Christmas Events for Kids in Sudbury, Ontario (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Sudbury, Ontario. The season opens on November 21 with Sudbury Santa Claus Parade and runs until December 6 with Christmas in the Park. 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 Sudbury: 3
  • First: Sudbury Santa Claus Parade, Sudbury, November 21
  • Free events: None confirmed yet

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 Sudbury, Ontario

Kids’ Christmas events
3 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Sudbury
Season
November 21 to December 6
Free events
None confirmed yet
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Sudbury

Listed soonest first: 3 confirmed events in Sudbury.

Santa Claus parade

Sudbury Santa Claus Parade

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The committee's page lists the 2026 parade for Saturday, November 21. Fireworks start at 5:15 pm and the lit-up floats step off at 5:30 pm. The route follows Ste. Anne, Elgin, Elm, Durham, Larch and Lisgar, plus parts of Notre Dame Avenue.

Route roads close at 3:00 pm and reopen about an hour after the last entry passes. Cars left on the route after 3:00 pm are towed, so plan to park off the route. The committee says children vote for the Children's Choice award themselves, which gives kids a reason to pick a favourite float.

Parent tip: Park off the route before 3:00 pm and dress for a November evening outdoors. The page does not give an admission price.

Host
Sudbury Santa Claus Parade Committee (opens in a new tab)
Where
Downtown Sudbury parade route, Notre Dame Avenue, between Kathleen Street and Ste. Anne Road (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Sudbury Santa Claus Parade Committee (opens in a new tab)

New events in Sudbury, Ontario every week

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 2 more Sudbury, 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 Sudbury, Ontario.
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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Santa
  • 1 Story time
  • 1 Lights
  • 1 Parades

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Story time with Santa

Christmas in the Park

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Kivi Park lists Christmas in the Park for December 5 and 6, 2026, from 11 am to 6 pm. Free photos with Santa are taken at the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan, and kids can post a letter to Santa's mailbox. The page says every letter gets a personal reply.

Other stops include ornament making to take home, cookie decorating, s'mores by the fire and an interactive Christmas story with Santa's elves, where children make reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve. BeaverTails, Pizza Roma and the Wishing Tree Cafe sell food, and the Christmas lights and displays come on at sunset.

Parent tip: Stay until dark to see the lights come on. The page gives no admission price, so check with the park before you go.

Host
Kivi Park (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kivi Park, 4472 Long Lake Rd, Sudbury P3G 1K4 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kivi Park (opens in a new tab)

New events in Sudbury, Ontario every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Sudbury, Ontario every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Family Christmas event

Santa Shuffle Fun Run and Elf Walk (Sudbury)

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The Salvation Army runs its Santa Shuffle in Sudbury on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The 1K starts at 10 am and the 5K follows once the 1K is done. Registration includes a race bib and a finisher's medal that doubles as a Christmas tree ornament.

The event raises money for food, shelter and practical help for people facing hardship in the community. Registration is one price per person with automatic discounts for youth and seniors, and group rates for 4 or more. No minimum age is listed.

Parent tip: Register ahead on Race Roster; sign-up is open through December 4. Group discounts apply for 4 or more people.

Host
The Salvation Army (opens in a new tab)
Where
Science North, 100 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury P3E 5S9 (opens in maps)
Registration
Required
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with The Salvation Army (opens in a new tab)

New events in Sudbury, Ontario every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Sudbury, Ontario every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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More Christmas events for kids in Canada

A story for the trip home

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

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

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Sudbury, Ontario, each on its host’s own page: Christmas in the Park (Sudbury), Sudbury Santa Claus Parade (Sudbury) and Santa Shuffle Fun Run and Elf Walk (Sudbury) (Sudbury). Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

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

Where to see Santa: Christmas in the Park (Sudbury) and Sudbury Santa Claus Parade (Sudbury). Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Sudbury, Ontario?

Christmas story times on this page: Christmas in the Park (Sudbury).

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 5, 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 Sudbury, Ontario

Sudbury's Santa parade started in the 1960s as a daytime march of floats and a band, with Santa at the very back. Now it runs after dark with fireworks, and downtown also has a 26-foot tree named Merry and Bright.

Service clubs, a marching band and Santa at the back

Sudbury's Santa parade began in the 1960s as a short daytime procession of floats and a marching band, put on by local service clubs through a much smaller downtown. Santa came last. It later moved to the evening, and today every entry arrives lit and decorated and is judged on how well it does that. Fireworks over downtown open the night each November.

The parade committee runs it with local businesses, sponsors and hundreds of volunteers. The Children's Choice award is voted by the kids watching, and the committee says it has never gone to the most expensive float.

68 floats and seven closed streets in 2025

The 2025 parade rolled on Saturday, November 22, with a classic Christmas films theme. Thousands came downtown, and Santa rode on the 68th float. The committee calls it the biggest parade it has run, with 68 entries, more than 130 volunteers on the night and seven downtown streets closed.

The tree at Tom Davies Square was lit on Friday, December 5, 2025, and Kivi Park held Christmas in the Park on December 6 and 7. Science North's Festival of Lights ran nightly from November 23, 2025 to January 6, 2026. In 2026 the parade is set for November 21.

Merry and Bright, a 26-foot spruce with 1,325 bulbs

The Mayor's tree at Tom Davies Square is named Merry and Bright. It is an artificial spruce, 26 feet tall and 12 feet across, wrapped in 1,325 warm white LED bulbs that use 80 percent less energy than old incandescent ones. At the 2024 ceremony, on December 6, the Young Sudbury Singers and the Young Thunderbirds performed, and hot chocolate was free.

The city said the tree stays lit until the week after Orthodox Christmas. Science North's Festival of Lights raises money for the Sudbury Charities Foundation, which helps children in need in the city.

Traditions today

  • Santa Claus Parade: Fireworks start at 5:15 p.m. and the parade at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2026, themed A Very Merry Sudbury Christmas.
  • Children's Choice float award: Kids watching from the sidewalk vote for their favourite float.
  • Christmas in the Park at Kivi Park: Ornament making, cookie decorating, s'mores and free Santa photos on December 5 and 6, 2026.
  • Letters to Santa: A mailbox at Kivi Park's event collects wish lists, and each gets a personalized reply from Santa.
  • Mayor's tree lighting: The Merry and Bright tree at Tom Davies Square was lit at 6 p.m. on December 6 in 2024, with youth choirs and free hot chocolate.
  • Festival of Lights: Science North's parking lot hosts a nightly light display by donation, which ran from November 23, 2025 to January 6, 2026.

A fact for kids

Sudbury's parade has a Children's Choice award that only kids vote on, and it has never gone to the most expensive float.

Questions about Christmas in Sudbury, Ontario

When is the Sudbury Santa Claus Parade in 2026?

The parade is set for Saturday, November 21, 2026, in downtown Sudbury. Fireworks begin at 5:15 p.m. and the parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Notre Dame Avenue closes at 1:00 p.m. for marshalling, and the rest of the route closes at 3:00 p.m.

What is the theme of the 2026 Sudbury Santa parade?

The 2026 theme is A Very Merry Sudbury Christmas. It is the 66th annual parade. Registration for floats was open at that point, so the final line-up of floats was not yet set when it was published.

Which streets does the Sudbury Santa parade use?

The route runs along Ste. Anne, Elgin, Elm, Durham, Larch and Lisgar, plus Notre Dame Avenue between Elm and Ste. Anne. Route roads close at 3:00 p.m. and reopen about an hour after the last entry passes. Cars left on the route after 3:00 p.m. are towed.

When did Sudbury's Santa parade begin?

It began in the 1960s as a short daytime procession of floats and a marching band, run by local service clubs through a smaller downtown. Santa came last. It later moved to the evening, when floats were lit up, and fireworks were added to open the night.

How big was the 2025 Sudbury Santa parade?

The committee says 2025 was the largest parade it has run: 68 entries, more than 130 volunteers working the night and seven downtown streets closed. It rolled on Saturday, November 22, 2025, and CTV News reported that thousands came. Santa rode on the 68th float.

Do the floats in Sudbury's parade have to be lit?

Yes. The committee says every entry arrives lit and decorated and is judged on how well it does that. That is why the parade runs after dark. It also has a Children's Choice award, which is voted by the kids watching rather than by judges.

How is the Children's Choice award decided in Sudbury?

Children watching the parade vote for it, not the judges. The parade committee says it has never gone to the most expensive float. That makes it a fair question to ask a young child on the sidewalk: which float did you like best, and why?

Where can kids meet Santa in Sudbury in 2026?

Kivi Park lists free photos with Santa at the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan during Christmas in the Park on December 5 and 6, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Santa also appears on the last float of the November 21 parade. Check each host for changes before you go.

Besides the Santa parade, what can Sudbury kids do at Christmas?

Kivi Park's Christmas in the Park on December 5 and 6, 2026, has ornament making, cookie decorating, s'mores and a fireside story. The Salvation Army's Santa Shuffle on December 5 has a 1K Elf Walk. Rally Takes the Train's Sudbury Christmas events guide lists the dates and addresses.

What happens at Christmas in the Park at Kivi Park?

Kivi Park lists ornament making, cookie decorating, s'mores by the fire, free Santa photos and letters to Santa's mailbox. An interactive story by the fire has Santa's elves, and kids make reindeer food for Christmas Eve. The Christmas lights and displays come on at sunset.

Where is Kivi Park and when is Christmas in the Park?

Kivi Park is at 4472 Long Lake Rd in Sudbury. Christmas in the Park 2026 runs December 5 and 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., according to the park's events page. The page does not state an admission price, so ask the park before you head out.

Can kids send a letter to Santa in Sudbury?

Yes, at Kivi Park's Christmas in the Park on December 5 and 6, 2026. Kids drop their wish list in Santa's mailbox, and the park says every letter receives a personalized reply from Santa. Bring a letter already written, or have crayons ready for a quick one on site.

What is the Mayor's Christmas tree in Sudbury called?

The tree at Tom Davies Square is named Merry and Bright. It is an artificial spruce 26 feet tall and 12 feet in diameter, with 1,325 warm white LED bulbs. The City of Greater Sudbury said in 2024 that it stays lit until the week after Orthodox Christmas.

What happens at Sudbury's tree lighting ceremony?

At the 2024 ceremony, on December 6 at 6 p.m. in the Tom Davies Square courtyard, the Young Sudbury Singers and the Young Thunderbirds performed and free hot chocolate was served. GOVA Transit offered free rides to it. The 2026 date has not been confirmed yet.

What is the Festival of Lights at Science North?

It is an outdoor light display in the Science North parking lot, at 100 Ramsey Lake Rd. In the 2025 to 2026 season it ran every night from November 23 to January 6, 5 to 10 p.m., with admission by donation to the Sudbury Charities Foundation. 2026 to 2027 dates were not yet posted.

Which Sudbury Christmas outings fit kids between November 21 and December 5?

Start with the Santa parade on November 21, 2026, then Kivi Park's Christmas in the Park on December 5 and 6. The Salvation Army's Santa Shuffle at Science North is also December 5. Rally Takes the Train's Sudbury Christmas events guide has the times, addresses and prices when hosts give them.

Is anything scheduled in Sudbury for children on December 25, 2026?

Nothing is listed for December 25, 2026. Last season Science North's Festival of Lights was open seven days a week, 5 to 10 p.m., through January 6, so an evening light walk was possible. Check Science North for the 2026 to 2027 dates.

What is the Santa Shuffle in Sudbury?

It is the Salvation Army's holiday fundraiser, with a 1K Elf Walk and a 5K Fun Run at Science North on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The 1K starts at 10 a.m. and the 5K follows. Money raised supports food, shelter and practical help for people facing hardship in the community.

How much does the Sudbury Santa Shuffle cost?

Registration is $61.59 per person, with $10 off automatically for ages 18 and under and 65 and over. A group discount is applied at checkout for groups of 4 or more. Sign-up at that price runs through December 4. The finisher's medal doubles as a Christmas tree ornament.

Is there a charge to watch the Sudbury Santa parade?

The parade site lists float entry fees, from $75 for a not-for-profit first vehicle, but gives no price for watching from the route. Park away from the route, because vehicles left on it after 3:00 p.m. are towed. Check the committee's page for any updates before November 21.

Sources

  1. Sudbury Santa Claus Parade, 2026, Sudbury Santa Claus Parade Committee
  2. About the parade, Sudbury Santa Claus Parade Committee
  3. Sudbury Santa Claus parade is set for Nov. 21, CTV News Northern Ontario
  4. Events: Christmas in the Park 2026, Kivi Park
  5. 2026 Santa Shuffle Sudbury Fun Run and Elf Walk, The Salvation Army (Race Roster)
  6. A Festive Evening: The Mayor's Tree Lighting Ceremony, City of Greater Sudbury
  7. Holiday Fun, Science North
  8. Sudbury Santa Claus parade draws thousands with Christmas movie theme, CTV News Northern Ontario
  9. 2025 Christmas and Holiday Activities in Sudbury, TodoCanada
  10. Sudbury rings in holidays with tree lighting celebration, CTV News Northern Ontario
Kelsey Cecil
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