Christmas in Cambridge

Gather in Hespeler Village to kick off the festive holiday season with the first festival event.

The Play

Location: Idea Exchange Hespler, 5 Tannery St E

Enjoy a family friendly play at Idea Exchange Hespeler. There will be two performances; 6:15 pm and 7:15 pm.

Title of play: Jack and Jill’s North Pole Adventure

Play description: Do elves exist?  Is Santa really a Jolly Old Soul?  What are reindeers like?  More importantly, what do Mrs Claus’ cookies taste like?  Join two spirited children, Jack and Jill, as they explore the North Pole and meet its zany residents in this lighthearted, family-friendly, holiday romp.   

The Concert

Location: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 73 Queen St E

Listen to a concert of Christmas carols sung by local choirs at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church starting at 7 pm. The choirs consist of; Woodland Public School, Hillcrest Public School, St. Gabriel Catholic School, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, Jacob Hespeler Secondary School and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

The Lights

Location: Hespeler Town Hall, 11 Tannery St E

Gather around the tree at Hespeler Town Hall with friends and family to witness the magical tree lighting at 8:15 pm. Penny & Pound Theater will entertain the crowd before the tree is lit. 

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

Interested in volunteering? Email the event staff or call 519-740-4681 ext 4603.

Getting there: Transit to the Village

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

Location: 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 20^th year, the program has raised more than $14.5 million and 4.3 million pounds of food since 1999. Two trains decorated in thousands of Christmas lights travels across Canada and the United States collecting money and food donations at each stop they make.  Check out what's in store for the 20^th year of the CP Holiday Train with this promotional video.

Each stop includes a live 30 minute concert on the train. This year we will be welcoming the Sam Roberts Band and JoJo Mason to Cambridge.

As Cambridge anxiously awaits the arrival of the train, Cambridge’s own Shy Harry will be entertaining the crowd.

Please bring your donation of food or money to support the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank as they will be onsite collecting donations.

Schedule of Entertainment:

3:15 pm: Live musical performance by Shy Harry

4:00 pm: Train arrives at the train station

4:15 to 4:45 pm: Live musical performances on the train by Sam Roberts Band & JoJo Mason

4:45 pm: Train departs train station

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

Parking for the event is available at the Water Street Parking Lot or Galt Collegiate Institute. General parking will not be avaialble onsite. Accessible parking will be available onsite. For questions related to accessibility or for accessible accomodation requests email Accessiblity & Inclusion Staff.

Relive the magic of the 2016 Holiday 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 train station. Plan your trip at http://web.grt.ca/hastinfoweb/.

Location: Central Park, 615 King Street East

Central Park transforms into a place of candy and magic. Don’t miss this full day jam packed 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. The best part is admission is free!

What’s happening at Candyland:

Horse Drawn Trolley Rides through Downtown Preston (last ride is at 4:30 pm)

Meet Santa & Mrs Claus

Warm-Up Zone & crafts in Knox Church with Idea Exchange

RBC Christmas Truck

Face Painting

Interactive games and activities

Food trucks

Live entertainment schedule:

Mr. Chris & the Gassy Bubbles

Tim Holland Stunt Ventriloquist

Drums et al

Team T & J

Please check back for performance times

Festival Light Feature - Take a walk through the interactive light displays in Central Park during the month of December. 

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

Interested in volunteering? Email the event staff or call 519-740-4681 ext 4603.

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/.

Location: Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street

A modern twist on caroling, all ages can enjoy walking through downtown Cambridge with thousands of participants. To add to the event, download the music for free to your phone and bring your portal speaker or borrow one of ours! 

The walk starts in Civic Square at 7 pm. View the proposed route map for 2018. Please note this map is tentative and is subject to change. 

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!

To enhance the walk, over 30 light installations will be illuminated along the route for attendees to enjoy and interact with. 

Calling all artists! Submissions are currently being accepted for intallations for 2018. Apply online today. 

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

Interested in volunteering? Email the event staff or call 519-740-4681 ext 4603.

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/

Location: 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.

For more information email the Cambridge Christmas Market coordinators.

Interested in volunteering? Email the event staff or call 519-740-4681 ext 4603.

Look back at the 2016 Christmas Market with this video! 

We are currently only accepting Vendor Applications for our waiting list. Vendors on the waitlist will only be contacted if a space becomes avilable for 2018. Applications for 2019 will be available in May 2019.

Vendor Fees

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

Location: Hespler Arena, 640 Ellis Road

Come ring in the New Year with the City of Cambridge and Royal Bank with an evening packed with free family fun activities. The night includes ice skating, photo booth, games and free live enterainment with Cambridge's own Bob Cates Comedy in Motion!  

Wrist bands will be available upon arrival for an hour of skate time of your choice.  Only one skate time is available per family. Doors of the Hespeler Arena will be open at 4:45 pm. There are no skate rentals available. There is no longer skate sharpening at the arena. 

For more information on New Year's Eve Party email the event staff or call (519)740-4681 ext 4277.

Interested in volunteering? Email the event staff or call 519-740-4681 ext 4603.

We are currently accepting volunteer applications for Christmas in Cambridge 2018.

Apply to volunteer

Please note we are no longer accepting volunteer applications for the following shifts;

• Music & Lights in the Village 
• Cambridge Christmas Market - Sun Dec 9 only

Please note the minimum age to volunteer is 13 years of age. 

If you have submitted a volunteer application for 2018 and your avaliblty has changed, email the event staff 

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, Mon 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 

Apply to volunteer with us for Christmas in Cambridge. 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.

Enjoy spectacular Christmas lights in four locations throughout Cambridge during the month of December. Take a walk through the interactive light displays in Central Park, visit one of four magical Christmas trees or take a selfie with the illuminated CAMBRIDGE sign in front of City Hall. 

Light locations:

Central Park Lights, 615 King Street East

Hespeler Village Christmas Tree, 11 Tannery Street East

Queen’s Square Fountain Christmas Tree, Queen’s Square Fountain on Melville Street

City Hall Christmas Tree and illuminated CAMBRIDGE sign, 50 Dickson Street

Share your photos on social media using the festival hashtag #CinC2018 or upload your photos to the City of Cambridge website.  

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 2018 Festival Sponsors! 

Gold Tinsel Sponsors

Silver Tinsel Sponsors

Bronze Tinsel Sponsors 

Friends of the Festival

Media Sponsors

Want to become a 2018 festival sponsor?