Looking for Santa Claus parades near Toronto? Santa makes a lot of stops in the Greater Toronto Area. Between mid-November and mid-December there are more than two dozen Santa Claus parades across Toronto, Peel, York, Durham and Halton, from the 122nd Original Santa Claus Parade downtown to nighttime parades of lights in Brampton, Aurora and Oshawa.
Here’s every GTA parade with a confirmed 2026 date, in date order, followed by the ones still to be announced.
Confirmed 2026 GTA Santa Claus parades
| Date | Parade | Time | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 14 | Oakville Santa Claus Parade | Morning | Halton |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Pickering Santa Claus Parade | 10 a.m. | Durham |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Newmarket Santa Claus Parade | 11 a.m. | York |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Mississauga Santa Claus Parade | 4 – 7 p.m. | Peel |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Brampton Nighttime Santa Claus Parade | 5 p.m. | Peel |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Aurora Santa Under the Stars Parade | 6 p.m. | York |
| Sun, Nov 22 | Original Santa Claus Parade, Toronto | 12:30 p.m. | Toronto |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Markham Santa Claus Parade | 11 a.m. | York |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Stouffville Santa Claus Parade | 6 p.m. | York |
November 21 to 22 is the GTA’s biggest parade weekend: five parades on Saturday and Toronto’s on Sunday.
Still to be announced
These parades run every year but hadn’t confirmed 2026 dates at last update. Usual timing is in brackets.
- Peel: Bolton (Caledon), Highway 50
- York: Vaughan Santafest (late November, Maple to City Hall)
- Durham: Oshawa Parade of Lights (mid-November evening), Bowmanville, Uxbridge and Newcastle (mid-November), Ajax Spectacle of Lights (late November evening), Whitby, Courtice and Port Perry (early December)
- Halton: Milton (mid-November Sunday afternoon), Burlington (early December Sunday afternoon), Georgetown and Acton
- Toronto neighbourhoods: the Beaches and other community parades. See neighbourhood Santa parades in Toronto.
By region
- Toronto: Original Santa Claus Parade, route and closures, best viewing spots
- Peel: Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon parades
- York: York Region parades
- Durham: Durham Region parades
- Halton: Oakville, Burlington and Halton parades
Daytime or nighttime?
- Daytime parades (Toronto, Pickering, Newmarket, Markham, Oakville) suit toddlers and younger kids.
- Nighttime parades (Mississauga, Brampton, Aurora, Oshawa, Ajax, Stouffville) are lit up and magical, but dress for colder temperatures after dark.
Tips for any GTA parade
- Arrive early. Curbside spots fill 30 to 60 minutes before the start.
- Bring a letter to Santa. Canada Post collects letters at several York Region parades, including Newmarket and Aurora. See how to send a letter to Santa.
- Bring a non-perishable food donation. Many parades support local food banks.
- Check road closures and transit detours on the municipality’s website the week before.
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