Modified 2020 Christmas in Cambridge festival set to launch Nov. 23

It will look different this year but our annual Christmas in Cambridge festival is still set to bring holiday cheer to the community this holiday season.

Event staff at the City of Cambridge have modified the award-winning festival to provide safe pandemic alternatives. This year’s festival will focus on two main events: Winter Illumination; a city-wide festival of lights, and an Online Cambridge Christmas Market.

“The Christmas in Cambridge festival has been a holiday tradition in Cambridge for almost 20 years,” says Mayor Kathryn McGarry. “We knew it couldn’t be the same this year, but we were committed to still providing a way for the community to celebrate. I’m proud of what our staff have come up with and look forward to joining the community - separately of course – to celebrate this magical time of year. We could all use a little good cheer right now.”

The festival kicks off on Monday, Nov. 23 with both the Online Cambridge Christmas Market and Winter Illumination officially opening that day. The community is reminded to keep safety top of mind and adhere to pandemic guidelines on gathering and social distancing.

Winter Illumination

This new addition to the festival combines some of the best-loved features of our popular Music and Lights in the Village and Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night events but without the crowds. The community is invited to experience the magic of the season with festive light installations throughout the city, many created by local artists.

An online interactive map will be available on our website (look out for it closer to the day), highlighting all the displays across the city, letting residents plan their own routes. Running from Nov. 23 to Jan 2, there will be plenty of time to visit all the displays.

Online Cambridge Christmas Market

The Online Cambridge Christmas Market offers the same great shopping experience as past years, just in an online format. The market will be open online for one month from Nov. 23 – Dec. 23. Shoppers can browse almost 30 local crafters, makers and artists from the safety and distance of home.

Market vendors will be offering multiple delivery options including a one-day, curbside pick-up option on Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Visit the City’s website beginning Nov. 23 to access the online market.    

Festival-goers are also encouraged to share their Christmas in Cambridge experience by tagging posts and pictures on social media with the hashtag #CinC2020.

For more information on Christmas in Cambridge events, visit www.christmasincambridge.ca.

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Primary Media Contact:

Erin Haase
Communications Advisor
City of Cambridge
haasee@cambridge.ca

Project Contacts:

Lisa Whelan
Recreation Coordinator
City of Cambridge
whelanl@cambridge.ca

Leanne Bond
Recreation Coordinator
City of Cambridge
bondl@cambridge.ca