Christmas in Cambridge

Friday November 23, 2018

Hespeler Village

The event includes:

A play at Idea Exchange Hespeler

 A concert of local choirs at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

 Magical tree lighting at Hespeler Town Centre at 8:15 pm

For more information on Music and Lights in the Village email the Event Staff or call (519)740-4681 ext 4277.

Getting there: Transit to the Village

Take transit to the festivities! Routes 51 and 203 run right through all the action in Hespeler Village.

For depart times, plug in your trip on the GRT Trip Planner.

 From Sportsworld:

• Route 203 or
• Route 200 to Ainslie Terminal, transfer to Route 51

From Preston:

• Route 56 or
• Route 52 to Ainslie Terminal, transfer to Route 51 or
• Route 52 to Sportsworld Station, transfer to 203 or
• Route 64 to Cambridge Centre Station, transfer to Route 203

From Galt:

• Route 203 or
• Route 200 to Ainslie Terminal, transfer to route 51

From Hespeler:

• Route 51 or Route 200

 Other parts of town? Plan your trip here.

Date to be announced for 2018

Malcolm Street Train Station (10 Malcolm Street)

The CP Holiday Train annual Food Bank fundraising program takes place at Malcolm Street Station in Cambridge. Entering its 19th year, the program has raised more than $10.6 million and 3.6 million pounds of food since 1999. Two trains decorated in lights, start their excursion on the Canadian East Coast and finish on the West Coast, collecting donations along the way. Please bring your donation of food or money to support the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank.  Parking for the event is available at the Water Street Parking Lot, Galt Collegiate Institute. Accessible parking is available on site.

Please note:  Tickets are not available to ride on the train.

Relive the magic of the 2016 train with this video! 

For more information on The CP Holiday Train email the Event Staff or call (519)740-4681 ext 4277.

Getting There

Beat the car crowds and take transit! The Ainslie Bus Terminal is a short 15 minute walk from the trail station. Plan your trip at http://web.grt.ca/hastinfoweb/.

Saturday December 1, 2018, 10 am to 5 pm

Central Park, 615 King Street East

Central Park transforms into a place of candy and magic. The day is full with live entertainment, interactive games, a giant ice slide and enough photo opportunities to fill anyone's social media pages. Candyland is a great holiday activity for families with young children.

Enjoy the lights and décor of Candyland from December 2 to January 1, 2018. Take a walk through Central Park (615 King Street East), and enjoy the light displays and candy-themed decorations. Bring your skates any day or night to enjoy the ice skating rink. Admission is free!

Helmets are recommended. Children must be supervised by their parent(s) or guardian(s).

There are no lessons or skate rentals offered during this time.

For more information on Candyland email the Event Staff or call (519)740-4681 ext 4277.

Getting There

Multiple transit routes run through Preston. Start and end your Candyland day with transit. For routes and times, visit http://web.grt.ca/hastinfoweb/.

Thursday December 6, 2018, 7:00 pm

Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street

A modern twist on caroling, all ages can enjoy walking through downtown Cambridge with thousands of participants. Download the caroling music and share it through your MP3 player or portable CD player!

We're starting the walk at Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street. View the new route map for 2017. Please note, this map has been updated as of Dec. 6, 2017.

Phil Kline's Unsilent Night is an event held in more than 30 cities around the world. Relive the magic with this video from 2016!

For more information on Phil Kline's Unsilent Night email the Event Staff or call (519)740-4681 ext 4277.

Getting There

Cambridge City Hall is a short 1 minute walk from the Ainslie Bus Terminal. Plan your route at http://web.grt.ca/hastinfoweb/

Thursday December 6 to Sunday December 9, 2018

Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street

Quality vendors will fill City Hall and Market Square to create a one-stop shopping destination for unique gifts, seasonal food and a great shopping atmosphere.

Hours of Operation

Thursday Dec 6, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
Friday, Dece 7, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
Saturday, Dec 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (featuring the Cambridge Farmers' Market, 7 am to 1 pm) 
Sunday Dec 9, 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Want to be a vendor at the Christmas Market? Complete our Vendor Application today.  Space is limited, apply early and ensure your application is complete. 

Cambridge Christmas Market Postcard

Vendor Fees

Please note, outdoor 10x10 vendors must provide their own tent, heat & lighting.

Take a look at our 2017 vendors! 

Look back at the 2016 Christmas Market with this video! 

For more information email the Cambridge Christmas Market Coordinators.

MondayDecember 31, 2018, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Hespler Arena, 640 Ellis Road

Join us to celebrate a new year with some skating! The City offers wrist bands for an hour of skate time . Only one skate time per family. Doors of the Hespeler Arena, 640 Ellis Road, open at 4:45 p.m.

Activities to keep everyone entertained off the ice include:

• Crafts
• Games
• Photo booth
• Bouncy castle
• Live performances 

For more information on RBC Present's New Year's Eve Party email the Event Staff or call (519)740-4681 ext 4277.

Apply to become a volunteer at one of the following Christmas in Cambridge events:

Music & Lights in the Village, Fri Nov 23

• Setup & takedown of event
• Costumed characters/Mascot (interact with children, pose for pictures)
• Handing out goody bags/programmes 

Candyland, Thurs Nov 29 to Sat Dec 1

• Costumed characters/Mascot (interact with children, pose for pictures)
• Running interactive games/activities (greet participants, explain activity, ensure equipment stays in good condition)
• Information Booth (answer questions, hand out information about Christmas in Cambridge events)

• Crafts (greet participants, explain activity, ensure craft area is clean)
• Site (assist with setup, take down, keep site clean)

Phil Kline's Unsilent Night, Thurs Dec 6

• Site (assist with setup, take down, keep site clean)
• Costumed characters/Mascot (interact with children, pose for pictures)
• Running music stations
• Monitor light displays
• Be a guide on the walk

Cambridge Christmas Market, Thurs Dec 6 to Sun Dec 9

• Information Booth (answer questions, hand out information about Christmas in Cambridge events)
• Site (assist with setup, take down, keep site clean)
• Floor monitor (perform floor counts every hour, answer questions from vendors/shoppers)
• Greeter (welcome shopppers, answer quetsions, hand out programmes)

New Year's Eve Party, Sat Dec 31

• Site (assist with setup, take down, keep site clean)
• Crafts (greet participants, explain activity, ensure craft area is clean)
• Costumed characters/Mascot (interact with children, pose for pictures)
• Running interactive games/activities (greet participants, explain activity, ensure equipment stays in good condition)
• Greeter (welcome attendees, answer quetsions, direct attendees to activities, count attendees as they come in the door)
• Hand out wristbands for ice times
• Ice rink attendees (check skater wristbands correspond to the correct ice time, hand out glowsticks, answer questions) *volunteers will not require skates 

Volunteer applications will be available in the fall.

Staff will review your application and be in contact with you regarding an interview and other screening procedures. 

Most events occur outside, but we often work inside as well. Please dress for any potential weather. Dressing in layers is very helpful. Events are only cancelled due to very extreme weather. If a volunteer shows up without proper warm clothes, they will be sent home and not able to work. 

For information on volunteer opportunties with the festival email the Event Staff or call (519)740-4681 ext 4603.

The Christmas in Cambridge Festival is successful because of partnerships we have with our local sponsors. To become an event sponsor, email the Event Staff or call (519)740-4681 ext. 4277.

Thank you to our 2017 Festival Sponsors! 

Thank you 2016 Festival Sponsors!

Want to become a 2017 festival sponsor?