5 Things To Do in Brampton This Holiday Season
Published December 9, 2016 at 5:41 am
The tree lighting ceremony may be over and the Christmas markets may have closed, but pre-Christmas events are far from over.
Since December is in full swing, there are a ton of holiday-themed events to look forward to in the city. Some events revolve around arts and culture while others allow you to celebrate your furry family members in a whimsical (and adorable) way. Others let you enjoy the crisp outdoors and Brampton’s well-curated holiday scenery with friends and family.
Basically, there’s a lot on tap in terms of holiday and winter events.
Here’s a look at five activities you can enjoy in the city this holiday season.
5) PAMA
If you haven’t been to PAMA (Peel Art Gallery Museums + Archives), you are missing out–especially since the organization has a host of family-friendly and cross-cultural holiday and winter events scheduled for December. If you have kids, you might want to check out PAMA’s Family Fun Days on weekends in December, where the theme is “design your own abstract portraits.” There will also be a Peel Aboriginal Drumming Circle on Dec. 21, a Creative Exchange Holiday Celebration on Dec. 21, or you can check out a new exhibition, like Peel Through the Photographer’s Lens–grab a hot chocolate and take a stroll through the entire art gallery and museum as a reprieve from the cold and a fascinating look into Peel’s past! If you want to give back this holiday season, you might want to check out Knit@PAMA this Thursday, Dec. 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Participants are invited to knit with the group to create donatable items for people in need in our community. Beginners are welcome, and conversation will be in full flow!
The city is now home to Christmas in the Park, an event that takes place in Chinguacousy Park on several dates–Dec. 9, 10, 16, and 17. There are two days left for the festivities this weekend on Dec. 16 and 17, so you’ll have lots of time to pick a weekend to indulge in a wholesome and family-friendly celebration in the city. Here, you’ll find holiday crafts, games, entertainment, outdoor activities, and even Santa and his reindeer at Brampton’s largest park. On Dec. 16, you can also catch the nativity pageant at the park at 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. There will also be hot chocolate if you’re waiting for Santa, and skating is officially open for the season, on the South West end of the park for the festival on the 16 from 3-7 p.m. and on the 17 from 2-6 p.m.
3) Skating
The Gage Park Outdoor Skating Trail, the Ching Park Skating Trail, and the Mt. Pleasant skating trail opened this past weekend. There has never ben a better time to sharpen your skates and get out there!
The Gage Park Trail will allow you to skate through the trees and enjoy the beautiful park and holiday light display at the same time. The trail will be open from Sunday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. On weekends, you can even enjoy a DJ.
Ching Park is typically open from Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Mt. Pleasant is open from Sunday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and for parent and child skating on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Keep in mind that all skating is weather permitting!
2) Rose Theatre Holiday Productions
If you don’t like skating and have no desire to take your pet (if you have one) to visit Santa, you can always immerse yourself in the city’s arts and culture scene. This season, Brampton’s beautiful Rose Theatre is showcasing comedians Gerry Dee, Cathy Jones, and Mary Walsh, Rhythm of Roots 2017 by DanceShala, a fun ladies night out, and even Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. It’s a good time of the year to check out some incredible performances at the Rose!1) Carriage Rides Through Downtown Brampton
If you want to add a little romance to your holiday activities, you might want to embark on a downtown Brampton carriage ride. Until Dec. 30, you can enjoy carriage rides every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The carriages depart from Main Street South in front of City Hall and cost $20 per group (four to five people). There’s really nothing more old-timey (in a good way), than a carriage ride, so try to enjoy one before the season ends.