Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Caledon, Ontario
Caledon's tree lighting has a Town Crier, a story time with Mrs. Claus and a giant snow globe outside Town Hall. Bolton and Caledon Village add their own parades and lights.
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The story of Christmas in Caledon, Ontario
A Town Crier and a giant snow globe at Town Hall
The Town of Caledon calls its tree lighting one of the community's most cherished seasonal traditions. It is held outside Town Hall, 6311 Old Church Road, at the Caledon East Community Campus, and it is free and aimed at families.
The evening has a set order: story time with Mrs. Claus and Santa, then the lighting with the Town Crier, then photos with Santa. Children can also post letters to Santa at a mailing station for the North Pole, and families are asked to bring non-perishable food for The Exchange Food Bank.
The Twelve Days of Christmas on December 2, 2025
The 2025 tree lighting was on Tuesday, December 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus held story time at 5:45, and the tree was lit at 6. Mayor Annette Groves spoke, and the Town Crier led Council and the crowd in singing The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Kids lined up for photos with Santa from 6:15 to 7:30. A giant snow globe stood outside for family pictures, Sparky the Fire Dog posed with children, and a warming station inside Town Hall had kids' crafts and free refreshments.
Three villages, three ways to light up Caledon
Caledon is a town of several communities, and each has its own holiday night. Downtown Bolton hosted Christmas in the Valley on December 5, 2025, from 6 to 10 p.m., with a tree lighting, a market, food trucks and free photos with Santa.
Visit Caledon also lists a Bolton Santa Claus parade that starts at 11 a.m. at Queensgate Boulevard, heads north on Highway 50 and ends at Centennial Drive. For Caledon Village it lists a vehicle parade leaving Caledon Central at 5 p.m., followed by carols, a magic show and loot bags. Those last two listings show no year, so their 2026 dates are not confirmed.
Traditions today
- Caledon Tree Lighting at Town Hall: The Town of Caledon lit its tree on December 2, 2025, outside Town Hall in Caledon East, with story time and photos with Santa.
- Letters to Santa: A mailing station at the 2025 tree lighting let children send letters to the North Pole.
- Food bank drive: Families were asked to bring non-perishable food for The Exchange Food Bank to the 2025 tree lighting.
- Christmas in the Valley: Downtown Bolton held its market and tree lighting on December 5, 2025, with free photos with Santa.
- Bolton Santa Claus Parade: Visit Caledon lists the parade starting at 11 a.m. at Queensgate Boulevard and running north along Highway 50 to Centennial Drive. The listing shows no year.
- Caledon Village vehicle parade: Visit Caledon lists a vehicle parade leaving Caledon Central at 5 p.m., followed by carol singing, a magic show and loot bags. The listing shows no year.
A fact for kids
At the 2025 Caledon tree lighting, kids could post letters to Santa at a North Pole mailing station and pose with Sparky the Fire Dog.
Questions about Christmas in Caledon, Ontario
When is the Caledon tree lighting in 2026?
The Town of Caledon had not posted 2026 details when this was researched. The latest event was Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. outside Town Hall. Check caledon.ca and Rally Takes the Train's Caledon Christmas events guide closer to the holidays for the new date.
Where is the Caledon tree lighting held?
The tree lighting is outside Town Hall at 6311 Old Church Road, at the Caledon East Community Campus. The Town of Caledon hosts it. In 2025 there was a warming station inside Town Hall with kids' crafts, so families could step in from the cold.
What is the schedule at the Town Hall tree lighting?
In 2025 story time with Mrs. Claus and Santa began at 5:45 p.m., the tree lighting with the Town Crier followed at 6, and photos with Santa ran from 6:15 to 7:30. The 2026 schedule had not been posted when this was researched.
Is the Caledon tree lighting free?
The Town of Caledon described the 2025 tree lighting as free and aimed at families, with free refreshments. Photos with Santa and the kids' crafts were part of the evening. Check the Town's page for the 2026 details before you go.
Does Santa visit the Caledon tree lighting?
Yes. Santa and Mrs. Claus read stories at 5:45 p.m. in 2025, and children lined up for photos with Santa from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. The 2026 times had not been announced when this was researched, so confirm with the Town of Caledon.
Who is the Town Crier at the Caledon tree lighting?
The Town Crier appears at the tree lighting, and in 2025 he led Council and the crowd in singing The Twelve Days of Christmas as the tree was lit, according to Caledon Citizen. The sources researched here do not give his name, so check the Town for 2026.
Can kids send letters to Santa in Caledon?
Yes. At the 2025 tree lighting the Town of Caledon ran a mailing station where children could post letters to Santa at the North Pole. Bring a finished letter with your return address, and check that the station returns in 2026.
What should we bring to the Caledon tree lighting?
Families were asked to bring non-perishable food for The Exchange Food Bank in 2025. Bring warm clothes too, since the lighting is outdoors in early December, and a letter to Santa if your child wants to mail one at the North Pole station.
Is there a giant snow globe in Caledon at Christmas?
A giant snow globe stood outside Town Hall for family photos at the 2025 tree lighting. It was one of several extras beside story time and Santa photos. Whether it returns in 2026 had not been announced when this was researched.
What else was at the 2025 Caledon tree lighting besides the tree?
Caledon Fire, Caledon Public Library and the OPP had visits, and children could pose with Sparky the Fire Dog. There were letters to Santa, free refreshments, a warming station with kids' crafts and photos with Santa. Check the Town for the 2026 lineup.
What is Christmas in the Valley in Bolton?
Christmas in the Valley was held in downtown Bolton on December 5, 2025, from 6 to 10 p.m., at the Ann Street municipal parking lot and inside the Humber River Centre. It had a market, food trucks, a tree lighting and free photos with Santa.
Are there free photos with Santa in Bolton?
Free photos with Santa were part of Christmas in the Valley in downtown Bolton on December 5, 2025. The same evening had a tree lighting, a market and a food and toy drive. Check Visit Caledon for 2026 details when they are posted.
Where does the Bolton Santa Claus Parade start?
The listing says the parade begins at 11 a.m. at Queensgate Boulevard, goes north along Highway 50 (Queen Street) and ends at Centennial Drive. The Visit Caledon page used here does not show a year, so check the organizer for the 2026 date.
What happens at the Caledon Village tree lighting and parade?
The listing says a vehicle parade leaves Caledon Central at 5 p.m., followed by carol singing, a magic show, a raffle and warm drinks. Children get loot bags at the end. The Visit Caledon page shows no year, so confirm the date for 2026.
Is Caledon East the same place as Caledon?
Caledon East is one community inside the Town of Caledon. The Town's tree lighting happens at Town Hall on Old Church Road at the Caledon East Community Campus. Bolton and Caledon Village are other communities in the town, each with its own holiday evening.
How do we keep little kids warm at the Caledon tree lighting?
The lighting is outside in early December, so dress children in layers, hats and mittens. In 2025 the Town ran a warming station inside Town Hall with kids' crafts. Plan to pop in between story time and photos with Santa.
Are there events for older kids at Caledon Christmas nights?
The pages researched here are aimed at families with younger children, with story time, crafts and Santa photos. Older kids may enjoy the Bolton market, food trucks and tree lighting at Christmas in the Valley. Check Visit Caledon for 2026 programming.
Is there a Christmas market in Bolton?
Yes. Christmas in the Valley on December 5, 2025, included a vendor and artisan market, food trucks and a tree lighting, in the Ann Street parking lot and inside the Humber River Centre in downtown Bolton. 2026 details had not been posted yet.
Where can we find Caledon Christmas events for 2026?
Rally Takes the Train's Caledon Christmas events guide collects 2026 dates that hosts have confirmed. When this was researched, the Town of Caledon had not posted 2026 tree lighting details. Check back in November, and also look at caledon.ca and visitcaledon.ca.
Who spoke at the 2025 Caledon tree lighting?
Mayor Annette Groves spoke at the December 2, 2025 tree lighting, and the Town Crier led the singing of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The Town called the celebration a great example of building a connected community. Check the 2026 program once it is posted.
Sources
- Caledon Tree Lighting, Town of Caledon
- Town of Caledon Invites Community to Annual Tree Lighting Celebration, Town of Caledon
- Town of Caledon lights up with holiday spirit at tree lighting, Caledon Citizen
- Bolton Santa Claus Parade, Visit Caledon
- Christmas in the Valley, Visit Caledon
- Caledon Village Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade, Visit Caledon