Please SAVE THE DATE for our Downtown Stratford Annual WINTER WANDER-LAND! We’re getting ready for a full weekend of festive fun to kick off the holiday season with your all-time favourite traditions!
Join us Saturday, November 28th and Sunday, November 29th, from 11am-4pm.
Prepare for the enchanting Polar Express Train around City Hall, Festive Photo Backdrop for magical holiday pics, Yuletide Cabins and Food Trucks at our charming Winter Food Market, crackling Fire Pits for roasting Rice Krispie Treats, Santa Claus “coming to town,” Roaming Carollers to fill the air with festive tunes, Horse and Wagon Rides from Memorial Gardens, Christmas Tree Market for the perfect tree to take home, and Live Music from Amanda & James Country Duo and Retro Resonance on York St, Friday and Saturday evenings, respectively! Come get into the festive spirit in Downtown Stratford! ✨🎅✨
Event Highlights!
(Note – Subject to minor changes as planning is underway.)
Ride the magical POLAR EXPRESS
Sponsored by ON STAGE DANCE (our main sponsor of the event)
ALL ABOARD!!! We are thrilled to be offering again the Polar Express train into Market Square. This elegant train is battery operated (good for the environment) and trackless, with a locomotive and 4 cars which can seat up to 18 children! The train is also accessible to children with special physical needs.
This show stopper provides the best authentic steam train engine experience ever.
A huge thank you to On Stage Dance for being the Train Sponsor of our event for the third year in a row!
Delicious Treats at the FIRE PITS
FIRE PIT #1: Sponsored by Alley Cat Cat Cafe (York Street)
FIRE PIT #2: Sponsored by Shawn Malvern at WK FINANCIAL (Market Street)
FIRE PIT #3: Sponsored by Bruce Whittaker at Perth County Inn (York Street)
We’ll have a NEW cracklin’ fire pit this year on York Street. All the better to get super cozy being that there will be room for everyone! Roast delicious rice krispie treats and enjoy the festive ambiance.
Strolling Holiday CAROLLERS
Sponsored by KDB Law
We’re delighted to welcome back the Victorian Christmas Carollers. Bringing their musical magic to the streets of downtown… gracing us with their enchanting melodies on our Winter Wander-land Weekend. Prepare to listen or sing along to some of the most cherished holiday classics as they weave through the streets of downtown.
CHRISTMAS TREE Market
We are currently working on this vendor for the market.
SANTA is coming (back) to town
Sponsored by SUTTON GROUP
Here comes Santa Claus… 🎵 Here comes Santa Claus 🎵… right down Santa Claus lane… 🎵
Santa is setting up shop on his red reindeer sleigh both Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 4pm in Market Square to welcome all the kiddos thoughout the Winter Wander-land weekend . Get your cameras ready as your children (or pets) let Santa know if they’ve been naughty or nice – and what they’re wishing for this year!
Bring your Letters to Santa addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada and his elves will make sure they get delivered to the North Pole for Santa to read when he gets home.
Thank you to Sutton Group for sponsoring Santa again this year!
Guided Horse & Wagon Rides from Memorial Gardens (next to Pazzo Pizzeria on Ontario St)
We are excited to offer guided horse-drawn wagon rides again this year! Join Dwight, his beautiful horses, and Laurie who will be your tour guide for the ride that winds its way through the historic streets of Downtown Stratford. Starting from Memorial Gardens, located next to 70 Ontario St, rides will take about 20 minutes and will run every half hour on the half hour. You’ll stay nice and warm under the heat lamp while you wait your turn!
MARKET | Yuletide Cabins & Festive Food Trucks
We are so delighted to bring you even more reasons to hang out at the square all weekend.
Our Yuletide Cabins and Festive Food Trucks will be sprinkled throughout the square offering delicious fare, warm drinks, and even some “adult” drinks through the al fresco program.
The following are confirmed Yuletide Market Huts:
- Curry Zone with their delicious Indian curries, samosas, masala tea
- Alley Cat Cafe with hot chocolate
And our Festive Food Trucks confirmed so far are:
- Chris’s BBQ serving their fall-apart smoky turkey legs, brisket burnt ends, candy-apple pork belly, loaded brisket poutine, smoked shotgun shells
Al Fresco Program
A delightful addition to our Winter Food Market includes the chance to drink take-out alcohol beverages (including wines, craft beers and drinks) along with your delicious Yuletide Cabin grub inside the Market Square area.
The Stratford Al Fresco outdoor dining experience has expanded again, so you can dine outdoors with delicious takeout and accompanying drinks from participating Stratford restaurants (see map for locations and window cling to look for below while in the city).
Winter Wander-land is NOT just for families. All ages can enjoy a break here as they head out on their holiday shopping adventure.
Shop, Dine & WIN with our Winter Wander-land PASSPORT
We thank our Sponsors again this year – GOOD VIBRATIONS ROCK SHOP and RHEO THOMPSON CANDIES!
WIN BIG: $250, $150, or $100 in Downtown Dollars!
One of the MOST EXCITING FEATURES of the year is our Winter Wander-land Passport – which will start November 21st and run until December 23rd. This features a whopping number of downtown businesses that offer a validation sticker when you shop, dine or use services. Collect 8 stickers and enter to win one of 3 Downtown Dollar prizes! WOW!!!! You must purchase something from each location, however there there is no minimum cost.
Drop passports off to 47 Downie Street by Wednesday, December 23rd at 5pm. Draw will occur on December 23rd at 6pm. Winners will contacted directly.
We are truly grateful for sponsors – past and present – of our Winter Wander-land Program. Below are our confirmed sponsors so far for 2026!
