Things to do over the holidays in Burlington, ON

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 23^rd.

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 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th!  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 22^nd 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 6^th 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 2^nd.

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

Holiday Fun in Burlington, Ontario

And so comes the Christmas season (hard to believe it's less than 20 days away) and with it lots of holiday fun. 

Crafting at RBG

Until January 6, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens for Holiday Traditions including an all new and extensive botanical model train installation. You can read all about our sneak peak at this event here. 

Be sure to head to the waterfront during the holiday to take in the Lakeside Festival of Lights running to January 9^th.   

Weekends and evenings (Wed-Fri) you can visit Bronte Creek Provincial Park for Homestead Christmas and experience the traditions of a Victorian Christmas on the farm in 1900.  Visit the reindeer barn and then enjoy a personal visit with the big guy - no reservations required.  

This Friday December 7^th join the Museums of Burlington at Ireland House for A Taste of Christmas Past: Festive Food & Drink of Yesteryear.  Enjoy festive holiday food samplings and beverage tastings from the Ireland Family home. Special activities, live entertainment and costumed historic performers complete the evening. Be sure to get your tickets before they sell out.

For those that appreciate the indie music scene, be sure to check out Burly Calling – a DIY Music Festival December 7th-9th.  Hometown Youtube sensation Walk off the Earth return home for this awesome event.

Streetcar Museum

Head to the Streetcar Museum December 8th for Christmas on the Rails and enjoy a ride among the trees with carols in the air.  Also on December 8th you will want to be in Downtown Burlington for the Santa 5k run, when over 3,800 Santas will hit the streets - check out the video from last year here.  

Sunday December 9^th, The Crossroads Centre presents a Kid’s Christmas with crafts, snacks and a God rocks concert. On Monday December 10^th join them for Christmas in the Square.  Country sensation Michelle Wright, along with six other talented Canadian musicians, will perform your favourite Christmas classics . Radio and television personality Casey Clarke will host this inspiring Christmas evening. A limited number of tickets are available for this intimate taping performance.

For the outdoor enthusiast, Conservation Halton has launched a new holiday event at Hilton Falls - December 16^th enjoy the simple pleasures of nature with Christmas on the Trails.  

Experience the Magic of the Holidays at Paletta Mansion Open House on Monday December 17th from 11am-3pm.  Refreshments available to purchase. Donations of unwrapped toys or canned food will be collected for the Salvation Army.

If you are a fan of the arts, there are lots of great holiday performances coming to the Burlington Performing Arts Centre including The Nutcracker Suite, Leahy Family Christmas and many more.  Be sure to check the calendar for a complete event listing and get your tickets before these popular shows sell out.

As the holiday winds-up, take advantage of your last opportunity to celebrate 2012 and welcome 2013 with the City of Burlington New Year's Eve Celebrations at Central Park.  Lots of family fun activities capped off with fireworks to ring in the New Year.  Conservation Halton rings in 2013 with their New Year's Eve Hoopla and Bronte Creek is guaranteed to be a howling good time with their New Year's Eve Howls & Hikes.  

Don't worry the new year will be lots of great events too...no matter what you choose remember if you need ideas and help planning your trip visit our website or give us a call at 1-877-499-9989.