Light Up Haldimand

Happy Holidays everyone! If you are anything like me, I am constantly looking for fun holiday events and activities to do throughout the month of December. As someone who thinks of themselves as an amateur Griswold, I love grabbing a hot chocolate, cranking some festive music, and touring downtown to see everyone’s holiday lights.

One of the best things about living in Haldimand County is that each town puts on its own light displays, and they are one of the best ways to get me into the Holiday spirit.

Caledonia Light Up Night occurs every year, normally on the last Thursday of November. From that day until the end of the Holiday season, Kinsmen Park is lit up with a magical display. This year the display has gone above and beyond, trees are wrapped with beautiful lights, and the gazebo has some amazing light displays. There is even a candy cane trail leading you to the gazebo, making me feel like I am Buddy the elf.

Caledonia also has 24 businesses participating in a countdown advent calendar. One business per day will reveal an “advent window” which will showcase a holiday theme to help the community countdown to Christmas day. The theme this year is A Country Christmas in Caledonia. Some windows I spotted so far are; St. Leonard’s, High Fi Ink and Glass, and Haldimand Massage and Osteopathic Centre. See how many more you can find during this season and pop in and see what the downtown stores have to offer.

In Dunnville, there are 3 Christmas trees lit in a display in the town centre at the corners of Queen, Broad, and Chestnut Streets. There is even a mailbox direct to Santa’s Workshop in the display that includes reindeer. Downtown storefronts also offer a beautiful display and Dunnville has an abundance of quaint shops to grab something unique for those on your nice list. I like to visit with a warm drink of choice, put on an old-timey holiday song and avoid the chaos that is Christmas for a moment. I can even brag about how one year the main Dunnville holiday tree was cut from my Grandparent’s front yard, making it a must-stop for me during the festive season. Fun windows I spotted in town include Harmony Jewellers, Blooming Designs, and The Griffin Vintage Market.

Dunnville also has the Trees of Hope at the Haldimand War Memorial Hospital – make a gift in honour or in memory of a loved one, and your sentiment card will be placed on a tree with funds received helping to purchase a new CT Scanner.

Finally, Haldimand’s biggest light display has to be in the small town of Jarvis. Jarvis has been building on their amazing light show from last year and now the town completely transforms into a winter wonderland, making you feel like you are at the North Pole. There are over 400 homes and businesses that have registered for their light-up Tour of Homes that you can drive or walk to view. This display takes place from December 12^th to January 1^st.

View the maps on their Facebook page “Jarvis Light Up 2022” to make sure you don’t miss a thing, as they highlight all the businesses and homes participating in the event. Len’s Automotive, Cross Roads 63, and Christine’s Homestyle Bakery have joined in the light displays to name a few, but I have to give a big shout-out to Michaud Toys who have outdone themselves in their epic display and I challenge anyone to find a better light show. Check out the video to get a flavour of Jarvis Light Up 2022. Take a stroll in downtown Jarvis and make your holiday shiny and bright!

Jenna Beemer lives in Caledonia – Jenna is the My Main Street Ambassador for Haldimand County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.