Christmas Events for Kids in Richmond Hill (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 3 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the Christmas events for kids in Richmond Hill for 2026. The City’s Merry Marketplace brings Santa, parades and winter lights to Richmond Green Park on Saturday evenings, December 5 and 12, and the David Dunlap Observatory opens for Holidays at the Observatory on December 19. Both dates come straight from the City of Richmond Hill calendar. For more across the country, see our Canada Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Richmond Hill

  • 2 Christmas events for kids in Richmond Hill
  • Merry Marketplace: Saturdays, December 5 and 12, 4 to 8 pm
  • Santa meet and greet and winter lights at Richmond Green Park
  • Holidays at the Observatory: Saturday, December 19, 7 to 9 pm
  • Observatory night: registration required

Free 1Ticketed and paid 1

Free Christmas events for kids in Richmond Hill

Outdoor holiday marketFree

Merry Marketplace

Expand to see the parent tip

Richmond Green Park turns into an outdoor holiday market on two Saturday evenings in December, with local artisans, live entertainment, food concessions, community displays and a winter lights display.

For kids the highlights are the parades through the market and a meet and greet with Santa Claus, and since it runs from 4 to 8 pm the lights are glowing well before bedtime.

Parent tip: Arrive close to 4 pm for an easier Santa line and a little daylight, then stay on for the lights once it gets dark.

Host
City of Richmond Hill Cultural Services (opens in a new tab)
Address
Richmond Green Park, 1300 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1M5 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom City of Richmond Hill Cultural Services (opens in a new tab)

New Richmond Hill events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Richmond Hill daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Richmond Hill.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 1 more Richmond Hill event 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 Richmond Hill.
  • Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Richmond Hill 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

  • 1 Santa
  • 1 Lights
  • 1 Shows

Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Richmond Hill every week.

Free. One email a week with new events in Richmond Hill. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy

Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Richmond Hill

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Event hosts: free events are listed first. The #1 spot puts your event at the top of this page.Inquire about the #1 spotAdd your event for free

Holiday stargazing night

Holidays at the Observatory

Expand to see the parent tip

The historic David Dunlap Observatory hosts a holiday evening about what winter looks like across the solar system, with real images of icy planets and moons and a recreated winter night sky in the Skylab planetarium space.

Weather permitting, families can look through the 74-inch telescope, and there is a Christmas tree photo spot in the Library and celestial-themed crafts, which makes it a calm, curious-kid alternative to a busy market.

Parent tip: Register early and dress warmly, since telescope viewing happens only on a clear night and the dome is not heated like a living room.

Host
City of Richmond Hill Heritage Services (opens in a new tab)
Address
Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Drive, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 1T3 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom City of Richmond Hill Heritage Services (opens in a new tab)

New Richmond Hill events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Richmond Hill daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Richmond Hill.

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? Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists Santa trains and holiday rides across the country.

See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Richmond Hill Christmas event for kids happens

Pick one Merry Marketplace Saturday for Santa and the lights, then register older kids for the observatory night on December 19.

Looking further afield? Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the country, and we have city guides for Toronto, Mississauga, Whitby and Oshawa. 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.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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 Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The story of Christmas in Richmond Hill

In December 1962, thousands of Richmond Hill children lined Yonge Street and Markham Road for a Santa Claus parade with a pirate ship, a rocket and Humpty Dumpty, then chased Santa to his quarters in the mall. Today the city's Christmas centres on Richmond Green Park, where a holiday market and thousands of twinkling lights arrived in 2022.

Merry Marketplace and Winter Lights arrive at Richmond Green in 2022

Richmond Hill's newest Christmas tradition began in November 2022, when the city launched the Merry Marketplace at Richmond Green Park as part of its 2022/2023 Winter Series. It ran on five Saturdays in a row starting November 19, from 4 to 9 pm, with holiday shopping, food concessions, contests, live entertainment and a meet and greet with Santa Claus.

That same season, the Winter Lights came back by popular demand, with trees lit along the Richmond Green Heritage Walkway from November 19 into March. The Light Up Richmond Hill contest, inviting residents to send a photo of their decorated home or business, ran for its third year that winter, so it had started in 2020. Families also skated on the Richmond Green Skate Trail and rang in the new year early at First Night at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

November 15, 2025: Reindeer Games, Grinchmas and a giant snow globe

The 2025 Merry Marketplace, presented by Lexus of Richmond Hill, opened on Saturday, November 15, from 4 to 8 pm and ran five Saturdays. Each week had its own theme: Reindeer Games to start, then Grinchmas, Frosty the Snowman, Santa's Village on December 6 and Gingerbread House on December 13. Santa and Mrs. Claus came every week, families posed inside an inflatable Winter Snow Globe and warmed up at a fire pit, and marching bands and community groups gave parade-style performances.

The lights stayed on in Richmond Green Park until 10 pm every night. Visitors who dropped off food for the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank at the information booth could enter a weekly prize draw. Nearby, the Artists' Co-op of Richmond Hill ran its festive pop-up gallery and gift shop in the historic Boynton House for the fourth year, and the city ran a holiday donation drive from December 1 to 15.

A 1962 parade with a pirate ship, a rocket and the RCAF band, and Santa's quarters at the mall

Richmond Hill's Christmas history is preserved in its old newspaper, The Liberal, digitized by the Richmond Hill Public Library. On December 13, 1962, the paper reported that the previous Saturday's Santa Claus parade was "the biggest and best yet," in the words of one official. It was sponsored by the Richmond Heights Merchants Association, and thousands of youngsters, and adults too, lined Markham Road and Yonge Street to watch.

More than a dozen floats rolled by, including Cinderella, the Old Lady in the Shoe, Humpty Dumpty, a pirate ship and a rocket craft. The RCAF Marching Band came up from Toronto, the Hilltoppers Drum Corps from Richmond Hill played, and the Richmond Hill Police Intermediate and Junior Majorettes marched. Afterward, children followed Santa to the shopping centre and mobbed him there. Santa then settled into his quarters in the mall until Christmas Eve, welcoming visitors from noon to 9 pm every day, while a clown named Bob Grant helped five-year-olds tell Santa what they wanted in their stockings.

A Christmas tree beside the 74-inch telescope at the David Dunlap Observatory

Instead of a train, Richmond Hill has a telescope. The Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory at 123 Hillsview Drive is home to a historic 74-inch telescope, and each December the city's Heritage Services opens it for a holiday evening. Holidays at the Observatory on Saturday, December 19, 2026, from 7 to 9 pm, shows what winter is like across the solar system with real images of icy planets and moons.

In the Skylab, staff recreate the winter night sky with planetarium software, and if the sky is clear, families can look at real celestial objects through the big telescope. Inside, there is a Christmas tree in the Observatory's library for photos and celestial-themed crafts for kids. Registration with the city is required. Back at Richmond Green, the 2026 Merry Marketplace runs on two Saturdays, December 5 and 12, from 4 to 8 pm, with Santa and the winter lights.

Traditions today

  • Merry Marketplace: An outdoor holiday market at Richmond Green Park with artisans, food, entertainment and a Santa meet and greet, held since 2022. In 2026 it runs December 5 and 12.
  • Winter Lights at Richmond Green: Thousands of twinkling lights in Richmond Green Park, on until 10 pm every night of the season.
  • Light Up Richmond Hill: A city contest for photos of decorated homes and businesses, started in 2020, with prize packs for winners.
  • Holidays at the Observatory: A December evening at the David Dunlap Observatory with winter skies, a Christmas tree in the library and, weather permitting, a look through the 74-inch telescope.
  • Food bank donations at the market: Visitors bring non-perishable food to the Merry Marketplace information booth for the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank and enter a prize draw.

A fact for kids

In 1962, Richmond Hill's Santa Claus parade had a rocket ship float, and after the parade kids chased Santa all the way to the mall, where he lived in his own special quarters until Christmas Eve.

Questions about Christmas in Richmond Hill

When did the Merry Marketplace in Richmond Hill start?

The Merry Marketplace began in November 2022 as a new part of the city's 2022/2023 Winter Series. It opened on November 19, 2022, and ran on five Saturdays in a row from 4 to 9 pm at Richmond Green Park, with shopping, food, contests, live entertainment and a meet and greet with Santa Claus.

What were the 2025 Merry Marketplace themes?

Each Saturday in 2025 had a theme. The kickoff on November 15 was Reindeer Games, followed by Grinchmas, Frosty the Snowman, Santa's Village on December 6 and Gingerbread House on December 13. Santa and Mrs. Claus appeared every week, and the market ran from 4 to 8 pm, presented by Lexus of Richmond Hill.

How many days is the Merry Marketplace in 2026?

In 2026 the Merry Marketplace runs on two Saturdays, December 5 and December 12, from 4 to 8 pm at Richmond Green Park, 1300 Elgin Mills Road East. That is fewer than the five Saturdays of 2022 and 2025, so plan ahead if Santa photos are a must.

What is there for kids at the Richmond Hill Merry Marketplace?

In 2025 kids found drop-in crafts and contests, a weekly meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, an inflatable Winter Snow Globe for photos, a fire pit warming station, jugglers and musicians, and parade-style performances by marching bands and community groups, all under the park's holiday lights.

How late are the Richmond Green Christmas lights on?

The Winter Lights at Richmond Green Park stay on until 10 pm every day during the season, not only on market nights. In the 2022/2023 season the lights ran from November 19 into March along the Richmond Green Heritage Walkway. It makes a free evening walk any night in December.

What is the Light Up Richmond Hill contest?

Light Up Richmond Hill invites residents and businesses to submit a photo of their holiday decorations on the city's website for a chance to win a prize pack. In 2022 it ran from November 18 to December 12 and was in its third year, which means the contest started in 2020.

Did Richmond Hill have a Santa Claus parade in the past?

Yes. The Liberal newspaper reported on December 13, 1962, that the previous Saturday's Santa Claus parade was the biggest and best yet, according to one official. It was sponsored by the Richmond Heights Merchants Association, and thousands of children and adults lined Markham Road and Yonge Street to watch it pass.

What floats were in Richmond Hill's 1962 Santa Claus parade?

More than a dozen floats took part in December 1962, including Cinderella, the Old Lady in the Shoe, Humpty Dumpty, a pirate ship and a rocket craft. Thousands of spectators watched from the curbs of Yonge Street and Markham Road. Music came from the RCAF Marching Band from Toronto and the Hilltoppers Drum Corps from Richmond Hill.

Where did Santa stay in Richmond Hill in 1962?

After the December 1962 parade, children followed Santa to the shopping centre and mobbed him there. The Liberal reported that Santa would live in his quarters in the mall at the Centre until Christmas Eve, welcoming young visitors from noon to 9 pm every day.

Who marched in Richmond Hill's 1962 Christmas parade?

Besides the floats and Santa, the 1962 parade featured the RCAF Marching Band from Toronto, the Hilltoppers Drum Corps from Richmond Hill and the Richmond Hill Police Intermediate and Junior Majorettes. A clown named Bob Grant was photographed with two five-year-olds telling Santa what they wanted in their Christmas stockings.

Where can I read old Richmond Hill Christmas newspapers?

The Richmond Hill Public Library has digitized The Liberal, the town's longtime newspaper, on its local history site, history.rhpl.ca. The December 13, 1962, issue describes that year's Santa Claus parade and Santa's stay at the mall. The library's local history pages are free to browse from home.

What is Holidays at the Observatory in Richmond Hill?

It is a holiday evening at the Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Drive. On December 19, 2026, from 7 to 9 pm, families explore winter across the solar system, see the winter sky recreated in the Skylab, make celestial crafts and take photos by the Christmas tree in the library. Registration is required.

Can you look through the big telescope at Christmas in Richmond Hill?

Weather permitting, yes. At Holidays at the Observatory on December 19, 2026, families may get to observe celestial objects through the Observatory's historic 74-inch telescope. If it is cloudy, the Skylab planetarium show and the images of icy planets and moons still make the trip worthwhile.

Is there a Christmas tree at the David Dunlap Observatory?

Yes. During the Observatory's December holiday evening, a Christmas tree stands in the building's library, and the city invites families to relax there and snap a photo beside it. The 2026 evening is Saturday, December 19, and the library is part of the visit along with crafts and the Skylab.

Can I donate food at Richmond Hill's Christmas market?

Yes. City staff collect non-perishable food at the information booth near the entrance for the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank. In 2025 each donation earned a ballot for a prize pack, one entry per donation per week, with a winner chosen after December 13.

What is the Boynton House holiday pop-up in Richmond Hill?

The Artists' Co-op of Richmond Hill runs a festive pop-up gallery and gift shop inside the historic Boynton House at Richmond Green, next to the Merry Marketplace. December 2025 was its fourth year, selling work by local artists, with workshops in polymer clay, glass fusing, basketry and felting.

Is there a holiday donation drive in Richmond Hill?

Yes. The City of Richmond Hill runs a holiday donation drive each December to help families in need. In 2025, donations could be dropped off from December 1 to 15. Mayor David West highlighted it in his December 2025 newsletter alongside the Merry Marketplace and Winter Lights.

Which winter holidays does Richmond Hill celebrate?

In his December 2025 newsletter, Mayor David West wished warm holidays to residents marking Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yalda or the Winter Solstice. The city's December calendar reflects that mix, with Christmas events like the Merry Marketplace and Santa visits alongside other seasonal celebrations.

Where can kids skate at Christmas in Richmond Hill?

The Richmond Green Skate Trail at Richmond Green Park opens when weather allows, and in the 2022/2023 season it was expected to open in mid-December. It sits in the same park as the Merry Marketplace and Winter Lights, so a skate and a light walk make an easy evening together.

Is there a New Year's Eve event for kids in Richmond Hill?

Yes. The city has hosted First Night, a family New Year's Eve celebration at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. In 2022 it ran from 6 to 9 pm on December 31 with musical performances, interactive activities and treats, a good way to end the holiday season with young kids.

Sources

  1. The Liberal, December 13, 1962, Richmond Hill Public Library
  2. Merry Marketplace Brings Holiday Magic to Richmond Hill, City of Richmond Hill
  3. Winter Fun Kicks Off This Weekend, City of Richmond Hill
  4. From the Desk of Mayor David West, December Newsletter 2025, Mayor David West
  5. Holidays at the Observatory, City of Richmond Hill
  6. Merry Marketplace, City of Richmond Hill

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 Canada city.

Richmond Hill Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Richmond Hill this year?

Rally Takes the Train has confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Richmond Hill for 2026, both on the City of Richmond Hill calendar: the Merry Marketplace on December 5 and 12 and Holidays at the Observatory on December 19.

Where can kids meet Santa in Richmond Hill?

At the Merry Marketplace in Richmond Green Park, 1300 Elgin Mills Road East, on Saturday, December 5 and Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 4 to 8 pm. The City lists a meet and greet with Santa Claus.

Is the Merry Marketplace free?

The City lists it as an outdoor holiday market with entertainment, lights and parades. Admission is open to the public, while food and artisan goods are for sale.

What is Holidays at the Observatory?

A winter astronomy evening at the Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory, 123 Hillsview Drive, on Saturday, December 19, 2026, from 7 to 9 pm, with planetarium shows, crafts, a Christmas tree photo spot and telescope viewing if skies are clear. Registration is required.

Who do I contact about Richmond Hill holiday events?

Cultural Services at events@richmondhill.ca or 905-771-5508 for the Merry Marketplace, and Heritage Services at heritageservices@richmondhill.ca for the observatory night.

Are there more Christmas events near Richmond Hill?

Yes. Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the country, and the national search sorts events by distance from your town.

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 municipal or tourism calendar. We last checked Richmond Hill on November 11, 2026. Rally is also contacting each organizer to confirm details like parking, washrooms and bad-weather plans.

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.

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Christmas Events for Kids in Saint-Basile-le-Grand (2026)
Next

Christmas Events for Kids in Richmond (2026)