It’s a wonderful
time of year: there’s a chill in the air, Christmas music playing at every
turn, and we are all reminded of just how lucky we are to spend the holidays
with our loved ones, even if it does result in a Griswald-esque season of frenzy.
This being said, when Johnny Mathis wrote ‘It’s
Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas’, the wisdom of the lyric “and Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again” has
stood the test of time. It can be so difficult to find a way to keep the little
ones entertained over the holiday season! Luckily, we’re happy to provide you
with a list of recommended activities that are sure to keep the kids healthy,
festive and MUCH too tired to stay up past their bedtime, no matter how many reindeer
they hear on the roof.
This season Burlington is bustling with fun and
physical activities that are perfect for the whole family: visit Rotary Centennial Pond at Discovery Landing or your local arena for free skating
sponsored by Tim Hortons, or take a trip to Glen Eden to hit the
slopes! And don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for special gym & ice
holiday rates, courtesy of the Parks & Recreation ‘Winter Break in the
City’ program!
Another
great location for spending a day outdoors is Bronte
Creek Provincial Park where you can not only avoid the Mayan apocalypse,
but also enjoy skating on their giant outdoor rink
(skate rentals available), and if mother nature cooperates you can toboggan,
enjoy the ski trails or Snowshoe. The
playbarn is always open and a great distraction for kids of all ages. Don’t forget that their Homestead Christmas
runs until December 23rd.
Time-travelling
not your thing? Visit the Royal Botanical
Gardens for a more contemporary celebration! Check out the RBG’s
Christmas train set, stay for storytime
and then head outside for a winter hike. You can even steal a little bit of
time for yourself (and maybe a ‘holiday-sized’ brandy-and-eggnog) after
dropping the kids off at one of the garden’s Winter Discovery Day Camps on January 2nd, 3rd and
4th! And surely after all the
time you will have had to relax, you’ll have all the energy in the world to take
the family to Crawford Lake for a
snowshoeing or cross country skiing expedition, Hilton Falls on December 22nd
for Christmas on the
Trails or a hike at Mountsberg where you can learn
about majestic birds of prey. Or—if you like the idea of a wintry escape with animal
friends but prefer fur to feathers—don’t miss your chance to take a horse-drawn wagon
ride
through Mountsberg’s beautiful landscapes, followed my marshmallow roasting
over an open fire starting January 12th. Bring your blanket and your camera,
this is sure to be a beautiful family memory!
We know what you’re thinking: that all sounds amazing but what if the weather is bad? I can only keep the kids occupied with paper
cutout snowflakes for so long! Fear
not, fellow Burlingtonian! Buy your tickets now for Aladdin at the Burlington
Performing Arts Centre! This pantomime is geared towards
kids but fun for all ages: be a part of the show with this interactive
theatrical experience.
And while many of us will be heading back to
work after the holidays, school aged children are off for another week which
means trying to find fun activities to fill their days. The Museums
of Burlington are a great way to spend the day exploring the history of
Burlington and two of it’s famous residents – Joseph Brant & the Irelands.
If you kids are more interested in the arts consider a visit to the Burlington Art Centre which is home to the
world’s largest collection of contemporary ceramics. Plus they have recently opened the Creative
Hub - the BAC Creative Hub located just off the Brock Lobby. Drop in and get
creative. Desks and chairs, art
supplies, activity sheets and art books to inspire, and display space for
artwork are all available. Free. Open to all ages during BAC hours. On January 6th from 2-3pm you can
participate in a free Guided tour led by a trained docent. Plus there is a very cool exhibition in the
Lee-Chin Family Gallery - Zoom:
New Works by Reinhard Reitzenstein. The artist has a large visual
representation of the Higgs boson particle (referred to in the media as the God
particle) and electrons suspended from the ceiling, as well as photographs of
oceans, landscapes and close ups of moss-wrapped stones dripping with moisture
on the walls - from vastness to sub-atomic events. Both the museums and the art centre are
closed the week of Dec. 24-Jan. 1 and open regular hours starting January 2nd.
Of course, we would be remiss if we
did not also relay the many choices for a family friendly New Years Eve. Visit
the New Years Eve Hoopla at Conservation Halton for activities for the
whole family including a wagon ride, puppet show, and a scavenger hunt, or enjoy the celebration at Central Park, where you and the
family can look forward to free skating, a Mad Science activity
station, games, and two fireworks displays. You can also head to Bronte Creek
Provincial Park who will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with some howl'n
going on! The Park Naturalist will be leading evening hikes where visitors will
learn to howl like coyotes and then gather round the bonfire for the Countdown
for Kids!
If your little ones are getting to be
not-so-little and have reached the dreaded “I can’t be seen with you in
public!” age, send them off for a New Year’s Eve party of their own at Velocity, where kids between the ages of 8 and 14 can
celebrate with a live DJ and free pizza in a safe, supervised environment. Finally,
if after all this the kids have any energy left whatsoever, bring them over to Tansley Woods Community Centre on New Years Day from
noon to 4pm where the fun continues! FREE swimming, a soccer
skills workshop, a Wii games room, crafts and all sorts of entertainment make
this party a must!
Remember to check the Burlington Events Calendar for new
events, because there is always something new and exciting happening in
Burlington! We wish you a fun-filled, safe and festive holiday season, and a
happy New Year!
If you are looking for a listing of what is open & closed over the holidays visit our homepage for a downloadable PDF
Wishing you a very Happy New Year from all of us here at Tourism Burlington!
TourBurl Girl Elyse
Every year we look forward to visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens during the Christmas Season. The holiday decorating coupled with lots of fun activities for both children and adults make for a great way to spend a few hours or more exploring indoors and out.
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a sneak preview of this year's Holiday Traditions event which will run from Friday November 16, 2012 to January 6, 2013 at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. From the moment my daughters (aged 2 & 5) heard they were going to the RBG that's all they could talk about. I am sure both the children and teachers at their school and daycare can attest to the excitement surrounding this evening and I have to say that the event did not disappoint.
Upon arrival at the RBG you are greeted by two very large toy soldiers, okay they are not real but they certainly look official guarding the holiday entrance. Once inside you can't help but feel festive, from the beautiful decorations, live plants and holiday doors that line the walkways to the Pièce de résistance - the train set!
Until you have the opportunity to see the train show you really can't imagine what a work of art it is. Created by landscape architect Paul Busse this botanical train installation features a coast-to-coast tribute to over 15 Canadian landmarks. Constructed from over 7 tons of cedar slabs, 3,000 pounds of rock and 250 feet of track this visual homage features landmarks such as LIUNA Station, Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, Parliament buildings and so much more.
We, like everyone else headed straight to the train show and watched as the two trains make their way through this display much to the delight of the children (and adults). My co-workers arrived shortly after us and my five year old couldn't wait to give them a guided tour of everything - it is a great opportunity to talk to your children about places they might have seen or ones that you hope to visit.
Once we were finished viewing the train show we headed upstairs for the children's activities. There was holiday crafting and both my daughters were excited to make ornaments with oranges & cloves, which now smell amazing hanging next to our fireplace. Throughout the event there are various children's activities running on weekends that will keep your little ones engaged and in the holiday mood. You will also have the opportunity to get outdoors with a guided winter hike.
Of course no holiday event would be complete without the big man in red - SANTA! Be sure to bring a camera to capture your visit with Santa and his reindeer. I hope everyone has managed to stay off the "naughty" list this year. If you want a chance to get a little more up close and personal with Santa be sure to reserve your spot at the Breakfast with Santa on December 8th or 16th.
Nothing puts me in a festive mood quicker than a jaunty holiday carol and for me, one of the highlights of the evening was the carolling by Harbourtown Sound Chorus Hamilton (also appearing Nov. 25th). Visitors to Holiday Traditions will be treated to some great entertainment (selected dates) including the Bel Canto Strings Academy, Phunktown 5 and more.
If you plan to visit this weekend you can do double duty and get some holiday shopping done at the annual Auxiliary Christmas Show and Sale. If you are looking for a unique gift for under the tree this year, this sale is for you.
Aside from the event at the RBG you can also take time to relax and unwind with a stroll through the indoor gardens - nothing like tropical temps and the smell of fresh flowers to melt away the stress!
If you are coming in from out of town we are happy to help you plan your visit via phone, email or check out our website.
Happy Holidays!
