New Tecumseth Christmas Activities in 2025
Looking for Christmas activities in Alliston, Beeton or Tottenham?
You’re in the right place. As the fall season wraps up, there are a ton of Christmas activities to do in the area leading up to the holidays.
While places like Toronto have a lot of iconic Christmas activities, there’s so much to do in our neck of the woods too.
Whether you’re in Alliston, Beeton or Tottenham or just outside of them, you don’t have to travel very far for cozy, small-town events for the holidays.
So, let’s dive in – Christmas activities in New Tecumseth!
New Tec & Area Christmas Events Quick List
Here are the winter and Christmas-related activities going on around New Tecumseth in 2025 to look out for. Scroll below to get the details on any of the following:
- Scandinavian Bazaar in Cookstown – Friday, November 7th
- Alliston Santa Claus Parade – Saturday, November 15th
- Sugarplum Fair in Alliston – November 15th and 16th
- Christmas Village at Drysdales Tree Farm – November 15th – December 21st
- Live play at the South Simcoe Theatre – November 21st – December 7th
- ‘Light Up the Night’ in Cookstown – Saturday, November 22nd
- Beeton Christmas Market – Saturday, November 22nd
- Murphy’s Annual Tree Lighting & market – Saturday, November 22nd
- Christmas Market at the Alliston Community Christian School – Saturday, November 22nd
- Pancake Breakfast at Tottenham Public School – November 29th
- Alliston Rurban Christmas Crawl + Tree Lighting – Friday, December 5th
- Santa Day at the Gibson Centre – December 13th
- Beeton Santa Claus Parade –December 13th
- A Christmas Vacation at the Circle Theatre – Friday, December 19th
New Tecumseth Christmas Activities + Details
1. Scandinavian Bazaar in Cookstown
Location: Cookstown (14 km east of Alliston)
The annual Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar at the Laestadian Lutheran Church in Cookstown is the first Christmas event to kick off the holiday season in the area.
It’s a 2-day event that will be running for the 19th year.
If you love Nordic, Scandinavian-style Christmas, then this might be for you. On the Friday night, there is an authentic Finnish meal served, a craft and bake sale, along with sweets from Scandinavia.
You can also watch the choir perform and listen to some joyous tunes, in both Finnish and English.
The Saturday morning features a traditional Finnish breakfast, and more Finnish baked goods.
No registration is required, but be aware that the event can get very busy, especially on the Friday night.
Show up early (before rush hour) to get a parking spot. The church address is 5579 on Hwy 27 in Cookstown.
Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar 2025 Dates
Friday, November 7th from 2-8pm
2. Sugarplum Fair
Location: Alliston
This year will mark the 41st anniversary of the Sugarplum Fair at the Nottawasaga Inn.
Here you can find 100s of vendors from the area and the GTA selling a huge variety of artisan crafts, food items, handmade ornaments, and other great gift ideas.
The Sugarplum Fair is one of my favourite places to do Christmas shopping every year. The busiest time is by far, the Saturday morning, and a lineup starts forming an hour before opening time.
If you want to shop with less crowds, consider coming on Saturday afternoon or on the Sunday. (The only downside is that sometimes the most popular products have run out by then.)
Entrance is first-come, first-serve and costs $7.50 at the door to get in.
Sugarplum Fair 2025 Dates
Saturday, November 15: 9am to 5pm
Sunday, November 16:10am to 4pm
3. See a Christmas classic at a vintage cinema
Location: Alliston
The Circle Theatre in Alliston (family run for almost 90 yeas!) will be playing the movie A Christmas Vacation on Friday, December 19th and 2pm and 7:30pm.
Tickets are only $5 each and you can grab them on their website.
4. Alliston Santa Claus Parade
Location: Alliston
Alliston’s Santa Claus parade is a lit-up event with festive holiday tunes. It’s the only holiday parade I’ve ever been to that happens at night.
Similar to the Potato Festival Parade in August, the Santa Claus parade allows you to get to know about plenty of businesses and organizations in the area.
It can get chilly at night at this time of year and many of the stores and businesses along Victoria Street are closed by the time the parade starts.
So, bring some lawn chairs, lots of warm clothes, snacks, and hot drinks in thermoses.
Alliston Santa Claus Parade 2025 Date
Saturday, November 15th, at 6:00pm
5. Holiday events at local schools
Location: Alliston
A few schools in the area are going to be hosting Christmas events like holiday markets and pancake breakfasts. You don’t have to be a parent or affiliated with the school in any way to attend- they’re open to the public.
They’re also in the evening and weekend when most people can attend.
Going to these school Christmas events is a good opportunity to support small businesses and local schools.
- Alliston Community Christian School Christmas Market – November 22nd, 9am-2pm
- Pancake Breakfast at Tottenham Public School – November 29th from 9-11am (cost is $5 per person, or $15 for 3 people.)
- *likely more to be announced*
6. See a play at the South Simcoe Theatre
Location: Cookstown (15 mins east of Alliston)
The plays at the South Simcoe Theatre are really well done. It’s a smaller, intimate theatre.
The play that’s on this season isn’t Christmas themed, but going out to see a play can be a fun thing to do during the holiday season.
The play is called The Princess and the Handmaiden and it’s 100% Canadian made, and created in Toronto.
Check out ticket availability and purchase here.
Princess and the Handmaiden Dates:
November 21st – December 5th (matinee and evening shows available)
6. Christmas on the Farm at Murphy’s
Location: Alliston
Murphy’s, a farm just outside Alliston, runs some of the most festive holiday events around.
Every fall, Christmas and Easter, they dazzle us with fun family-friendly activities and their charming farm store with amazing baked goods.
The Murphy’s Christmas event usually includes:
- Christmas tree lighting
- Holiday vendor market
- Marshmallow roasting
- Crafts + more.
Christmas on the Farm at Murphy’s 2025 Date
Saturday, November 22nd from 2-6pm
8. Santa Day at the Gibson Centre
Location: Alliston
The Gibson Centre, a Victorian building in downtown Alliston, never lets us down with fun holiday events every year!
Santa Day is booked for mid-December, and its one of our favourite annual events.
There’s usually a market with several local vendors, food trucks, treats and kids activities, balloon arches, glitter tattoos, DIY photos with Santa, and much more.
Admission is usually free of charge.
Gibson Centre Santa Day 2025
Saturday, December 13th, from 10am to 2pm
9. Christmas & Holiday Village at Drysdales
Location: Egbert (14 km east of Alliston)
Drysdale’s Tree Farm provides a great day out for individuals and families in the New Tecumseth area.
With acres of sprawling evergreen trees and a Christmas store that reminds me of Niagara on the Lake, Drysdales is the perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit.
Many families head to Drydales for that authentic experience of cutting down their own Christmas tree.
You can also visit just to enjoy bonfires and marshmallow roasting, horse-drawn wagon rides, and of course – meet Santa!
Drysdale’s Christmas & Holiday Village 2025 Dates
Weekends from November 15th through to December 21st, 10am to 4pm
10. Light Up the Night in Cookstown
Location: Egbert (14 km east of Alliston)
Aside from the Scandinavian Bazaar, Cookstown has another exciting day planned for the end of November.
Light Up the Night is organized by the Cookstown Chamber of Commerce and involves activities throughout the day, a tree lighting and a parade at night.
While not technically a part of New Tecumseth, Cookstown is only a 15-minute drive west of Alliston.
Here are some of the specific activities that are planned for Light Up the Night last year.
- Photos with Santa
- Holiday Gift Market happening at various places around town
- Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6pm
- Light Up the Night Parade – starts from Home Hardware and ends at the Cookstown library
Cookstown Light Up the Night Date
Saturday, Nov 22th 6-9pm
11. Beeton Santa Claus Parade
Location: Beeton
This year, Beeton will be hosting a Santa Claus parade along the main street. It is run by the Beeton Agricultural Society (the same organization that runs the Beeton Fair.)
The parade is sure to be as much of a hit as the fair always is.
Bring the kids and friends and make your way out to Main Street in Beeton on December 14th to watch the floats of small businesses and of course, to see Santa at the end!
Beeton Santa Claus 2025 Date
Saturday, December 13th at 11am
12. Rurban Christmas Crawl in Downtown Alliston
Location: Alliston
A Christmas Crawl is held annually on Victoria Street in downtown Alliston, and it’s organized by Rurban, who also runs the Monster Mash at Halloween.
On the Friday night, shops on Victoria Street are open later than usual (until about 8pm) and have some good deals, as well as hot drinks, and food tastings to get into the holiday spirit.
The event continues into the next day where you can get some great deals from local businesses.
Here’s a rundown of some of the current downtown Alliston shops and what you can find there:
- Everything for Babies – Books, toys, and good quality clothing and footwear for children from age 0 to school age
- Beau Home– home, lifestyle and cosmetic essentials
- Northern Blush – flowers, and a cafe (called Northern Expresso Bar) but also has some plants and home decor items
- The Next Chapter – a cute used bookshop where you can shop for used books, including new releases
With the above variety, downtown Alliston is a decent place to do Christmas shopping and support small businesses!
Alliston Rurban Christmas Crawl 2025 Date
Friday, December 5th from 3-7pm
The tree Lighting at Victoria & Centre St is at 5:30pm
More Annual New Tec Events
These are events that have taken place in previous years, but I haven’t received confirmation that they’re going to be happening this year. Stay tuned!
Beeton Christmas Market
Beeton hosts an annual Christmas at the Rotary Hall in town. There will be a variety of sweets, handmade crafts, Christmas ornaments and so much more.
Stop by on the Black Friday weekend to pick up some Christmas gifts and become acquainted with some small businesses in the area.
Beeton Christmas Market Dates
TBA
Shopping around Treetops
Head to the Treetops subdivision to meet business owners who will be outside their homes in their driveways.
There will be lots of holiday gift-shopping opportunities from small businesses who make a variety of things. Not all of the business owners necessarily have an ‘item’ to sell, but might be promoting services that they offer.
Between beauty services, travel agents, bakers, food artists, personal trainers and chefs – there’s no shortage of talent in Treetops.
Treetops is about a 10-minute drive east of Alliston, and 10 minutes south of Beeton.
Shopping around Treetops Date
TBA
Brunch with Santa
Santa comes to the Nottawasaga Inn every year for breakfast. You pay a fee that includes your food, as well as the unique experience of having kids enjoy meeting Santa at breakfast time.
All you need to bring is your kids, cameras and appetites.
Reservations for Breakfast with Santa generally aren’t mandatory but are recommended. If this event is running this year, the information will be posted on the Nottawasaga Inn website.
10. Lost Meadow’s Christmas Celebration
Location: Egbert (14 km east of Alliston)
This family-owned meadery just north of Alliston will be hosting its annual holiday event in early December, called The Lost Meadows and Friend’s Annual Christmas Celebration. This is an all-age event with live animals, treats, and some shopping.
There will be alpacas, hot drinks, bonfires roasted marshmallows, and a holiday sale in their farm store.
If you haven’t been to the Lost Meadows store, I highly recommend it. It’s a great place to get some unique, high-quality holiday gifts. Their maple syrup is superb, and their cranberry mead pairs well with Christmas dinner (my husband prefers the original mead.)
Regardless of which you choose, you can’t go wrong. I’ve tried several of their mead flavours, maple syrups, homemade lip balms and soaps – nothing has ever been a disappointment.
Lost Meadows Apiaries & Meadery is located in Egbert, just a 15-minute drive north of downtown Alliston.
Lost Meadows Christmas Festival 2025 Date
7. See a Christmas play
Location:
2025 Dates
TBA
8. Meet and Greet with Santa
Location: Beeton
In downtown Beeton, you can meet and get photos with Santa completely free of charge. (Just a foodbank donation is appreciated.)
Drop in anytime between 2 and 7pm at 12 Main Street in Beeton for a chance to meet Santa, and enter a colouring contest. There will also be light refreshments provided.
Santa Meet and Greet Date
TBA
Conclusion: New Tecumseth Christmas Activities
The Christmas events in New Tecumseth give you the opportunity to experience the small-town Christmas and enjoy the festivities with neighbours and friends. We’re lucky to have so many community events within our reach. It’s for this reason that I see New Tecumseth as one of the best places to live in Ontario.
All of the amazing activities on this list show that you don’t have to travel far for some holiday magic. While there are many events in Toronto at Christmas, there’s so much right in our neck of the woods too.
After the holiday season wraps up, you can start planning your winter getaway in Ontario, or getting ready for Easter!
I hope this guide on Christmas Activities in New Tecumseth was helpful for you in seeing the holiday fun happening in Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham and surrounding areas. If you’re running an event that you feel should be included, please feel free to contact me.