14 holiday events fill Oakville's November calendar
From a 9 a.m. Santa parade to late-night markets, the town's November schedule is packed with festive activities for residents and visitors.
By Emmanuel Obasi ·
Fourteen distinct holiday events are scheduled across Oakville in November, according to a roundup from Visit Oakville. The list spans the entire month, offering residents and visitors a dense schedule of markets, parades, and cultural displays.
The month begins on Nov. 4 with the Holiday Market Sip & Shop at the Marine Tavern on Bronte Road. Local artisans and vendors will be on hand from 6 to 9 p.m. The next major event arrives two weeks later on Nov. 14, when the Oakville Santa Claus Parade kicks off downtown at 9 a.m. The parade will feature festive floats and music in the Kerr Village area. To assist attendees, Oakville Transit will run a complimentary Santa Shuttle from the GO Station to the Trafalgar Park Community Centre parking lot. Shuttles will depart every 10 minutes starting at 8 a.m.
The same day hosts the annual Christmas Market at Film.ca Cinemas on Speers Road. That event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features local makers and small businesses. On Nov. 20, the downtown area hosts Light Up the Night from 5 to 9 p.m. This gathering includes festive lighting, carollers, and horse-drawn carriage rides. The official tree lighting in Towne Square is set for 6 p.m. that evening.
Bronte holds its own tree lighting at Market Square on Nov. 21. The ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as part of an event running from 3 to 7 p.m. The Bronte Historical Society will also open its Christmas Art Show at Sovereign House on the same day. That exhibition runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Late November brings a surge in market activity. The Local Love Christmas Market takes place at Verace restaurant on Nov. 25, running from noon to 8 p.m. It features handmade gifts from small businesses. On Nov. 27, the Oakville Museum hosts a Christmas Craft & Tour for parents and children. This event combines a guided tour with a craft-making session.
The weekend of Nov. 28 and 29 is particularly busy. Appleby College hosts a holiday market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring skating, music, and workshops. Attendees must bring their own skates and helmets. The Holiday Inn Oakville Centre and the Oakville Art Society both hold markets during this period. The Holiday Inn event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m., showcases 41 local vendors selling Canadian-made goods. The Art Society market opens at 11 a.m. and features original paintings and jewelry.
Visitors to the First Post Office on Nov. 28 can write a letter to Santa and tour the decorated Erchless Estate. Kerr Village holds its tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 28, accompanied by a holiday pop-up market and live music.
