Must-stops

Giant bow-bedecked canes are a holiday tradition at Chocolate Barr’s Candies (their real name), where more than 160 other chocolate and candy treats are handmade. chocolatebarrs.com

A half hour trip to Millbank takes you to Anna Mae’s Bakery & Restaurant.

Famous for turkey pot pies, it still makes the mincemeat that fills its plump pies. Check out the 18 different classic Christmas Dainties including Raspberry Thumbprints and Melting Moments. annamaes.ca

Pick up pretty handmade Christmas tree and candy cane cookies for “paw” stockings at The Barkery.

This healthy bakery for dogs uses locally sourced ingredients and vegetable powders for decorating. thebarkery.ca

The city boasts five craft breweries and a distillery. Stratford Brewing Company (stratfordbrewing.com), Black Swan (blackswanbrewing.ca), Shakespeare Brewing Co (shakespearebrewingcompany.ca), Herald Haus Brewing Co. (heraldhaus.com) and Jobsite Brewing Company (jobsitebrewing.ca). At Jobsite you can nibble wood-fired pizza while choosing your brew. Junction 56 Distillery uses Ontario-grown grains to roll out small-batch spirits including moonshine, gin, vodka and flavoured liqueurs. junction56.ca

Kick off the new year with a matinee performance of New Year in Vienna by Stratford Symphony Orchestra with singers Catherine and Mark

Gardner. Or go to holiday choir and band concerts. stratfordsymphonyorchestra.ca