Parade, Tree Lighting, Christmas Markets Coming to Downtown | Orangeville Citizen

November 14, 2024 · 0 comments

By Sam Odrowski

The spirit of Christmas will be felt throughout Orangeville this weekend.

The traditional tree lighting, Santa Claus parade and holiday markets will take place from Friday, November 15th to Sunday, November 17th.

Santa has a brand new sleigh for the parade on Saturday, November 16, and around 55 floats are signed up to take part in the annual event.

“The Santa Clays parade definitely kicks off the holiday season,” said Alison Dukovski, Town of Orangeville’s recreation and events supervisor, who organizes the parade. “It really brings the community together.”

This year’s theme is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and about 10 more floats will be on the parade route than last year, extending the duration of the event slightly.

“There are a lot of returning floats and then a good handful of brand new groups that will be participating,” Dukovski said.

There will be the annual float competition where local judges will decide the best float in this year’s parade.

Dukovski said it’s a holiday event not to be missed by residents of Orangeville and the surrounding area.

“One of the ways to kick off the holiday season is with the Santa Claus Parade,” she enthused. “Share in the holiday spirit with the community.”

Tree lighting returns 15 Nov

The annual tree lighting ceremony, which takes place in front of City Hall each year, provides a special outing for families and residents to feel the magic of downtown Orangeville and get into the Christmas spirit.

“The tree lighting was one of the first things my family and I did after we moved here in 2001, and it just felt like we had landed in this magical place,” said OBIA Executive Director Alison Scheel. which organizes weekend tree lighting and holiday markets. “The community spirit and sense of community was something I had never experienced before.”

Festivities for the tree lighting ceremony begin at 17.00 with a roving light show, character walk and caroling until 8 p.m

Face painting, caricatures and balloon twisting will take place simultaneously inside Orangeville City Hall from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Academy of Performing Arts Holiday Dance Performance will take place from 5:45 to 6 p.m. This will be followed by Steve Baker’s Merry Magic show from 6pm to 6.30pm

The annual ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – Reading by David Narin from Theater Orangeville runs from 6:30 to 6:35 p.m.

Live musical performances featuring the Theater Orangeville Young Singers (TOYS) Choir, Elizabeth Dubois and a special guest artist from the theater will take place from 6:35 to 6:55 p.m.

Once this is complete, the tree lighting will take place from 6:55 a.m. to 7:10 p.m., with special guests: Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones, Orangeville Mayor Lisa Post, Town Crier Andrew Welch and Santa in attendance.

Carol sings from the TOYS Choir will follow the tree lighting from 7:10 a.m. to 7:20 p.m

The event concludes with a meet and greet of winter-themed movie characters and visits with Santa on Second St. at the Town Hall from 19.10 to 20.15.

After that, Broadway will be open to traffic, but Second St. remains closed.

Santa Claus parade set for November 16

Orangeville’s annual Santa Claus Parade starts at 5pm on Saturday November 16, but the pre-parade entertainment will take place on Broadway starting at 3:30 p.m.

The parade route begins at the intersection of First. St. and Hansen Blvd. Floats will travel south down first. St. toward Broadway. Floats will then turn left on Broadway and continue east before turning up Fourth St. where the parade will end.

Families and spectators can watch the parade from anywhere along the route from a safe distance.

Gift markets run all weekend

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Joy and Lights Holiday Gift Market takes place on Second St., at Orangeville Town Hall, inspired by charming European Christmas markets.

These markets will feature handcrafted holiday treasures from approximately 30 vendors, festive treats, music, live entertainment and visits with Saint Nick.

The gift market on Friday (Nov. 15) runs from 12.00 to 20.30, the gift market on Saturday (Nov. 16) is from 11 am to 7 pm, and the gift market on Sunday (November 17) is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at

Don’t miss it – Saint Nick appears at the market on both Friday and Saturday!