Kicking off the Christmas season
A tree-lighting, parade, outdoor market and plenty of indoor/outdoor activities all part of this year’s Wintertide event in Charlottetown
There will be plenty to enjoy in Charlottetown this weekend as the capital city kicks off the holiday season.
The City of Charlottetown Wintertide holiday festival tree lighting begins Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Confederation Centre of the Arts Upper Plaza. To participate in the candlelight walk, which is part of the event, pick up a candle at Peake’s Wharf at 6:15 p.m. and join the walk to the Confederation Centre.
The Charlottetown Christmas Festival takes place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 and includes the Charlottetown Christmas Market, which runs Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday – an open-air pedestrian market that will take place along two blocks of Queen Street from Grafton to Sydney streets. The largest open-air market in the Maritimes, it will feature an assortment of local vendors, fire pits, festive music, twinkling lights and carolers.
Beyond the market, the festival will also feature several free and low-cost activities for locals and visitors of all ages to enjoy downtown throughout the three days. Some of the programming includes free horse and wagon rides, classic Christmas movies at City Cinema, outdoor ice-sculpting demos, programming at Founders’ Food Hall & Market and the Mi'kmaq/Indigenous Artisan Market at Confederation Centre of the Arts on Sunday.
The Charlottetown Christmas parade takes place Nov. 30, beginning at 5 p.m. The parade begins at the University Avenue
entrance to UPEI and will travel down University Avenue/Great George Street to Grafton Street, continuing on Grafton Street to West Street then to Kent Street and ending at the provincial government building parking lot.
Spectators are reminded to gather along the route early, as volunteers from the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry food bank will begin collecting non-perishable donations at 4:30 p.m. and Canada Post representatives will be collecting letters to Santa Claus.
For those who miss the pre-parade collection, letter carriers will also be present at the end of the parade alongside the Santa Claus float.
Parents and guardians are reminded to have children include a return address with their letters so that Santa may respond.