Durham Region has more Santa Claus parades than anywhere else in the GTA. From mid-November to mid-December there’s one almost every weekend, from Oshawa’s evening Parade of Lights to small-town parades in Uxbridge, Port Perry and Newcastle. Here’s the 2026 line-up so far, plus the usual timing for parades that haven’t announced their dates yet.
Durham Region Santa Claus parades 2026
| Parade | 2026 date | Usual time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickering Santa Claus Parade | Saturday, November 21 | 10 a.m. | Dixie Road and Glenanna Road to Pickering City Centre |
| Oshawa Santa Claus Parade of Lights | TBA (usually mid-November, Saturday evening) | 6 p.m. | Bond Street West, downtown Oshawa |
| Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade | TBA (usually mid-November) | Late morning | King Street, Bowmanville |
| Uxbridge Santa Claus Parade | TBA (usually mid-November) | 11 a.m. | Brock Street, Uxbridge |
| Newcastle Santa Parade | TBA (usually mid-November) | Evening | Downtown Newcastle |
| Ajax Santa Claus Parade and Spectacle of Lights | TBA (usually late November) | 6 p.m. | Bayly Street and Harwood Avenue South |
| Whitby Santa Claus Parade | TBA (usually early December) | 10 a.m. | Brock Street North, downtown Whitby |
| Courtice Santa Claus Parade | TBA (usually early December) | Noon | Nash Road, Courtice |
| Scugog Santa Claus Parade, Port Perry | TBA (usually early December) | 5 p.m. | Fairgrounds to Palmer Park |
We’ll update this table as each town confirms its 2026 date. Times and locations in the table are based on recent years.
Pickering Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 21, 2026 · 10 a.m.
Pickering’s parade starts at Dixie Road and Glenanna Road and finishes at Pickering City Centre. Check the City of Pickering for road closures. It’s the same day as Mississauga’s and Brampton’s evening parades and the night before Toronto’s Original Santa Claus Parade. See Christmas in Pickering and Ajax.
Oshawa Santa Claus Parade of Lights
Oshawa’s evening parade lights up downtown with illuminated floats along Bond Street. It’s one of the biggest in Durham. See Oshawa Christmas events.
Ajax Santa Claus Parade and Spectacle of Lights
An evening parade with lit floats, starting at Bayly Street and Harwood Avenue South. See Christmas in Pickering and Ajax.
Whitby Santa Claus Parade
A morning parade along Brock Street through downtown Whitby, usually in early December. See Whitby Christmas events.
Clarington parades
Clarington has three: Bowmanville, Newcastle and Courtice. Clarington is also a CPKC Holiday Train stop: the lit train pulls into Bowmanville at Scugog Road and Wellington Street on Sunday, November 29, 2026, from 2 to 2:30 p.m., followed by Oshawa at 3:15 p.m. See Christmas in Clarington.
North Durham parades
Uxbridge’s daytime parade on Brock Street and Port Perry’s evening parade from the fairgrounds to Palmer Park are classic small-town Christmas outings. See Christmas in Uxbridge and Port Perry.
Day or night?
Durham has both kinds of parade:
- Daytime parades (like Pickering’s morning parade) are easiest with toddlers and naptimes.
- Evening parades of lights (like Oshawa’s) are more magical, with illuminated floats, but colder and later.
If you have a choice, try one of each across the season.
A Durham parade season planner
| When | What to plan |
|---|---|
| Mid-November | Pickering’s parade kicks off the Durham season |
| Late November | Oshawa’s Parade of Lights, Ajax, Whitby and the CPKC Holiday Train in Bowmanville |
| Late November to early December | Clarington’s parades in Bowmanville, Newcastle and Courtice |
| Early to mid-December | North Durham parades in Uxbridge, Port Perry and nearby towns |
Exact dates for parades marked TBA in the table above are usually announced in October and November.
Pair a parade with…
- The CPKC Holiday Train in Bowmanville on November 29. Clarington at Christmas
- Brooklin’s Christmas in the Village in Whitby. Whitby Christmas events
- Oshawa’s Bright and Merry Market and downtown tree lighting. Oshawa Christmas events
- A tree-farm visit north of the 401. Christmas tree farms near Toronto
Durham Santa Claus parades: FAQ
Which Durham parade is at night? Oshawa’s Santa Claus Parade of Lights is the best-known evening parade; Ajax has paired its parade with a Spectacle of Lights.
Are Durham parades free? Yes. Many collect food bank donations or toys along the route, so bring a non-perishable item.
How do I get there from Toronto? GO’s Lakeshore East line serves Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa. Check GO’s weekend schedule before you travel.
Tips
- Bring a food bank donation. Most Durham parades collect for local food banks.
- Check road closures on the municipality’s website the week before.
- Dress warmly for evening parades in Oshawa, Ajax and Port Perry.
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