerts, library programs and community events across Durham every day until the end of December.
Browse events by city: Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, Whitby.
Confirmed Parades, Markets and Light Festivals
Each listing was checked on the organizer's own 2026 page. Parade routes and road closures are posted closer to the date, so check the official link before you go.
Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 21, 2026 · 11:00 a.m.
Uxbridge (the Township posts the route before the parade)
The Township's community parade, with floats and entries from local groups and businesses.
Brooklin's Christmas in the Village
Saturday, November 21, 2026
Downtown Brooklin
A small-town holiday celebration in Brooklin's main street, with visits from Santa, seasonal crafts and a scavenger hunt.
Whitby Lights the Night
Friday, November 27, 2026 · 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Civic Park
555-575 Rossland Road East, Whitby, ON
Live entertainment and a Christmas farmers' market as the lights go on. The displays then stay lit from dusk to 10 p.m. every evening until January 11, 2027.
Pickering Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 28, 2026 · 10:00 a.m. start
Pickering (the City posts the route before the parade)
The City's morning Santa Claus parade, with community floats and local groups.
Santa's Spectacle of Lights - Ajax Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 28, 2026 · 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Downtown Ajax
Bayly Street East and Harwood Avenue South, Ajax, ON
An evening parade of lights that starts at Bayly Street and Mackenzie Avenue, travels east along Bayly Street and turns north on Harwood Avenue. Some roads close for part of the day.
It's Almost Christmas Holiday Market
Sunday, November 29, 2026 · 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Ajax Community Centre
75 Centennial Road, Ajax, ON
A free holiday market of local small-business bakers and makers, the day after the Ajax parade.
More Holiday Events in Our Durham Calendar
From the Durham Happening events calendar, updated daily.
Brooklin Community Markets (St. Thomas Anglican Church and St. Leo's Catholic Church)
TBD · 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Christmas Knitting with Tara
Brooklin Community Centre and Library · 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Farmhouse Christmas Cookie Decorating Workshop
Parkwood National Historic Site · 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Pickering Santa Claus Parade
Dixie Road and Glenanna Road, Pickering · 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
65th Annual Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade
Brock Street Uxbridge · 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
The Holidays in Durham Region: Common Questions
When are the Santa Claus parades in Durham Region in 2026?
Uxbridge holds its Santa Claus Parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2026, and Pickering's parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 28. Ajax's evening parade, Santa's Spectacle of Lights, runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the same day. Dates for the other Durham towns are added here as soon as each one announces them.
When is the winter break for Durham schools?
For both the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board, winter break runs from Monday, December 21, 2026 to Friday, January 1, 2027. Classes resume on Monday, January 4, 2027.
When is Hanukkah in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at sundown on Saturday, December 12.
Where can I see Christmas lights in Durham Region?
Whitby lights more than 200,000 lights in Civic Park, Celebration Square and Grass Park, on every evening from dusk to 10 p.m. between November 27, 2026 and January 11, 2027.
Your holiday weekends, planned
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