Can you believe this is already the last weekend in November? And, just one month out from Christmas. There are lots of holiday events ramping up in the capital. Here is my list of family events for the weekend of November 24-25.

Saturday:

• Packenham Country Christmas – Packenham, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (makers market, breakfast with Santa, craft sale, cookies with Mrs Claus, crafts)
• Holiday Craft Fair – Churchill Alternative School, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (dozens of local makers, kids craft tables, baking, used books, hot food and entertainment)
• Mega OK Kids Sale – EY Centre, 9:30 am – 6:00 pm (massive sale of kids and baby clothes, expect prices %80 off of brand names)
• Holiyay Freewheeling Craft Market – Makerspace North, 250 City Centre North, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (more than 100 makers giving you a chance to shop local)
• Mistletoe and Ivy Handmade Market – allSaints event space, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (handcrafted goods and artisan food and drinks, $2 admission)
• Hintonburg Artisan Craft Fair – Hintonburg Community Centre, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (handcrafted items, bake sale, music, hot chili lunch)
• The Puppet Market – Bank of Canada Museum, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (kids get to make puppets with supplied materials, but in the Puppet Market, they buy the parts with play money. The catch is, they’ll need to decide what they can afford. For 5 to 10-year-olds. FREE)
• Baz’Art Holiday Market – Shenkman Arts Centre, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (unique handmade art and artisan work)
• Pyjama Patrol Holiday Pyjama Party – Carlingwood Mall, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (tickets $10 available at guest services, come in pyjamas, enjoy a train ride, face painting, crafts, meet and greet with Disney princesses, superheroes)
• North Pole Express – Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, Smiths Falls, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (train ride and Santa visit, tickets available on eventbrite)
• Paw Patrol Live – Canadian Tire Centre, 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm shows (pirate themed show with these favourite tv show characters, tickets starting at $22)
• Fairytale Caravan – Shenkman Arts Centre, 1:30 pm (a play about a band of travelling fairies, recruiting and sharing some of their favourite tales while searching for the Brothers Grimm)
• Kemptville Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade – Downtown Kemptville, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm (theme for this year’s parade is North Pole Fantasy)
• Carleton Place Santa Claus Parade – Downtown Carleton Place, 5:00 pm (the parade begins at Caremback School and travels along Bridge St)
• Santa’s Parade of Lights – St.Joseph Blvd, Orleans, 6:00 pm (light up the night parade, toy and cash donations will be collected)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (2 km drive thru light up display, buy tickets online ahead of time,  $20 per car)

Sunday:

• Grand Market – Lansdowne Park Horticulture Building, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (free admission, features crafts, children’s toys, books and games, clothes, lunch)
• Mega OK Kids Sale – EY Centre, 9:30 am – 6:00 pm (massive sale of kids and baby clothes, expect prices %80 off of brand names)
• Family Sundays: Colour Magic – National Gallery of Canada, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (for kids age 0-12 yrs, free with admission, have fun with magician Ian Quick, make colourful spinning tops in the great hall)
• Christmas Farmer’s Market – Perth Farmer’s Market, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (over 30 local vendors, live music, festive trees)
• Holiyay Freewheeling Craft Market – Makerspace North, 250 City Centre North, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (see above)
• The Puppet Market – Bank of Canada Museum, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (see above)
• Paw Patrol Live – Canadian Tire Centre, 10:00 am, 2:00 pm (see above)
• Baz’Art Holiday Market – Shenkman Arts Centre, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Russell Christmas Parade – starts at St.Thomas Aquinas High School, Russell, 1:00 pm (parade hosted by Russell Fire Department, everyone is invited to join Santa and Mrs. Claus upstairs at the Russell Arena where the Lions Club will be serving Hot Chocolate and Goodies after)
• Fairytale Caravan – Shenkman Arts Centre, 1:30 pm (see above)
• Christmas Parade of Lights – Laurier Street, city of Clarence/Rockland, 4:30 pm (evening christmas parade of lights)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (see above)