Christmas Events for Kids in Belleville, Ontario (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Belleville, Ontario, running from November 17 to January 3. Of these, 2 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Canada.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Belleville: 5
  • First: Victorian Christmas at Glanmore, Belleville, November 17
  • Free events: Belleville Festival of Lights and Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Festival of Lights

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Belleville, Ontario

Kids’ Christmas events
5 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Belleville
Season
November 17 to January 3
Free events
2
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Belleville

Listed soonest first: 5 confirmed events in Belleville.

Family Christmas event

Victorian Christmas at Glanmore

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Glanmore National Historic Site lists Victorian Christmas as an in-house exhibit from November 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The site is at 257 Bridge Street East, Belleville.

Glanmore is closed to the public from November 2 to 16 while the exhibit is installed, and it reopens on November 17, the day Victorian Christmas begins. The exhibit page does not list admission prices or programs. Last year Glanmore offered free admission before the parade and a simple ornament to make and take home, but nothing like that is posted for 2026 yet.

Parent tip: Call or check the Glanmore site for admission prices and opening hours, since the exhibit page does not list them.

Host
Glanmore National Historic Site (opens in a new tab)
Where
Glanmore National Historic Site, 257 Bridge Street East, Belleville (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Glanmore National Historic Site (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 4 more Belleville, Ontario events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Belleville, Ontario.
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  • Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
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Coming up on this page

  • 3 Santa
  • 2 Lights
  • 1 Parades
  • 1 Markets
  • 2 Free

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Visit with SantaFree

Belleville Festival of Lights

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The City of Belleville opens its Festival of Lights at Jane Forrester Park, 30 South John Street, on Friday, November 20, from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Opening night has live entertainment, food vendors, Santa visits, family photos and the official lighting of the displays.

After launch night the festival runs nightly from mid-November through early January, and the City gives no exact end date for 2026. You can walk through the displays or drive along South John Street. Admission is free. Last year the City accepted donations in any amount and gave a charitable tax receipt.

Parent tip: The City lists no general nightly hours, only that the park is illuminated each night. Check Belleville.ca/FestivalofLights before a late visit.

Host
City of Belleville (opens in a new tab)
Where
Jane Forrester Park, 30 South John Street, Belleville (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of Belleville (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas market

Enchanted In The District

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The Downtown Belleville BIA's calendar lists Enchanted In The District from Friday, November 20, at 4pm, to Sunday, November 22, at 5pm. It describes the weekend as a winter wonderland Christmas celebration in downtown Belleville with vendors and activities, and gives Front Street as the location.

The weekend overlaps the Festival of Lights launch on November 20 and the Santa Claus Parade on November 22. The calendar entry does not list a price or the activities for 2026 yet, so check the BIA's page for the schedule.

Parent tip: Check the BIA's event page for the 2026 activity list and any Santa or craft times before going.

Host
Downtown Belleville BIA (opens in a new tab)
Where
Front Street, Downtown Belleville (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Downtown Belleville BIA (opens in a new tab)

New events in Belleville, Ontario every week

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Santa Claus parade

Belleville Santa Claus Parade

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The City of Belleville runs the parade, and its page says the route is new for 2026. It starts at Quinte Secondary School, heads south on King George Road, follows Front Street, turns onto Pinnacle Street and ends at Bridge Street East. The City's Festival of Lights page lists the parade on Sunday, November 22, at 4pm.

The parade falls on the same weekend as the Festival of Lights launch and Enchanted In The District downtown. Last year the City asked families to bring letters for Santa and donations for Gleaners and the Firefighters Toy Drive. The 2026 page does not give a price or road closure times yet.

Parent tip: It is a nighttime parade in late November, so dress for the cold. Check the City's parade page for road closure times before choosing a spot.

Host
City of Belleville (opens in a new tab)
Where
Quinte Secondary School to Bridge Street East, Belleville, King George Road, Front Street and Pinnacle Street, Belleville (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of Belleville (opens in a new tab)

New events in Belleville, Ontario every week

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Visit with SantaFree

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Festival of Lights

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Santa and Mrs. Claus appear at the Belleville Festival of Lights on four Fridays, from 6 to 8pm: November 27, December 4, December 11 and December 18. The park is at 30 South John Street.

Last year the same Friday visits let children drop off letters and holiday wishes, and the City's 2026 page lists the festival as free. The lights are on every night of the season, so you can see the displays during the same trip.

Parent tip: Evenings are cold outdoors, so bring warm layers. The City may change times, so confirm on its Festival of Lights page.

Host
City of Belleville (opens in a new tab)
Where
Jane Forrester Park, 30 South John Street, Belleville (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of Belleville (opens in a new tab)

New events in Belleville, Ontario every week

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More Christmas events for kids in Canada

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Christmas events for kids in Belleville, Ontario: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Belleville, Ontario?

For 2026, we confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Belleville, Ontario, each on its host’s own page: Belleville Santa Claus Parade (Belleville), Belleville Festival of Lights (Belleville), Victorian Christmas at Glanmore (Belleville) and 2 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Belleville, Ontario?

Yes, 2 of the 5 events here are free: Belleville Festival of Lights (Belleville) and Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Festival of Lights (Belleville). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Belleville, Ontario?

Where to see Santa: Belleville Santa Claus Parade (Belleville), Belleville Festival of Lights (Belleville) and Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Festival of Lights (Belleville). Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 8, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Belleville, Ontario

Belleville's Festival of Lights glows every night at Jane Forrester Park, and Santa and Mrs. Claus drop in on Friday evenings. The Santa Claus Parade gets a brand new route in 2026.

Lights on South John Street and a parade down Bridge Street

Belleville's season runs on two city-run traditions. The Festival of Lights fills Jane Forrester Park at 30 South John Street every night from mid-November through early January, and you can walk it or drive along South John Street. Opening night in 2026 is Friday, November 20, from 5:30 to 8:30pm.

The nighttime Santa Claus Parade is the other one. In 2026 it is on Sunday, November 22, at 4pm, the same weekend as the launch. The route is new for 2026: it starts at Quinte Secondary School and ends on Bridge Street East.

A drone show, a snowman frame and live reindeer in 2025

The 2025 Festival of Lights ran from November 14 to January 5. Launch night had live music, food vendors, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Belleville Senators mascot Belly and a drone light show, weather permitting. New that year were an interactive snowman photo frame and a Belleville sign in ASL finger-spelling.

The parade went down Bridge Street on Sunday, November 16, from 4:30 to about 7pm. Before it, Rotary's Reindeer Village in Robin Jeffrey Park had light-up and live reindeer and free hot chocolate. Families brought letters for Santa and donations for Gleaners and the Firefighters Toy Drive.

Ornaments at Glanmore and Santa on four Fridays

Glanmore National Historic Site, at 257 Bridge Street East, closes from November 2 to 16, 2026 to change its exhibits. It reopens on November 17 with Victorian Christmas, which runs to January 3, 2027. In 2025 it offered free admission from 4 to 5:30pm before the parade, with a simple ornament to make and take home.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are at the Festival of Lights on Fridays from 6 to 8pm: November 27, December 4, December 11 and December 18, 2026. Downtown's Enchanted In The District runs November 20 to 22.

Traditions today

  • Belleville Santa Claus Parade: The nighttime parade is on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 4pm, on a new route from Quinte Secondary School to Bridge Street East.
  • Festival of Lights: Jane Forrester Park is lit nightly from mid-November through early January, with launch night on November 20, 2026.
  • Santa and Mrs. Claus on Fridays: They visit the park from 6 to 8pm on November 27 and December 4, 11 and 18, 2026.
  • Rotary's Reindeer Village: In 2025 it brought light-up and live reindeer and free hot chocolate to Robin Jeffrey Park before the parade.
  • Letters for Santa and toy donations: Families brought letters for Santa and gifts for Gleaners and the Firefighters Toy Drive in 2025.
  • Victorian Christmas at Glanmore: The historic house on Bridge Street East shows its Christmas exhibit from November 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027.

A fact for kids

Belleville's Festival of Lights had a snowman photo frame and a drone light show in 2025, and live reindeer waited in Robin Jeffrey Park before the parade.

Questions about Christmas in Belleville, Ontario

When is the Belleville Santa Claus Parade in 2026?

The City of Belleville's nighttime Santa Claus Parade is on Sunday, November 22, 2026, and the City's Festival of Lights page lists a 4pm start. The route is new for 2026. It falls on the same weekend as the Festival of Lights launch and Enchanted In The District, so families can plan one trip around all three.

What is the new Belleville Santa parade route for 2026?

The City says the 2026 route is new. The parade starts at Quinte Secondary School, heads south on King George Road, continues along Front Street, turns onto Pinnacle Street and ends at Bridge Street East. Road closure times had not been posted for 2026 when this was researched, so check the City's parade page.

Where did the Belleville Santa parade go last year?

In 2025 the parade started at Bridge Street West and Sidney Street, ran down Bridge Street through downtown and ended at the corner of Herchimer Avenue. It was on Sunday, November 16, from 4:30 to about 7pm. Rolling road closures on Bridge Street began at 2:30pm and moved east with the parade.

What is Rotary's Reindeer Village in Belleville?

Rotary's Reindeer Village was set up in Robin Jeffrey Park before the 2025 parade, with light-up reindeer, live reindeer and free hot chocolate while supplies lasted. The City listed it as a pre-parade stop. The 2026 parade page only says local venues may host seasonal activities, so confirm before planning around it.

What donations do people bring to the Belleville Santa parade?

In 2025 the City asked families to bring donations for Gleaners and the Firefighters Toy Drive, along with letters for Santa. The parade ran about two and a half hours from start to finish, so dress warmly. Check the City's 2026 page to see whether the same requests are repeated.

When does the Belleville Festival of Lights start in 2026?

Launch night is Friday, November 20, 2026, from 5:30 to 8:30pm at Jane Forrester Park, 30 South John Street. The City says opening night has live entertainment, food vendors, Santa visits, family photos and the official lighting of the displays. The lights then run nightly from mid-November through early January.

Where can you see the Belleville Festival of Lights?

The displays are at Jane Forrester Park, 30 South John Street, and you can see them on foot or by driving along South John Street. The City lists no general nightly hours, only that the park is illuminated each night during the season. The festival is free to visit.

Is the Belleville Festival of Lights free?

Yes, the City of Belleville lists the Festival of Lights as free. Donations in any amount were accepted in 2025, with a charitable tax receipt from the City, and details are at Belleville.ca/FestivalofLights. Giving is optional, so a family can simply walk through the park and enjoy the displays.

How long does the Belleville Festival of Lights run?

The City says the festival runs nightly from mid-November through early January, and it gives no exact end date for 2026. Last year it ran from November 14 to January 5 at Jane Forrester Park. That leaves most of December and the holiday break for a visit, not only opening weekend.

When can kids meet Santa at the Belleville Festival of Lights?

Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled on Fridays from 6 to 8pm on November 27, December 4, December 11 and December 18, 2026, at Jane Forrester Park. In 2025 they collected letters and holiday wishes on Fridays from 6:30 to 8pm. Times can change, so check the City's page before going.

What was new at the Belleville Festival of Lights in 2025?

The City added an interactive snowman photo frame, a Belleville sign in ASL finger-spelling and a display honouring the Kort family. Launch night on November 14 also had a drone light show, weather permitting, along with live music, food vendors, Santa and Mrs. Claus and Belleville Senators mascot Belly.

Does a mascot come to the Belleville Festival of Lights launch?

Belleville Senators mascot Belly was listed for the 2025 launch night, alongside Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music and food vendors. The 2026 page lists live entertainment, food vendors, Santa visits and family photos for opening night but does not name a mascot, so check with the City before promising a toddler a visit.

Is the Belleville Santa Claus Parade free to watch?

The City's 2025 parade page said it was free, and the 2026 page does not list a price. Parades are watched from the street, and neither year mentions tickets. Bring donations if you like, but check the City of Belleville's parade page before the day for any change.

Where can Belleville kids drop off letters to Santa?

In 2025 families were asked to bring letters for Santa to the parade, and Santa and Mrs. Claus also collected letters and holiday wishes at the Festival of Lights on Fridays from 6:30 to 8pm. For 2026, Friday visits are listed from 6 to 8pm on November 27 and December 4, 11 and 18.

What is Victorian Christmas at Glanmore in Belleville?

Glanmore National Historic Site, at 257 Bridge Street East, lists Victorian Christmas as an in-house exhibit from November 17, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The site is closed to the public from November 2 to 16 for installation. The exhibit page does not list admission prices, so check with Glanmore.

Can we visit Glanmore before the Belleville parade?

In 2025 Glanmore offered free admission from 4 to 5:30pm before the parade, with seasonal exhibitions and a simple ornament to make and take home. Nothing like that has been posted for 2026 yet, although Victorian Christmas opens November 17, five days before the parade. Check Glanmore's site for hours.

What is Enchanted In The District in Belleville?

Enchanted In The District is a Christmas weekend run by the Downtown Belleville BIA, listed from Friday, November 20, at 4pm to Sunday, November 22, at 5pm, 2026. The calendar describes a winter wonderland celebration with vendors and activities on Front Street. The activity list and prices had not been posted when this was researched.

What is on in Belleville the weekend of November 20 to 22, 2026?

That weekend has the Festival of Lights launch on Friday, November 20, Enchanted In The District downtown from that Friday to Sunday, and the Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, November 22, at 4pm. Glanmore's Victorian Christmas exhibit has also opened by then, on November 17.

How can a group enter the Belleville Santa Claus Parade?

In 2025 businesses, groups and organizations applied online at Belleville.ca/SantaClausParade before November 2. The City's 2026 page shows the new route but does not repeat a deadline in the text reviewed. Groups should check that page early, since entries were due weeks before the parade last year.

Where can I find a full list of Christmas events for kids in Belleville?

Rally Takes the Train's Belleville Christmas events guide lists the Santa Claus Parade, the Festival of Lights, the Friday Santa visits, Victorian Christmas at Glanmore and Enchanted In The District with their 2026 dates and addresses, so parents can plan around the weekend of November 20 to 22.

Sources

  1. Santa Claus Parade, City of Belleville
  2. Festival of Lights, City of Belleville
  3. Upcoming Exhibits, Glanmore National Historic Site
  4. Explore The District events calendar, Downtown Belleville BIA
  5. Festival of Lights returns to brighten Belleville Nov. 14, InQuinte.ca
  6. Christmas season in full swing in Belleville, InQuinte.ca
  7. Santa Stopping by Belleville in November for Annual Parade, Today's Northumberland
  8. Belleville Nighttime Santa Claus Parade, City of Belleville events calendar
Kelsey Cecil
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