It’s all systems go with the Christmas events this weekend. Seriously… there is SO MUCH going on this weekend! This post took me a long time to put together! Here are the family friendly events going on in and around Ottawa for November 30 and December 1.

Saturday:

• Manotick Village Christmas – various locations around Manotick Village, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (breakfast with Santa, crafters market, parade at 11 am, horse drawn wagon rides, strolling carollers and more)
• Ottawa Farmer’s Market Annual Christmas Market – Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (farmers market, new vendors, gift wrapping station, live music, horse and wagon rides and visits from Santa)
• St. James School Christmas Market – 50 Stonehaven, Kanata, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (free admission, over 20 local vendors, bake sale and raffle)
• RSCA Pancake Breakfast with Santa – St.Jerome Elementary School, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (2 sittings at 9 am and 10:35 am, Tickets include breakfast (Pancakes, sausages, fruit, donuts, drinks…gluten/lactose/egg free options available) and crafts. Pictures with Santa can be purchased separately and include a small gift. )
• Breakfast with Santa – Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, 9:00 am – 10:30 am (Celebrate Santa’s arrival with a grilled cheese breakfast, fruits, juice and fun! $5 admission for children ages 4 to 12 years old. Lots of prizes from Crayola to be won. Reserve your ticket online)
• The Museum’s Christmas Market – Museum of History, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (More than 80 exhibitors await you in the majestic Grand Hall to showcase their delicious treats and unique handmade creations. Free admission)
• Pakenham Country Christmas – Village of Pakenham, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (Enjoy breakfast with Santa, Christmas vendors, local shopping, tons of children’s activities and much, much more. )
• JYES Annual Holiday Tea and Vendor Sale – John Young Elementary School, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Entry fee is $2.50 and includes a drink and treat. choir performance and vendors)
• A Magical Christmas in Chelsea – Municipality of Chelsea, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (crafts at the public library, fire and marshmallow roasting, sleigh ride, elves entertainment and skating)
• Festival of Good Cheer – Downtown Perth, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (vendors and a scavenger hunt)
• Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue – Canadian Tire Centre, 10:00 am (The most popular kids show in years will be putting on this live entertainment)
• Ottawa Christmas Market – Lansdowne, 10:00 am – 11:00 pm (Inspired by European-style Christmas markets, this FREE outdoor event will be the first of its kind here in Ottawa. With 20+ vendors, performers, a site-wide liquor license and lots of twinkly lights)
• Hintonburg Artisan Craft Fair – Hintonburg Community Centre, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (holiday shopping with local craftspeople and makers! Handcrafted items, bake sale, music, hot chilli lunch)
• Geeked Out: Ottawa’s Toy and Collectible Sale – Nepean Sportsplex, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (over 90 dealer tables, with everything from toys, video games, trading cards, comic books. General admission $5, kids 10 and under free)
• 613 Christmas – Carleton University Fieldhouse, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (free admission, A magical makers marketplace for holiday shopping. Also includes 613flea’s favourite vintage, antique and vintage clothing vendors.)
• Christmas at the Farm – The Log Farm, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (pre cut trees, wreaths and home crafted items for sale, plus visit the farm animals, peek into Santa’s workshop, take a wagon ride and bring along your letters to Santa to drop off in the mailbox)
• Woodroffe Craft Sale – 235 Woodroffe Ave, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (two full gymnasiums of local crafters and artisans)
• Family Fun Day at Queen Street Fare – 170 Queen St, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm (live music by Sing Song Party Time, games, customizable pizza and donut stations, free event for kids 0-6)
• Light Up the Village – Westboro Village, 11:00 am – 10:00 pm (bake sale, craft and makers market, afternoon high tea with princesses, tree lighting ceremony)
• Christmas in the Byward Market – Byward Market, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Complimentary wagon rides starting at 1 pm and Christmas Choirs at noon)
• Matilda the Musical – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 2:00 pm and another show at 7:30 pm (the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Stanley’s Christmas Village – Stanley’s Olde Maple Farm, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (buy tickets online to reserve your spot at this Santa’s village where you can ride in a horse drawn carriage to the elf village, meet the elves, visit the cookie kitchen, sing carols, play games and visit the barn animals)
• Vintage Village of Lights – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm (As you stroll through the lit up village, enjoy activities including: receiving a Santagram; decorating gingerbread; taking a horse-drawn wagon ride (weather dependent); singing along to Christmas standards; decorating ornaments; a cozy campfire; and more)
• Alight at Night – Upper Canada Village, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (the entire village is alight with more than one million lights, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, eat dinner at a restaurant, sing carols and more)
• RSCA Evening Sleigh Rides – Rideauview Community Centre, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Families can come into the Rideauview Community Centre to keep warm and enjoy hot chocolate, cookie decorating and Christmas Carols before heading out on their ride to enjoy the decorated houses. Cost is $3 a seat)
• Holiday Market at the Barn – Stittsville Market at the Barn, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (lots of great local vendors and it happens during the Stittsville Village Association’s Stittsville Parade of Lights which ends at the Village Square Park with the lighting of the park and carolling.)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks Campground, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (drive through holiday light display, $20 per vehicle, recommend buying tickets online ahead of time)
• Santa’s Parade of Lights – St Joseph Blvd, Orleans, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (light up parade and firefighters will be collecting money and toy donations)

Sunday:

• Breakfast with Santa – Fred Barrett Arena, two sittings, 8:30 am – 9:30 am and 10:00 am – 11:00 am (The Lions will be helping serve up pancakes and sausages. And of course Santa will make an appearance!)
• Ottawa Farmer’s Market Annual Christmas Market – Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (farmers market, new vendors, gift wrapping station, live music, horse and wagon rides and visits from Santa)
• A Magical Christmas in Chelsea – Municipality of Chelsea, 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (lunch with Santa, Christmas market, The Fiddleheads concert and more)
• The Museum’s Christmas Market – Museum of History, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (More than 80 exhibitors await you in the majestic Grand Hall to showcase their delicious treats and unique handmade creations. Free admission)
• Breakfast with Santa – Place D’Orleans, 10:00 am – 11:00 am (come down to the new food court, where they are serving $1 pancakes for children from A&W and coffee from Starbucks for parents. There will also be a surprise visit from your favourite Snow Queen, Winter Princess and Ice Harvester)
• Christmas at the Farm – The Log Farm, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (pre cut trees, wreaths and home crafted items for sale, plus visit the farm animals, peek into Santa’s workshop, take a wagon ride and bring along your letters to Santa to drop off in the mailbox, Santa and Mrs Claus will make an appearance from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm)
• Victorian Family Christmas Party – The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Gather around a traditionally decorated tree in the parlour and enjoy a cup of tea or hot apple cider with a homemade seasonal treat, made specially by the Museum’s elves. Tour the museum and kids can do crafts, games and activities)
• Stanley’s Christmas Village – Stanley’s Olde Maple Farm, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (buy tickets online to reserve your spot at this Santa’s village where you can ride in a horse drawn carriage to the elf village, meet the elves, visit the cookie kitchen, sing carols, play games and visit the barn animals)
• Matilda the Musical – Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe, 2:00 pm (the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece from the Royal Shakespeare Company)
• Vintage Village of Lights – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm (As you stroll through the lit up village, enjoy activities including: receiving a Santagram; decorating gingerbread; taking a horse-drawn wagon ride (weather dependent); singing along to Christmas standards; decorating ornaments; a cozy campfire; and more)
• Barrhaven Family Skate Day – Minto Recreation Complex Barrhaven, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (everyone is welcome at this free family skate)
• Alight at Night – Upper Canada Village, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (the entire village is alight with more than one million lights, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, eat dinner at a restaurant, sing carols and more)
• Magic of Lights – Wesley Clover Parks Campground, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm (drive through holiday light display, $20 per vehicle, recommend buying tickets online ahead of time)