Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Ontario for 2026, and here is what he found: 3 family events, all of them free. They are Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (December 3), Holiday Light Parade (December 5) and 5K Reindeer Run & Rudolph's Dash (December 12). We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our California Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Ontario
- 3 Christmas events for kids in Ontario
- All 3 are free: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Holiday Light Parade and 5K Reindeer Run & Rudolph's Dash
- Meet Santa: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (December 3) and Holiday Light Parade (December 5)
- Parades and tree lightings: Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (December 3) and Holiday Light Parade (December 5)
- Also on the list: 1 Christmas show, 1 Christmas light display and 2 craft workshops
- Season: December 3 (Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony) to December 12 (5K Reindeer Run & Rudolph's Dash)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
What are you looking for?
All 3 events
Nothing matches yet. Try another kind of event, or .
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 2 more 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 Ontario.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Ontario before they fill up.
- Start your magical Christmas season now Every event appears the moment you enter your email.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Waiting inside
- 2 Santa
- 2 Lights
- 2 Crafts
- 1 Parades
- 3 Free
Enter your email and all will appear instantly.
The Christmas magic awaits
Enter your email to get Christmas event notifications all season long and unlock the details on 2 Christmas events in Ontario.
- New events in Ontario every week
- Exclusive access to free events
- Your magical Christmas season starts now
- Christmas Eve Express and free advent calendar
- One-tap add to calendar
Free Christmas events for kids in Ontario
Tree lightingFree
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
- When: Thursday, December 3, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
- Where: Ontario Town Square, 224 North Euclid Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Ontario opens its holiday season by lighting the tree together at Ontario Town Square. Over the evening, children can decorate cookies, write letters to Santa, watch community groups perform and have a photo taken with Santa.
The city's annual ceremony is Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Ontario Town Square, 224 North Euclid Avenue. It is free and open to all ages, and the page lists no registration. The city gives (909) 395-2020 as the number to call for more information.
Parent tip: The page gives a three-hour window but not the minute the tree is lit, so come close to 5:00 pm if seeing the lighting matters to your child. On a Thursday school night, do the cookie decorating and Santa letter first in case little ones run out of steam before 8:00 pm.
- Host
- City of Ontario (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Ontario Town Square, 224 North Euclid Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Ontario events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Ontario daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Ontario.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 2 more 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 Ontario.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Ontario before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 2 Santa
- 2 Lights
- 2 Crafts
- 1 Parades
- 3 Free
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Ontario every week.
Holiday paradeFree
Holiday Light Parade
- When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 6:30 to 8 pm (After the parade, families gather at Ontario Town Square for carolers, crafts and Santa photos.)
- Where: Euclid Avenue, from Fourth Street to B Street, Euclid Ave from Fourth St to B St, Ontario, CA 91761 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Ontario's annual Holiday Light Parade travels along Euclid Avenue from Fourth Street to B Street on a Saturday evening. When it finishes, the crowd moves to Ontario Town Square for carolers, crafts and a photo with Santa.
The parade is Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. It is free for all ages, and nothing on the page calls for tickets or sign-up. Questions go to the city at (909) 395-2020.
Parent tip: The parade and the Santa photos afterward happen in two spots, the Euclid Avenue route and Ontario Town Square at 224 North Euclid Avenue, so decide before you park which matters more to your child. With a 6:30 pm start and Santa only after the parade, expect a late night for little ones.
- Host
- City of Ontario (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Euclid Avenue, from Fourth Street to B Street, Euclid Ave from Fourth St to B St, Ontario, CA 91761 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Ontario events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Ontario daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Ontario.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Holiday eventFree
5K Reindeer Run & Rudolph's Dash
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 7 am to noon
- Where: Euclid Avenue and C Street, Euclid Ave and C St, Ontario, CA 91761 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Listed as free on the city's page
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Ontario's annual 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash gathers at the corner of Euclid Avenue and C Street. The event benefits the Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars and the City's Empowerment Scholarship, which help students reach their education goals and open recreation activities, classes and programs to Ontario residents from low-income backgrounds.
It takes place Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm, and the city lists it for all ages with the cost shown as free. The page does not explain how runners sign up or what Rudolph's Dash involves. The city's information number is (909) 395-2020.
Parent tip: A 7:00 am start in mid-December makes for an early, cool morning, so dress children in layers they can peel off. Since the page leaves out sign-up details and the format of Rudolph's Dash, call (909) 395-2020 ahead of time to ask which part suits your child.
- Host
- City of Ontario (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Euclid Avenue and C Street, Euclid Ave and C St, Ontario, CA 91761 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Ontario events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Ontario daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Ontario.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our California Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Ontario Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Ontario on December 3; the last runs to December 12. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Holiday Tree Lighting CeremonyOntario · Dec 3
- Holiday Light ParadeOntario · Dec 5
- 5K Reindeer Run & Rudolph's DashOntario · Dec 12
Looking further afield? Our California Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Rancho Cucamonga, Chino Hills, Fontana and Riverside. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events 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 Ontario
Euclid Avenue, the broad street with a grassy median that the Chaffey brothers laid out when they founded Ontario, once had a mule-drawn passenger tramway running down its center. Each December the same avenue carries the Holiday Light Parade, and the city lights its tree at Ontario Town Square, which has a North Euclid Avenue address.
How Ontario celebrates
The City of Ontario runs the holiday events on this page, and all three are tied to Euclid Avenue. The season starts with the city's annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ontario Town Square on Thursday, December 3, 2026, with cookie decorating, letters to Santa, community performances and Santa photos. Two days later the annual Holiday Light Parade travels Euclid Avenue from Fourth Street to B Street, and families gather at the Town Square afterward for carolers, crafts and Santa. On Saturday, December 12, the annual 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash meets at Euclid Avenue and C Street to benefit two scholarship programs. The city lists all three as free.
Fun facts about Christmas in Ontario
Ontario takes its name from the Ontario Model Colony, established in 1882 by Canadian engineer George Chaffey and his brothers, who named it after their home province. Central Ontario was incorporated as a city in 1891, and the city counted 175,265 residents in the 2020 census. The Graber Olive House, established in 1894, is now the longest operating olive packing business in the United States. The municipal airport the city set up in 1929 is today Ontario International Airport, the largest employer in the city.
Traditions today
- Tree Lighting at Ontario Town Square: The city lights its tree at Ontario Town Square in an annual ceremony that opens the holiday season.
- Holiday Light Parade on Euclid Avenue: The annual parade runs along Euclid Avenue from Fourth Street to B Street on a Saturday evening in early December.
- After-parade gathering: Once the parade ends, families meet at Ontario Town Square for carolers, crafts and a photo with Santa.
- Letters to Santa and cookie decorating: At the tree lighting, children write letters to Santa and decorate cookies between community performances.
- 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash: The annual run at Euclid Avenue and C Street raises support for the Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars and the City's Empowerment Scholarship.
A fact for kids
To show visitors how much water Ontario had, the town put a fountain at its railway station. It was turned on when a passenger train was coming and turned off again after the train left.
Questions about Christmas in Ontario
How did Ontario, California get its name?
The Chaffey brothers, who came from Canada, bought land here in 1881 and established a settlement they named Ontario in honor of their home province. The city takes its name from their Ontario Model Colony development, which was established in 1882.
When did Ontario become a city?
Central Ontario was incorporated as a city in 1891, about a decade after the Chaffey brothers founded the settlement. The city's territory was greatly expanded in 1900, and North Ontario broke away in 1906 and called itself Upland.
What is special about Euclid Avenue?
The Chaffey brothers created Euclid Avenue as the settlement's main thoroughfare, with distinctive wide lanes and a grassy median. From 1887 to 1895 a mule-drawn passenger tramway ran along the central reservation, and the line was later converted to electric vehicles.
Why was Ontario called the Model Colony?
The settlement was called the Model Colony because it was meant to offer a balance between agriculture and the urban comforts of schools, churches and commerce. It was first conceived as a dry town, and Congress declared Ontario a model colony in 1903.
How big is Ontario, California?
Ontario had a population of 175,265 at the 2020 census and covers about 50 square miles. It sits in southwestern San Bernardino County, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, and is home to Ontario International Airport.
What happens at Christmas in Ontario?
The city holds its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 3, 2026, the Holiday Light Parade on December 5 and the 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash on December 12. The first two include photos with Santa at Ontario Town Square.
Where is Ontario's Christmas tree lighting held?
The Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is at Ontario Town Square, 224 North Euclid Avenue, on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The evening includes cookie decorating, letters to Santa, community performances and photos with Santa.
What route does the Holiday Light Parade follow?
The parade runs along Euclid Avenue from Fourth Street to B Street on Saturday, December 5, 2026, starting at 6:30 pm. Euclid Avenue is the main thoroughfare the city's founders laid out, known for its wide lanes and grassy median.
Who organizes Ontario's Christmas events?
All three events appear on the City of Ontario's own events calendar under its recreation and community life listings. For each one, the city gives (909) 395-2020 as the number to call for more information.
What is free at Christmas in Ontario?
The city marks the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Holiday Light Parade and the 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash as free and open to all ages. That includes the cookie decorating and Santa letters at the tree lighting and the crafts after the parade.
Sources
- Ontario, California, Wikipedia
- Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, City of Ontario, California
- Holiday Light Parade, City of Ontario, California
- 5K Reindeer Run & Rudolph's Dash, City of Ontario, California
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every California city.
Ontario Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What is the best Christmas event for kids in Ontario to start with?
The Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 3, 2026 is the natural first stop. From 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Ontario Town Square, children can decorate cookies, write letters to Santa, watch community performances and take a photo with Santa before the season's other events begin.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Ontario?
Yes. The city lists all three of its holiday events as free: the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 3, the Holiday Light Parade on December 5 and the 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash on December 12, 2026. Each one is marked for all ages.
Where can kids meet Santa in Ontario?
There are two chances at Ontario Town Square, 224 North Euclid Avenue. Santa poses for photos during the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 3, 2026, and again after the Holiday Light Parade on Saturday, December 5, when families gather there for carolers and crafts.
When and where is the Christmas parade in Ontario?
The Holiday Light Parade is Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. It runs along Euclid Avenue from Fourth Street to B Street. After the parade, families head to Ontario Town Square for carolers, crafts and a photo with Santa.
Do Ontario's Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?
The city's pages for the tree lighting on December 3 and the parade on December 5 list no tickets or registration. The page for the 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash on December 12 does not explain how runners sign up, so call (909) 395-2020 to ask.
What is the Reindeer Run in Ontario?
The 5K Reindeer Run and Rudolph's Dash is an annual city event held on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 7:00 am to noon at Euclid Avenue and C Street. It benefits the Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars and the City's Empowerment Scholarship, and it is listed for all ages.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Ontario?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s California Christmas train rides guide. This Ontario guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
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 or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 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.