Featured Santa Claus Parades, Festivals of Trees & Lights & Christmas Craft Shows December 9-11, 2011

 Santa Claus Parades 

Bobcaygeon Santa Claus Parade
Bobcaygeon, Ontario

December 10, 2011  5pm
Bobcaygeon & Area Chamber of Commerce web Site 
Stay at inns, resorts, hotels in Kawarthas, Ontario

Baysville Santa Claus Parade
Baysville , Ontario
December 11, 2011   1 pm
Tourism Bracebridge website
Stay at inns, resorts, hotels in Bracebridge, ON Bracebridge hotels on-line

Maynooth Santa Claus Parade
December 10, 2011 5pm
Theme: Brighten the Night  The Veterans have arranged a kid's party with a very special appearance beginning after the parade
Maynooth santa claus parade info
stay at inns, resorts, hotels Maynooth, ON

Carp Santa Claus Parade
December 10, 2011 12pm
Christmas in Ottawa website
stay at inns, resorts, hotels Ottawa, ON

Santa Claus Express South Simcoe Railway (Tottenham)
Share the Magic of Christmas... ride the SANTA CLAUS EXPRESS!
Saturday December 3rd and Sunday December 4th
Saturday December 10th and Sunday December 11th
Saturday December 17th and Sunday December 18th
Advance reservations available
Departures at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Special event fares apply. Tickets on sale November 1st either on-line or by telephone.
South Simcoe Railway website 
stay at resorts, inns, hotels Alliston, ON


Festival of Trees & Lights

Festival of Lights
Sudbury, ON
month of December 2011
The Farmer's Market provides a comfortable, indoor environment for consumers and farmers to buy and sell farm fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and other agricultural products. Local musicians and other entertainers on site providing a festive atmosphere.Vendors operate their own booths and consumers get a chance to meet and ask questions direct of growers.
Festival of Lights website info
stay at resorts, inn, hotels  Sudbury, ON

Christmas Lights Across Canada’s Capital Region
December 1, 2011 - January 7, 2012
Parliament Hill, 20 NCC sites and over 60 other sites along Confederation Boulevard will sparkle with more than 300,000 dazzling lights during the Holiday Season.  On opening night, join us on Parliament Hill at 6pm for the illumination ceremony. 

Christmas Lights Across Canada website info

stay at inns, resorts, hotels Ottawa, ON    Ottawa hotels on-line

Festival of Northern Lights Catch The Magic
Owen Sound
November 18, 2011 to January 3, 2012
Owen Sound has a History of Local resident Sally Sargent was quoted in a past Sun Times article as saying it was fairly easy to determine who worked for Noma Lites during the 1950s and early '60s in Owen Sound. “You'd be able to drive down the street and see all of the homes all lit up with lights and you would know they worked at Noma. . . . You'd almost have to wear sunglasses when you went by some of the houses.”
Festival of Northern Lights web Site 
stay at inns, resorts, hotels  Owen Sound, ON

Barrie Festival of Trees Continues to Spring 2012
Barrie lights up along Kempenfelt Bay's Lakeshore Drive on Lake Simcoe through until the spring of 2012. See the Barrie Festival of Trees and Lights Photo gallery where some of the 50,000 lights which form the Festival of Trees Display at Centennial Park will be five animated displays. A Barrie shopping trip for Christmas New Year  holiday gifts could involve an overnight stay in featured Barrie hotels, resorts and romantic inns.


Christmas Craft Shows & Bazaars

Originals Ottawa Christmas Craft Show
Ottawa, ON  Lansdowne Park
December 8 – 18, 2011
Originals Ottawa Christmas Craft Sale is a leading and oldest fashion, gift, art & craft Show & Sale in Canada. It will attract many visitors and best artisans, artists and designers from Ottawa and Canada to related Christmas decorations, fashions, jewellery, art, sculpture, home decor items.
stay at resorts, inns, hotels  Ottawa, ON, Ottawa hotels on-line

 Events

Friends of the Simcoe County Museum present

‘Christmas, Past and Present’ Fundraising Event
Minesing, ON

December 8 and 9, 2011   6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Experience the joys of the season during Christmas, Past and Present at the Simcoe County Museum, December 8^th and 9^th, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

 Step into our heritage buildings lit by lanterns to hear Christmas stories of Simcoe County’s past.  Make mice mints and decorate a gingerbread cookie to take home.  Take a horse-drawn wagon ride and listen to the sound of sleigh bells ringing on a crisp winter night.  During your journey, sit for a while beside the fire as you discover the origins of the first Christmas tree.  With horses, lanterns, stories, festive music, crafts and a decorated tree competition, this event is guaranteed to get even the ‘Grinch’ into the holiday spirit.   

Simcoe County Museum website
stay at resorts, inn, hotels Barrie, ON

Weekend Getaways Ontario Travel December Getaway North of Toronto

The weekly getaways listed below are perfect for a romantic weekend or a December getaway pick for your family Christmas New Year's Vacation.  Pick some of the best travel deals & experiences in resort destinations around Toronto and north in Ontario. .

Romantic Getaway of the Week Pine Vista Resort - Lakefield, Ontario Pine Vista Resort - Re-connect and rekindle your romance with this amazing Couple’s Getaway. Couples will enjoy… Two nights accommodation in a one bedroom townhouse with full kitchen and deck with BBQ. Enjoy a two person whirlpool bath, wood burning fireplace and satellite TV. Complimentary bottle of wine. Treat your special someone to a therapeutic massage for pampering and relaxation.  Saturday appts only. Mid-week ~ $265/couple or Weekend ~ $315/couple  (Taxes are additional). Time together can be spent enjoying all resort facilities including our indoor hot tub, “Hot Tub Under the Stars”, 8 km of hike nature trails, toboggan hill, skating rink, games room and a variety of recreation equipment and more! A wonderful gift for a Birthday, Anniversary or Honeymoon.   Couples Romantic Getaways north of Toronto

Spa Getaway of the Week Hockley Valley Resort - Orangeville, Ontario Hockley Valley Resort - Just For You, You’re Invited... Bring a friend & enjoy a day at The Spa. December Spa Promotion. Festive Holiday Escape. 80 min | $129 pp Enjoy a full body relaxation massage using warmed oil with a hint of frankincense and myrrh followed by a decadent hot oil scalp treatment ending with a holiday peppermint foot scrub.  Afterwards relax by the fire in our newly renovated lounge while sipping festive mulled wine. (Great to Enjoy side by side in ourspecial couples suite) Spa Getaways north of Toronto

Family Getaway of the Week The Norsemen Restaurant & Walker Lake Resort - Kawartha Lakes, Ontario Norsemen-Walker Lake Resort A relaxing all-season resort nestled in the woods on beautiful Walker Lake in Muskoka - Lake of Bays. Located just 15 minutes from Huntsville and Algonquin Park but a million miles from it all. Seven lakeside cottages offer privacy and great views of the lake, some with Jacuzzi tubs and wood stoves. The Norsemen is a great choice for an intimate and cozy retreat. Relax in your secluded cottage, cuddle by the wood-burning stove while you gaze at the lake, then soak in the Jacuzzi tub.  The two and three bedroom cottages all have kitchens, bathroom, living room, and a screened porch or deck.   Family Getaways in resort destinations

Seasonal December Getaway of the Week Auld Reekie Lodge - Gowganda, Ontario Auld Reekie Lodge - Centrally located between Shining Tree and Elk Lake right on the A107C Trail, we offer the finest in accommodations, meals and service.  Warm up by the fire in our licensed dining room, stay in one our superior accommodations and enjoy our very large outdoor hot tub.  Come in and experience why Auld Reekie is the #1 choice for sledders.Our Snowmobiler's Package is $95.00 per person per night and includes 3 course dinner, superior  accommodation and full hot breakfast. Retail Gas and Oil, limited repairs and service available on site and full repairs nearby. December Getaways north in Ontario

Weekend Getaway of the Week Moulin Wakefield Mill - Emsdale, Ontario Moulin Wakefield Mill - 1 Night Cross Country Ski Getaway December 1 - March 31, 2012 Package includes:  1 night stay.  Table d'hôte dinner. Full country breakfast.  Gratuities on the meals.  Use of outdoor hot tub.  1 Day Gatineau Park Pass. From $167.00 per person All rates per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. 2 Night Cross Country Ski Getaway December 1 - March 31, 2012 Package includes:  2 nights. 1 Table d'hôte dinner.  2 Full country breakfast.  Gratuities on the meals.  Use of outdoor hot tub.  1 Day Gatineau Park Pass. From $262.00 per person. All rates per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. Winter Getaways north of Toronto

Winter Getaway of the Week Carriage Ridge Resort at Horseshoe Valley - Shanty Bay (Barrie), ON Carriage Ridge Resort - Located only 1 hour north of Toronto, our winter deals can’t be beat!  Carriage Ridge Resort offers spacious Ski-in Ski-out condo-suites on the ridge of Horseshoe Ski runs.  Plus… we are only 15 min’s from Mount St Louis Moonstone – a true skier’s paradise with the best snow-making in Ontario.Pool, hot tub and on-site activities 7 days a week!  Awarded TripAdvisor.com TOP 10 – CANADA for Families and Bargains in 2011Book your ski vacation and discounted pass rates now! Winter Getaways north of Toronto

Ontario Attraction Getaway of the Week Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre - Midland, Ontario Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre - Wye Marsh offers the opportunity to discover the secrets of a wetland with the assistance of our dynamic naturalist staff. In the Spring, Summer and Fall look for life in the water during a guided canoe adventure or dip net from accessible boardwalks. You can enjoy the grace of the magnificent Trumpeter Swans. North America's largest waterfowl. Feed chickadees from your hand, spot wetland and woodland birds along easy-access trails and tour the interactive display hall (all handicapped accessible). There is always something fun and interactive to do in every season; maple syrup harvest in spring, family programs all summer and many special events. In winter the Marsh offers cross-country skiing on more than 22 km of beautiful groomed and track-set trails. Join us for a snow shoeing trek on 10KM of picturesque hiking trails. Ontario Attractions north of Toronto

Ontario Resort Destination of the Week Lake Simcoe (http://www.400eleven.com/lakesimcoe.html) Lake Simcoe is Toronto's close to home resort destination. It is the first major lake north of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and has often been described as the "Sixth Great Lake". Lake Simcoe is linked to the Great Lakes through the Trent-Severn Historic Waterway to Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. The two largest cities on Lake Simcoe are Barrie, and Orillia both with substantial public marinas, beaches and waterfront parks. Simcoe County, York Region, Durham, and Kawartha Lakes all touch on Lake Simcoe. Many say Lake Simoce is the Ice Fishing Capital of North America. See Lake Simcoe Ontario Ontario Resort Destinations north of Toronto