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Port Colborne is set to kick-off the 2022 holiday season this week!
Home for the Holiday's Christmas Light Contest
Calling all the Clark Griswold's of Port Colborne! Since 2020 the city has been looking for the best holiday decorations in town! Port Colborne residents are invited to PORTicipate in their very own home decorating contest. With multiple categories, including best lawn display/house lights, and balcony and door display.
Entries must be submitted by Friday, Dec. 9 by emailing a photo of the display to eventservices@portcolborne.ca. The winners are chosen by the community, with voting taking place on the city's Facebook page. The winners in each category will receive a $50 gift card to a local Port Colborne business of their choosing.
Port Colborne Business Lighting Contest
In partnership with the Port Colborne Downtown BIA, we invite all local businesses and storefronts across the city to decorate their storefronts and help us light up Port Colborne for the Christmas season. All businesses that PORTicipate, will be entered into a light display contest with the winner being chosen by the community.
Christmas lights and decorations must be installed by Friday, Dec. 9. To enter the contest, participants must submit a photo to eventservices@portcolborne.ca. The winners are chosen by the community, with voting taking place on the city's Facebook page. Prizes will be awarded to the three businesses with the most votes.
‘Fill the Truck’ Toy Drive, in support of Port Cares
Port Colborne Fire & Emergency Services hope to make every Port Colborne child smile this holiday season by collecting new unwrapped toys for children ages 0-18 in addition to non-perishable food items. Drop off locations include Fire Hall (3 Killaly Street W); Vale Health & Wellness Centre (550 Elizabeth Street); City Hal (66 Charlotte Street); and the Port Colborne Public Library (310 King Street) during operating hours. Port Colborne Fire & Emergency Services will also be collecting toys and non-perishable food items at the upcoming lighted Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Museum Exhibit: Keep me Warm at Night
Opening Nov. 15 daily from 12 to 5 p.m. until Dec. 20, this cozy exhibit at the Historical and Marine Museum, 280 King Street, has arrived just in time for the holiday season. Century-old coverlets, quilts, and rugs warm the gallery in this winter display. Come explore Port Colborne’s rich heritage of local weaving, the skills and traditions of textile arts. For more information, visit www.portcolborne.ca/museum.
Christmas Makers’ Market at the Roselawn Centre
The Friends of Roselawn are pleased to announce that the Christmas Makers’ Market will return this year to the Roselawn Centre, 296 Fielden Avenue, on Nov. 19 from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free admission and will feature 20 local artisan crafters.
Downtown BIA Christmas Market
The Downtown BIA is hosting a Christmas Market in place of the Farmers Market on Friday, Nov.25 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The market will feature a variety of retail and artisan vendors. This is a great opportunity to look for unique gifts for friends and loved ones this holiday season. Visit the Downtown BIA website for more information. Interested in being a vendor? Email downtownportcolborne@gmail.com
Be sure to keep an eye out for more holiday events from the Downtown BIA, including:
- Nov. 18 - Mini Markets, Market Square – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Nov. 17 - Falala Ladies Night 5 to 9 p.m.
- Nov. 19 & 26 - Visit Santa at the Gathering Place – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nov. 25 & 26 - Christmas Open House Downtown - Dec. 2 & 16 - Moonlight Madness – 5 to 8 p.m.
- Dec. 9 – The Port Cares Great Holiday Food Drive and Holiday Market 3 to 9 p.m.
Santa arrives in Port Colborne
Santa's arrival into Port Colborne for the annual Lighted Santa Claus Parade happens in true marine fashion, with his arrival by tugboat on Saturday, Dec. 3. Mrs. Claus will also join him for his special visit to Port Colborne. The tugboat will arrive near the Harbour Master building on West Street at approximately 1 p.m. Following the arrival by Tugboat, Santa will visit Mariners Park from 2 to 4 p.m. for pictures. For more information, e-mail downtownportcolborne@gmail.com
Port Colborne Lighted Santa Claus Parade
The City of Port Colborne is excited for the return of the traditional lighted Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the city’s downtown core. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., hundreds of people like the parade route at night to watch the seemingly endless number of colourful floats lit with Christmas lights by our local businesses, community groups, schools, and more.
Parking restrictions and road closures will be in effect on Dec. 3, beginning at 5 p.m. For the parade map and complete list of restrictions and closures visit www.portcolborne.ca/santaclausparade.
To enter a float into the parade please visit our website, www.portcolborne.ca/santaclausparade, email eventservices@portcolborne.ca, or call 905-835-2900 x 566
46th Annual Grand Old Christmas Festival
On Sunday, Dec. 4 from 12 to 4 p.m. visitors are encouraged to step back in time and enjoy the holidays of old at the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum, 280 King Street. Rediscover the spirit of the season including traditional Christmas pudding and caramel sauce at Arabella’s Edwardian Tea Room; enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride and carols; candle-dipping; a craft with Stamplicity; log sawing and branding by the blacksmith; heritage printing press; cross names off your list at the museum’s gift shop and the Crafters’ Market in the L.R. Wilson Heritage Archives; and of course, photos with Santa. It is easy to get in the festive spirit when carolers are singing, chestnuts are roasting, and the village is bedecked in greenery and bows.
Christmas Pudding and Sauce Week at Arabella’s Tea Room
Arabella’s Tea Room gives visitors a break from the Christmas hustle and bustle Dec. 5 to 10 from 2 to 4 p.m., with their famous Christmas pudding and sauce. Volunteers dressed in Edwardian style service Christmas pudding and caramel sauce along with tea and coffee in fine china.
New Year’s Eve Family Celebration
The holiday festivities continue in Port Colborne with the return of the New Year’s Eve Family Celebration at the Vale Health & Wellness Centre on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, from 2 to 6 p.m.
Stay tuned to our website for the details and the schedule of exciting events and activities to ring in 2023. Following the event at 6 p.m. there will be a firework show outside the Vale Health & Wellness Centre.
For more information, visit www.portcolborne.ca/events.
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