Christmas Events for Kids in Brantford, Ontario (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Brantford, Ontario. The season opens on November 28 with Freedom House Santa Claus Parade and runs until December 20 with White Christmas at the Sanderson Centre. One of these is 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 Brantford: 4
  • First: Freedom House Santa Claus Parade, Brantford, November 28
  • Free events: Parade After Party at Harmony Square

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 Brantford, Ontario

Kids’ Christmas events
4 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Brantford
Season
November 28 to December 20
Free events
1
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Brantford

Listed soonest first: 4 confirmed events in Brantford.

Santa Claus parade

Freedom House Santa Claus Parade

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The City of Brantford's 2026 page for the Parade After Party says the Freedom House Santa Claus Parade begins at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 28. Freedom House hosts the parade, and the 2025 edition was the 49th. Downtown road closures are listed for the parade and its staging, including Dalhousie Street from Stanley to King and Colborne Street from King to Clarence, and sidewalks stay open for pedestrians. The City notes that Phase 1 of the Downtown Revitalization Project is underway, so check its Downtown Detours page. The full 2026 route is not posted on the City page.

Parent tip: The parade started at 2pm in 2025 and moves back to the evening in 2026, so dress for cold and dark. Free parking is available in the municipal garage at 59 Icomm Drive on weekends.

Host
Freedom House Brantford (opens in a new tab)
Where
Downtown Brantford, Dalhousie Street (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Freedom House Brantford (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 3 more Brantford, Ontario events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Santa
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Santa Claus paradeFree

Parade After Party at Harmony Square

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The City of Brantford's Parade After Party follows the Freedom House Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, November 28, 2026, in Harmony Square. The City lists these free activities: a photo with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, Tim Hortons hot chocolate and carnival treats while supplies last, a live performance and meet and greet with The Glass Slipper Company, stilt walker Doug "The Great" Hunt, and face painting. The 2026 page does not give the party's own start or end time. Free parking is available in the municipal garage at 59 Icomm Drive on weekends.

Parent tip: Treats and hot chocolate are available only while supplies last, so head to Harmony Square right after the parade. Last year children could also bring or write a letter to Santa at the party.

Host
City of Brantford (opens in a new tab)
Where
Harmony Square, 89 Dalhousie Street, Brantford (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of Brantford (opens in a new tab)

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Family Christmas event

The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition

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Ballet Jörgen's own page lists The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 7pm to 9pm at the Sanderson Centre, 88 Dalhousie Street. The company's production was created by artistic director Bengt Jörgen. The Sanderson Centre's page for the 2025 performance described the show as a Canadian winter dream with snowflakes, lumberjacks, Mounties and woodland creatures, and as suitable for the whole family. Ticket prices are not shown on the page, only a Buy Tickets link.

Parent tip: It runs about two hours with an evening start, so plan a snack before the show. Ticket prices are on the Sanderson Centre ticket link.

Host
Ballet Jörgen (opens in a new tab)
Where
Sanderson Centre, 88 Dalhousie Street, Brantford (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Ballet Jörgen (opens in a new tab)

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Family Christmas event

White Christmas at the Sanderson Centre

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The Sanderson Centre's page lists White Christmas, the Irving Berlin musical, from Friday, December 18 to Sunday, December 20, 2026, at 88 Dalhousie Street. In the story, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis join the sister act Betty and Judy Haynes to put on a Christmas show and save a Vermont inn. The page says it has dance numbers and Irving Berlin's score, runs about 2 hours, and suits the whole family. Showtimes and ticket prices are not listed on the page.

Parent tip: Check the Sanderson Centre ticket link for the showtime that fits your kids' bedtime, since the page does not list times.

Host
Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts (opens in a new tab)
Where
Sanderson Centre, 88 Dalhousie Street, Brantford (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts (opens in a new tab)

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More Christmas events for kids in Canada

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

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

For 2026, we confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Brantford, Ontario, each on its host’s own page: Freedom House Santa Claus Parade (Brantford), Parade After Party at Harmony Square (Brantford), The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition (Brantford) and 1 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

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

Yes. One of the 4 events here is free: Parade After Party at Harmony Square (Brantford). Check the listing in case you need to book or register.

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

Where to see Santa: Freedom House Santa Claus Parade (Brantford) and Parade After Party at Harmony Square (Brantford). 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 Brantford, Ontario

Brantford's Santa Claus Parade draws one of the biggest crowds of the year, and the party afterward is held in a downtown square with its own squirrel mascot. The season then moves a few steps down Dalhousie Street to a theatre.

The parade that runs down Dalhousie Street

Freedom House hosts Brantford's Santa Claus Parade, and the 2025 edition on Saturday, November 29 was the 49th. The 48th was on November 30, 2024. The City calls it a tradition of nearly five decades, and an organizer described it as the city's second-largest gathering of the year after Canada Day.

After the parade, the City of Brantford runs a Parade After Party in Harmony Square at 89 Dalhousie Street. In 2025 it opened with the mayor, the town crier and a mascot named Harmony Squirrel, and finished with a tree lighting.

Sunshine at 2pm: the daylight parade of 2025

The 2025 parade had the theme Sunshine and started at 2pm instead of its usual evening time. Downtown road work for the revitalization project was cutting lanes on Brant Avenue and Icomm Drive. The party in Harmony Square began at 3pm.

The Snow Sisters sang, Santa and Mrs. Claus posed for keepsake photos, and Tim Hortons gave out hot chocolate. Children could bring a letter for Santa or write one there to mail. Glenhyrst's lights ran nightly in 2025, from December 5 to January 1, and 2026 dates are not confirmed.

A stilt walker, a Canadian nutcracker and a Vermont inn

Doug "The Great" Hunt, a Guinness World Records stilt walker, was at the 2025 party and is listed again for 2026. The 2026 party also lists The Glass Slipper Company, face painting and carnival treats.

At the Sanderson Centre, Ballet Jörgen's Nutcracker follows a girl named Klara through a Canadian winter with snowflakes, lumberjacks and Mounties. In 2025 it played on December 3. The Sanderson Centre also lists White Christmas, the Irving Berlin musical about a Vermont inn, from December 18 to 20, 2026.

Traditions today

  • Freedom House Santa Claus Parade: The City's 2026 page lists the parade for Saturday, November 28, with a 6pm start, after a 2pm start in 2025.
  • Parade After Party at Harmony Square: A free party with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting, carnival treats and Tim Hortons hot chocolate.
  • Letters to Santa: At the 2025 party, children could bring a letter or write one on site to mail to Santa.
  • Ballet Jörgen Nutcracker: A Canadian version of the ballet plays the Sanderson Centre on Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
  • White Christmas musical: The Sanderson Centre lists the Irving Berlin musical from December 18 to 20, 2026.
  • Brantford Lights at Glenhyrst: In 2025 the free light display ran nightly from 6 to 9pm at 20 Ava Road, from December 5 to January 1.

A fact for kids

Brantford's party after the Santa Claus Parade has a squirrel mascot named Harmony Squirrel, who helped open the 2025 party along with the mayor and the town crier.

Questions about Christmas in Brantford, Ontario

When is the Brantford Santa Claus Parade in 2026?

The Freedom House Santa Claus Parade is on Saturday, November 28, 2026. The City of Brantford's page says it begins at 6:00 p.m. The 2025 parade was the 49th. Rally Takes the Train's Brantford Christmas events guide lists the parade with the Parade After Party that follows it.

Why did the Brantford parade start at 2pm in 2025?

Organizers moved the 2025 parade to 2pm because downtown road work was reducing lanes on Brant Avenue and Icomm Drive. The change was described as temporary, and the City's 2026 page lists a 6pm start.

Who runs the Freedom House Santa Claus Parade in Brantford?

Freedom House hosts the Brantford parade, and GrandBridge Energy presented it in 2025, with Ferrero as another major sponsor. Dave Carrol, lead pastor at Freedom House, spoke for the organizers. The City of Brantford runs the Parade After Party in Harmony Square afterward.

What was the theme of the Brantford Santa Claus Parade in 2025?

The 2025 theme was Sunshine. That parade was the 49th, held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, and it started at 2pm. The 48th had been held on November 30, 2024. The City says the parade has run for nearly five decades.

What is the Parade After Party in Brantford?

The Parade After Party is a City of Brantford event in Harmony Square, 89 Dalhousie Street, right after the Santa Claus Parade. In 2026 it is on Saturday, November 28. It has Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting, carnival treats, live music and hot chocolate, all free.

Is the Brantford Parade After Party free?

Yes. The City of Brantford lists the Parade After Party as free, and its kids' activities are free too: photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, face painting, carnival treats and Tim Hortons hot chocolate while supplies last. Free parking is also listed in the municipal garage at 59 Icomm Drive on weekends.

Where do you park for the Brantford Santa Claus Parade?

The City lists free parking on Saturdays and Sundays in the municipal parking garage at 59 Icomm Drive, also called the Market Centre Parkade. Brantford Transit's main terminal is one block from Harmony Square. Phase 1 of the downtown revitalization project is underway, so check the City's Downtown Detours page first.

Which Brantford streets close for the parade?

The City's 2026 page lists closures on Dalhousie Street from Stanley to King and Colborne Street from King to Clarence, plus several connecting streets, for the parade and its staging. Sidewalks stay open for pedestrians. Check the City's Downtown Detours page too, because construction is also underway.

Can kids give a letter to Santa at the Brantford party?

At the 2025 Parade After Party, children could bring a letter for Santa or write one at the event to mail. The party also had a meet and greet and keepsake photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The 2026 page lists the photos but does not mention letters.

Who opens the Parade After Party in Brantford?

In 2025 the party opened with a mascot named Harmony Squirrel, Mayor Kevin Davis and Town Crier David McKee. The Snow Sisters then performed, followed by a meet and greet. The tree lighting ceremony closed the festivities. The 2026 page lists a different performer, The Glass Slipper Company.

Who is Doug The Great Hunt at the Brantford party?

Doug "The Great" Hunt is described by the City of Brantford as a Guinness World Records stilt walker. He was at the 2025 Parade After Party and is listed again for the 2026 party on Saturday, November 28 in Harmony Square.

Is there a Nutcracker show in Brantford in 2026?

Yes. Ballet Jörgen's The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition is on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 7pm to 9pm at the Sanderson Centre, 88 Dalhousie Street. The company's page shows a Buy Tickets link but no prices. Rally Takes the Train's Brantford Christmas events guide lists it.

What is different about Brantford's Canadian Nutcracker?

Bengt Jörgen's version follows Klara through a Canadian winter with snowflakes, lumberjacks, Mounties and woodland creatures, set to Tchaikovsky's score. The Sanderson Centre says it suits the whole family and runs about two hours. In 2025 it played on Wednesday, December 3.

Is there a Christmas show for the whole family at the Sanderson Centre in 2026?

Yes. The Sanderson Centre lists the Irving Berlin musical White Christmas from Friday, December 18 to Sunday, December 20, 2026. It runs about two hours, has dance numbers, and the page says it suits the whole family. Showtimes and prices are not shown, so use the ticket link.

Where is the Sanderson Centre in Brantford?

The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts is at 88 Dalhousie Street in downtown Brantford. Harmony Square, where the Parade After Party is held, is at 89 Dalhousie Street, so a parade day and a show night both happen on the same street.

When did Brantford Lights at Glenhyrst run in 2025?

Brantford Lights at Glenhyrst ran from December 5, 2025 to January 1, 2026, nightly from 6 to 9pm, at the Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, 20 Ava Road. Entry was free with voluntary donations. The 2026 dates were not confirmed on the pages found.

Can you drive through Brantford Lights at Glenhyrst?

Glenhyrst's information page says you can walk through the lights or drive around the circular driveway. On-site parking is limited, and volunteers help with questions, donations and parking. Admission is free, with donations welcome and food donations going to the Salvation Army and Brantford food banks.

How many Brantford Santa Claus parades have there been?

The 2025 parade was the 49th annual, and the 48th was held on Saturday, November 30, 2024. The City of Brantford describes it as running for nearly five decades. The pages found do not say what year the first parade was held, so the start year is not given.

What Christmas dates should Brantford families plan around in 2026?

Parade and Parade After Party: Saturday, November 28. Ballet Jörgen's Nutcracker at the Sanderson Centre: Wednesday, December 9. White Christmas at the Sanderson Centre: December 18 to 20. Rally Takes the Train's Brantford Christmas events guide lists each of these with venue details.

Where do kids see Santa in Brantford on parade day?

Santa and Mrs. Claus are at the City's Parade After Party in Harmony Square, 89 Dalhousie Street, on Saturday, November 28, 2026, for a meet and greet and keepsake photo. The 2025 pages say Santa arrived at the party around 3pm after the parade.

Sources

  1. Parade After Party, City of Brantford
  2. Your guide to Brantford's Santa Claus Parade, Discover Brantford
  3. Freedom House Santa Claus Parade and Brantford's Parade After Party set to begin festivities earlier, City of Brantford
  4. Brantford's beloved Santa Parade trades lights for daylight, Penticton Herald (syndicated)
  5. City of Brantford hosts Parade After Party on November 29, City of Brantford
  6. The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition in Brantford, ON, Ballet Jörgen
  7. The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition, Sanderson Centre
  8. White Christmas, Sanderson Centre
  9. Brantford Lights at Glenhyrst, ToDo Canada
  10. Brantford Lights: What to Expect, Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant
Kelsey Cecil
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