Make your list, check it twice – and visit Bronte to shop, dine and explore during the most magical time of the year! Bronte is a place where everyone is welcome and everything you need can be found.
Join us At Home in Bronte for the Holidays on Saturdays from November 19 to December 24 as we welcome visitors to celebrate with an assortment of festive activities that will delight the whole family. Enjoy our enchanting community Christmas tree, gift card giveaways, live music, children’s story times, arts & crafts programs, photo opportunities, a holiday hunt, guided walking tours – and of course, unique opportunities to meet some of your favourite Christmas characters!
Saturday, November 19
9:30am – Historical walking tour led by the Bronte Historical Society (meet at 67 Bronte Rd)
9am to 1pm – Hollyberry Fair at Church of the Epiphany
10am to 6pm – Grand opening of Own Your Elegance pop-up store at 2448 Lakeshore Rd W; DJ, prizes, gift with purchase and 20% off sale.
1pm – At Home in Bronte: Winter Edition Muskoka Chair walking tour led by Bronte BIA Executive Director, Maureen Healey (meet at 67 Bronte Rd)
2pm to 4pm – Dog photos with Mrs. Claus at The Dog House Spa ($10)
Saturday, November 26
9am to 5pm – Bronte’s 5th Annual Handmade Market at The Legion
9:30am – Historical walking tour led by the Bronte Historical Society (meet at 67 Bronte Rd)
10am to 4pm – Holiday Artist Show at The Bronte Historical Society
1pm to 3pm – Learn the art of waste-free gift-wrapping at Bronte’s own, EcoFillosophy. Drop-in for a free demonstration, hands-in practice and a chance to win a prize! Details in store.
2pm to 4pm – Holiday ornament making with ArtHouse Halton!
Friday, December 2
5pm to 7pm – Oh, Christmas Tree! Mark your calendars: join Ward 1 Councillors Sean O’Meara and Jonathan McNeice in the new Bronte Market Square at 2445 Lakeshore Rd W on Friday, December 2 from 5pm to 7pm. Let’s gather around the tree and kickoff the holiday season together. There will be photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, holiday caroling, hot chocolate – and a tree-lighting at 6pm!
Saturday, December 3
10am – Historical walking tour led by the Bronte Historical Society (meet at 67 Bronte Rd)
1pm to 3pm – Learn the art of waste-free gift-wrapping at Bronte’s own, EcoFillosophy. Drop-in for a free demonstration, hands-in practice and a chance to win a prize! Details in store.
2pm to 4pm – Merry Tales & Festive Fantasies story time with Mrs. Claus at Simply Green Baby
3pm – Roll a Dice to Win a Ham or Turkey at The Bronte Legion
Friday, December 9
5pm to 9pm – Drive-Thru Toy Drive at Coronation Park hosted by the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association
Saturday, December 10
10am – Historical walking tour led by the Bronte Historical Society (meet at 67 Bronte Rd)
10:30am, 12pm and 1:30pm – Brunch with Santa at the Firehall (reservations needed)
1pm to 3pm – Learn the art of waste-free gift-wrapping at Bronte’s own, EcoFillosophy. Drop-in for a free demonstration, hands-in practice and a chance to win a prize! Details in store.
3pm to 6pm – Live holiday music at 93 Bronte Rd featuring wandering troubadour, John Muirhead!
3pm to 6pm – Santa & Mrs. Claus visit Taste of Colombia
Saturday, December 17
11am to 1pm – ArtHouse Halton Holiday Art Workshop at Own Your Elegance
12pm to 2pm – Live holiday music at 93 Bronte Rd featuring wandering troubadour, John Muirhead!
1pm to 3pm – Learn the art of waste-free gift-wrapping at Bronte’s own, EcoFillosophy. Drop-in for a free demonstration, hands-in practice and a chance to win a prize! Details in store.
2pm to 4pm – The holiday music continues with the McGregor Carollers on Bronte Rd!
Saturday, December 24
Calling all last-minute shoppers! Finding the perfect gift in Bronte will feel like a lakeside breeze. Bundle-up, avoid the hustle and bustle of the malls and enjoy a happy shopping experience before your Christmas-eve festivities begin.
Community Christmas Tree – November 22, 2022 to January 7, 2023
Be filled with festive cheer as you visit Bronte Market Square to check-out our must-see, 30-foot Christmas tree. Take pictures, make a holiday wish – and enjoy the twinkle of a tree that connects our community.
A Very, Merry Bronte Holiday Hunt – Daily!
Twenty mini-Muskoka chairs have gone missing in Bronte and we need your help finding them! These tiny chairs are hidden in store windows throughout the district. Come to Bronte with the family to shop, dine, explore – and search. If you discover a mini-Muskoka chair in a store window, write down the name of the business. Find five chairs and you’ll be entered in a draw to win one of three $100 gift cards to a fabulous Bronte business. All you have to do is email communications@brontevillage.net with your list of participating businesses and you’ll be automatically entered into the draw. Do all your searching in one day or come back again each weekend.
At Home in Bronte: Winter Edition Art Walk – Daily
Take a self-guided tour throughout the district to discover 100+ hand painted Muskoka chairs. This beloved community art installation has been running for six years in Bronte. Enjoy the fresh air and lakeside views, rest your feet – and for an added challenge, try to find the hidden lighthouse icon on each chair.
At Home in Bronte: Winter Edition Guided Walking Tour – November 19 & December 17 at 1pm (45 minutes)
Love the Muskoka chairs? Join our guided walking tour led by Bronte BIA Executive Director, Maureen Healey and discover why a chair is so much more than a chair. Tour departs from Taste of Colombia Café located at 67 Bronte Rd at 1pm.
Oakville Public Library Story Walk – Daily
Check-out the brand-new family-friendly story walk as you explore the beauty of Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park. Read the story as you wind your way down our walkable pathways and delight in the interactive activities that connect each story walk sign…we call it “lakeside literacy”! Enhance your experience by grabbing a hot chocolate from one of our local cafés.
Library ON THE GO Book Bike – Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 4pm
Take time during the busy holiday season and connect with a great book. Our Library ON THE GO Book Bike is conveniently located inside RBC at 2329 Lakeshore Rd W. Featuring reading material for all ages that you can take or borrow, grab a book (or two, or three!) for yourself – or pick something up for a friend. It is the season of giving, after all!
Guided Historical Walking Tours – November 19 & 26 and December 3 and 10 at 9:30am (1 hour)
Bundle-up, grab your favourite hot drink and join the Bronte Historical Society for a FREE walking tour of our district. You’ll enjoy a fascinating and informative tour while you learn about Bronte from a historical lens. Develop and enhanced understanding of where Bronte has been and where it’s going. Each walk will last for approximately 1 hour. Tour departs from Taste of Colombia Café located at 67 Bronte Rd at 9:30am.
Shop for Holiday Treasures – Daily
Maybe it’s a Christmas gift, or a Hanukkah present, or maybe it’s a “just because” treat for yourself! Whatever the occasion this holiday season, shop local. Our small businesses are the heart of the community. The 175 businesses that comprise our BIA are vibrant and unique. From cafés, bakeries and restaurants to boutique clothing and retail shops – and of course, services (hair and nail salons, wellness clinics, recording studios, health care…we’ve got it all) – our hard-working business owners make it possible to visit, shop and support local. Spend your time (and money!) in our thriving commercial district and be part of Bronte’s local prosperity.
Eat, Drink & Be Merry – Daily
Celebrate the season with exceptional food and drinks! Bronte has full-service restaurants, casual cafes and fast-food outlets that cater to every taste and budget. Many of our restaurants are just steps from the water’s edge. Book your reservation today. Visit our online directory to discover all the ways you can shop, dine and enjoy local!
Live Christmas Music – December 10 & 17 (afternoon)
Enjoy live outdoor music as you shop, dine and discover all that Bronte has to offer. Bring your official checklist to Bronte and prance, dance and dash your way through it as you feel festive holiday cheer. Performances will take place in the former La Parisienne Creperie parking lot located at 93 Bronte Rd.