The City of Oshawa will be kicking off the holiday season in style with the annual Merry and Bright Market on November 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Oshawa. This may just be one of my favourite events of the season – I mean, with Santa, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a Christmas Market featuring a variety of local artisan makers, and an assortment of delicious food to eat, you’d have to be Scrooge to not enjoy yourself!
I’m about to spill the tea hot chocolate and fill you in on some of the exciting things the City of Oshawa has planned to thrust your holiday spirit into full gear!
Indulge in a variety of sweet, savoury, and international flavours at the holiday food market! Pick up a snack to eat while you are shopping, or purchase items to take home and enjoy later. With local vendors like Portobello Road (the most delicious plant-based pizza on Earth), Masala Box which make an exceptional Butter Chicken Poutine, and Table Soups which offers a large variety of hot and frozen soups, you will definitely want to wear your stretchy pants! If you’ve still got room after that (Or, you prefer to start with dessert) you won’t want to miss The Whimsical Crispie Co. who make the most adorable and decadent rice-crispy treats!
Kick your holiday shopping off with a stroll through the artisan market! With over 25 markers to explore you might be able to check most of the names off of your holiday shopping list. Shop items such as handmade beanies and toques, jewelry, wall art, healing crystals and gemstones, candles, clothing, body care products, books, and so much more!
Follow @brightandmerrymarket on Instagram as new food and artisan market vendors are being announced daily!
Come say hello at the Oshawa Tourism booth to win swag items and warm up with a cup of free hot chocolate! Or participate in other interactive holiday booths brought to you by the LivingRoom Mobile Art Hive, Oshawa Animal Services, the Oshawa Art Association, Oshawa Fire Services, the Oshawa Generals, the Oshawa Museum, and the Ontario Regiment Museum.
Take a free ride on the Holiday Trolley! This old-fashioned trolley car will help you get from destination to destination with a variety of stops across the city including:
King St. + Nassau St.
King St. + Queen St.
King St. + Centre St.
King St. + Simcoe St.
King St. + Mary St.
Brew Wizards Café
John St. + Centre St.
Meet the man of the hour himself, SANTA! Stop by Memorial Park to enjoy live entertainment from the DD Francois Trio, the Abzolutely Choir, and the one and only Oshawa Civic Band; delight in the magic of the official tree lighting ceremony; and of course, have a chat with Santa Claus in his winter igloo. Be sure to plan ahead as Santa will be on-site from 6 to 7 p.m. and from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. – and as you might guess, he is a pretty popular guy.
That’s not all! Be sure to:
Stop by the Robert McLaughlin Gallery to shop at their holiday market, participate in a family activity or explore the gallery itself;
Visit the Oshawa Public Library for face painting, to participate in a scavenger hunt, to create a craft, or to enjoy the sounds of the Bruce Gorrie Trio;
Wander over to the Oshawa Senior Community Centres +55 (OSCC +55) for a hand-made craft sale, and to enjoy some holiday treats; or
Visit the St. George Memorial Church to hear carols performed by their organist and carol singers.
So now that you know about all the festivities taking place, the only thing left to do is pull on that ugly Christmas sweater and join in on the fun! We can’t wait to see you there.