Christmas Events for Kids in Sainte-Julie (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 Sainte-Julie for 2026, and both land on the same festive weekend. The volunteer-built Défilé de Noël rolls out at 6 pm on Saturday, December 5, with a Christmas Village from 4 pm, and the Marché de Noël runs at the community centre from December 4 to 6. Every date is on the Ville de Sainte-Julie’s own website. For more across the country, see our Canada Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Sainte-Julie

  • 2 free Christmas events for kids in Sainte-Julie
  • Défilé de Noël: Saturday, December 5, first float at 6 pm
  • Village de Noël: December 5, 4 to 10 pm
  • Marché de Noël: December 4 to 6 at the community centre
  • Dress warm for the evening parade

Free Christmas events for kids in Sainte-Julie

Night paradeFree

Défilé de Noël and Village de Noël (Christmas Parade and Christmas Village)

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Sainte-Julie’s Défilé de Noël, the volunteer-built Christmas parade, sends its first float out from the Maxi at Domaine des Hauts-Bois at 6 pm and winds through the Vieux-Village, with more than 300 volunteers behind the floats and the route.

From 4 pm the eighth Village de Noël sets up in the community centre parking lot with activities for kids and grown-ups, and the organizers post a printable letter to Santa for children to fill in before the big night.

Parent tip: Dress for a long evening outdoors with blankets, mittens and tuques, and bring a flashlight or a small drum, which the organizers invite families to use to cheer the floats along.

Host
Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie, with the Ville de Sainte-Julie (opens in a new tab)
Address
Parade route from Maxi du Domaine des Hauts-Bois through the Vieux-Village; Christmas Village at the Centre communautaire parking lot, 550 boul. Saint-Joseph, Sainte-Julie, QC J3E 1W8 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie, with the Ville de Sainte-Julie (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 1 more Sainte-Julie event researched for you.

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Christmas marketFree

Marché de Noël (Christmas Market)

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The Marché de Noël fills the Sainte-Julie community centre for three days with local artisans and food producers, set up in what the city calls a fairy-tale holiday atmosphere.

It runs the same weekend as the parade and sits right beside the Christmas Village, so on Saturday families can browse for gifts in the warm before heading outside for the floats.

Parent tip: Go Saturday afternoon, shop inside before the crowds, then step out to the Village de Noël when it opens at 4 pm.

Host
Marché de Noël de Sainte-Julie, listed by the Ville de Sainte-Julie (opens in a new tab)
Address
Centre communautaire de Sainte-Julie, 550 boul. Saint-Joseph, Sainte-Julie, QC (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Marché de Noël de Sainte-Julie, listed by the Ville de Sainte-Julie (opens in a new tab)

New Sainte-Julie events every week

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

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 Sainte-Julie Christmas event for kids happens

Plan one big Saturday on December 5: shop the Marché de Noël in the afternoon, enjoy the Village de Noël from 4 pm, then find a curb for the 6 pm parade.

Looking further afield? Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the country, and we have city guides for Montreal and Quebec City. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.

A story for the drive home

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

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Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The story of Christmas in Sainte-Julie

Sainte-Julie's Christmas parade began on a freezing December 12, 1998, with decorated farm tractors, farm animals and more than 6,000 people lining the street. By 2022 the volunteer-run Défilé de Noël was drawing more than 16,000 spectators, and it still winds through the Vieux-Village every December.

A December 12, 1998 parade of tractors, farm animals and comedian Mario Jean

The idea for a Christmas parade in Sainte-Julie came from resident Carol Ringuette in 1998. A neighbourhood watch group, the Comité de protection du voisinage, brought it to life with town councillors, police officers, firefighters, recreation staff and local families around the table. On December 12, 1998, the first parade rolled out in bitter cold with 28 different elements, 125 volunteers and more than 6,000 people watching. Local comedian Mario Jean was its honorary president.

Those first parades ran in the afternoon. Decorated tractors, hay wagons and farm animals gave them a country feel, horses and marching groups such as the cadets and Les Ambassadeurs added music, and elves handed bags of candy to children along the curb. The route started at the grocery store in the Domaine des Hauts-Bois, followed boulevard Saint-Joseph and rue Principale, and ended at the IGA by the Vieux-Village. Later the parade moved to the evening, starting at 6 pm on that same route. Today's Défilé de Noël and Village de Noël still follows it.

The 2025 parade on December 6 and Sainte-Julie's first Christmas market

The 2025 season opened on November 21, when the Vieux-Village decorations were switched on at 6:30 pm at the corner of rue Principale and boulevard Saint-Joseph. Santa, his elves and the fée des étoiles (the Star Fairy, a classic Quebec Christmas character) posed for photos and handed out ornaments, candy canes and hot chocolate. On December 6, 2025, the parade left from boulevard des Hauts-Bois near the Maxi at 6 pm and finished near the IGA on boulevard N.-P.-Lapierre, with the Village de Noël open from 4 to 10 pm.

That same weekend, December 5 to 7, the city held its first Marché de Noël at the community centre, a new event Mayor Mario Lemay said would showcase local and regional artisans. It returns as the 2026 Marché de Noël on December 4 to 6. In mid-December 2025 the library also hosted a Christmas story hour with Santa for children aged 2 to 5 on Friday, December 12.

A 2020 pause, a 2021 standstill parade and a Grinch-themed 25th in 2023

The parade has had a handful of presidents: Carol Ringuette led it from 2001 to 2012, Philippe Langlois from 2013 to 2017 and Sylvain Dubuc from 2018 to 2022, starting with the 21st edition. Dubuc's team launched a new logo and created the Village de Noël, a gathering spot for local merchants that quickly became part of the night. Since 2007 the city itself has designed and built its own float.

The pandemic cancelled the 2020 parade. In 2021 the 23rd edition came back as a static parade, with the floats standing still while people came to see them. In 2022 a float led by drag artists joined the line-up, part of the organizers' message that the parade is for everyone. In 2023 Véronique McInnis became the group's first female president for the 25th anniversary, residents entered a contest to design a commemorative float, the Grinch was the theme, and a stage was built so the party could continue after the floats passed.

More than 300 volunteers, a 50/50 draw and a 4 km route of flashlights and bells

Every float is built and decorated by volunteers. The organizers say the parade relies on more than 300 of them each year, building floats, keeping the route running and spreading holiday cheer. Profits from the group's 50/50 draw pay for building, decorating and maintaining the floats, and in October 2026 the city added a grant of $15,000.

Spectators are part of the show too. Before the 2024 parade, the city invited families to bring musical instruments, bells, tam-tams, flutes, rattles and flashlights to light up a route of more than 4 km. In 2024 the evening dance party also returned after the parade, along with a festive bar inside the fenced Village de Noël site. On the 2026 site, the first float leaves the Maxi at 6 pm on Saturday, December 5, and kids can print a letter to Santa before the big night.

Traditions today

  • Illumination du Vieux-Village: The official start of the holidays, when the decorations at rue Principale and boulevard Saint-Joseph light up. In 2026 it is on November 20 at 6:30 pm, with a mailbox for letters to Santa.
  • Défilé de Noël: The volunteer-built evening parade that has crossed Sainte-Julie since 1998, with floats, mascots, dancers and music. In 2026 it leaves at 6 pm on December 5.
  • Village de Noël: An outdoor party in the community centre parking lot, created around 2018, with food trucks, music and activities before and after the parade. 2026 is its eighth edition.
  • Marché de Noël: A three-day artisan and local food market at the community centre, first held December 5 to 7, 2025.
  • Bells, tam-tams and flashlights: Families bring noisemakers and lights to the curb so the long parade route sparkles and rings as the floats go by.

A fact for kids

Sainte-Julie's very first Christmas parade, in 1998, had decorated farm tractors and real farm animals marching for Santa, and elves handed bags of candy to the kids watching.

Questions about Christmas in Sainte-Julie

When did the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade start?

The first Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie was held on December 12, 1998. Resident Carol Ringuette had the idea that year, and a neighbourhood watch committee with councillors, police, firefighters and recreation staff organized it. More than 6,000 people and 125 volunteers turned out in freezing weather, and the parade had 28 elements.

Who started the Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie?

Carol Ringuette came up with the idea in 1998, and the Comité de protection du voisinage, a neighbourhood watch group, made it happen with help from town councillors, police officers, firefighters and the recreation department. He later led the parade as president from 2001 to 2012, after it became an official Sainte-Julie organization.

Who was the honorary president of the first Sainte-Julie Christmas parade?

Comedian Mario Jean, who is from Sainte-Julie, was the honorary president of the first parade on December 12, 1998. That edition had 28 different parade elements and more than 6,000 spectators despite the cold, according to the parade organization's own history page.

What did the early Sainte-Julie Christmas parades look like?

The early parades ran in the afternoon and had a rustic, country feel, with decorated tractors, hay wagons and farm animals. Horses and musical groups such as the cadets and Les Ambassadeurs took part, and elves handed out bags of candy to children. Later the parade switched to the evening, starting at 6 pm on the same route.

What route does the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade take?

The route has stayed much the same since the early years. Floats leave from the grocery store in the Domaine des Hauts-Bois, now the Maxi, follow boulevard Saint-Joseph and rue Principale through the Vieux-Village and finish near the IGA. The city describes the route as more than 4 km long.

How many people go to the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade?

The parade keeps breaking its own attendance records. The first edition in 1998 drew more than 6,000 people, and in 2022 more than 16,000 spectators came, some from neighbouring towns and some from farther away.

When is the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade in 2026?

The 2026 Défilé de Noël is on Saturday, December 5. The first float leaves the Maxi in the Domaine des Hauts-Bois at 6 pm and heads toward the Vieux-Village. The organizers note the parade can move faster or slower depending on the year and the weather, so dress warmly.

Was the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade cancelled during COVID?

Yes. There was no parade for the 2020 holidays because of the pandemic. It returned in 2021 as a static edition, its 23rd, with the floats standing still for visitors. The organizers say the static parade was hugely popular and gave hope that the moving parade would soon be back, which it was.

What happened at the 25th Sainte-Julie Christmas parade?

The 25th anniversary edition was in 2023. Véronique McInnis became the organization's first female president, residents entered a contest to design a float marking the past 25 years, and the Grinch was chosen as the theme. A stage was also built so the celebration could continue after the floats went by.

When did the Village de Noël start in Sainte-Julie?

The Village de Noël was created under parade president Sylvain Dubuc, who led the organization from 2018 to 2022. It began as a warm gathering spot that highlights local merchants and quickly became a fixture of parade night. The 2026 edition, the eighth, runs from 4 to 10 pm on December 5 in the community centre parking lot.

Does the City of Sainte-Julie have its own float in the parade?

Yes. Since 2007 the City of Sainte-Julie has designed and built its own float for the Défilé de Noël, and it also runs activities on the public square during the event. Local grocers and businesses such as IGA, Metro, Provigo and Lussier also support the parade each year.

How many volunteers build the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade?

The organizers say the parade depends on more than 300 volunteers each year. They decorate floats, help along the route and spread holiday spirit on the night. The first parade in 1998 had 125 volunteers. The group is always looking for more helpers for float building and the day of the parade.

How is the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade paid for?

The volunteer organization runs a 50/50 draw, and all profits go to building, decorating and maintaining parade elements. In 2026 the draw closes at 10 pm on parade night at the Village de Noël. The City of Sainte-Julie also announced a $15,000 grant to the parade group in October 2026, and local businesses sponsor it.

What should we bring to the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade?

Bring warm blankets, mittens and tuques, plus something to make noise or light. The city has invited families to bring musical instruments, bells, tam-tams, flutes, rattles and flashlights to make the route sparkle. Drinks with alcohol are only allowed inside the fenced Village de Noël, and no one may cross the street until the parade ends.

When are the Christmas lights turned on in Sainte-Julie's Vieux-Village?

The Illumination du Vieux-Village marks the official start of the holidays. In 2026 it is on November 20 at 6:30 pm on the public square at rue Principale and boulevard Saint-Joseph. Santa's elves take photos and give out free hot chocolate and an ornament marking Sainte-Julie's 175th anniversary. In 2025 the lighting was on November 21.

Where can kids mail a letter to Santa in Sainte-Julie?

At the 2026 Illumination du Vieux-Village on November 20, children can drop their letters in a special mailbox set up on the public square. The parade organizers also post a printable letter to Santa on their website so kids can fill it in before the Défilé de Noël on December 5.

What is the fée des étoiles at the Sainte-Julie lighting?

The fée des étoiles, or Star Fairy, is a classic Quebec Christmas character who appears alongside Santa. At the 2025 Illumination du Vieux-Village on November 21, the Star Fairy joined Santa and his elves for photos while they handed out ornaments, candy canes and hot chocolate to families.

When did the Sainte-Julie Christmas market begin?

The Marché de Noël is new. The city held the first one on December 5 to 7, 2025, at the community centre at 550 boulevard Saint-Joseph, with free entry and local artisans and food producers. The 2026 Marché de Noël runs December 4 to 6, the same weekend as the parade.

Is there a Christmas story hour with Santa in Sainte-Julie?

In 2025 the Sainte-Julie library hosted a special Christmas story hour with Santa for children aged 2 to 5 on Friday, December 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Watch the city's events calendar in late November for this year's library holiday programs, since spaces for little ones can fill quickly.

Can you skate with Santa in Sainte-Julie?

Yes, the city has held a Patin libre avec le père Noël, a public skate with Santa at the arena, as part of its holiday programming. In 2025 it cost $1 for children and $2 for adults, and helmets were required for everyone on the ice. Check the city calendar for the 2026 date.

Was there a drag float in the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade?

Yes. In 2022 a float led by drag artists joined the Défilé de Noël for the first time. The organizers describe it as a milestone that showed the parade's values of inclusion and acceptance, so that everyone watching could feel welcome at the holiday celebration.

What is there to do with kids in Sainte-Julie over the Christmas break?

During the 2025 holidays the city kept outdoor rinks open from 9 am to 9 pm when weather allowed, lent free tubes at the sliding hill on set afternoons such as December 20 to 22 and 26 to 29, and ran low-cost public skating and gym times. Expect a similar schedule in 2026 and check the city site daily for rink conditions.

Sources

  1. Notre histoire, Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie
  2. Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie (2026 program, Village de Noël, 50/50 draw), Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie
  3. La magie du temps des Fêtes s'installe à Sainte-Julie avec le Marché de Noël, Ville de Sainte-Julie
  4. Défilé de Noël, 6 décembre 2025, Ville de Sainte-Julie
  5. La Ville de Sainte-Julie accorde une aide financière de 15 000 $ au Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie, Ville de Sainte-Julie
  6. L'illumination du Vieux-Village lancera la magie des Fêtes à Sainte-Julie, Ville de Sainte-Julie
  7. Activités du temps des Fêtes, Ville de Sainte-Julie

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.

Sainte-Julie Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Sainte-Julie this year?

Rally Takes the Train has confirmed 2 free Christmas events for kids in Sainte-Julie for 2026: the Défilé de Noël and Village de Noël on December 5 and the Marché de Noël from December 4 to 6, both listed on the Ville de Sainte-Julie website.

When is the Sainte-Julie Christmas parade in 2026?

Saturday, December 5, 2026. The first float leaves the Maxi at Domaine des Hauts-Bois at 6 pm and heads through the Vieux-Village. It is free.

What is the Village de Noël?

A Christmas village set up by the parade organizers in the Centre communautaire parking lot, 550 boul. Saint-Joseph, from 4 to 10 pm on December 5, 2026, with activities for kids and adults.

When is the Sainte-Julie Christmas market?

Friday, December 4 from 6 to 9 pm, Saturday, December 5 from 1 to 9 pm and Sunday, December 6 from 10 am to 4 pm, 2026, at the Centre communautaire. Entry is free.

Who do I contact about Sainte-Julie holiday events?

For the parade and Christmas Village, the Défilé de Noël de Sainte-Julie at president@defiledenoel.com. For the market, project lead Nancy Richard at nancyrichard@live.ca. The city recreation department is at loisirs@saintejulie.ca.

Are there more Christmas events near Sainte-Julie?

Yes. Our Canada Christmas events for kids guide lists confirmed events across the country, including Montreal and the South Shore, 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 city or tourism calendar. We last checked Sainte-Julie on November 11, 2026. Rally is also contacting each organizer to confirm details like parking, restrooms 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
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