The Town of Bracebridge and the Downtown Bracebridge BIA are bringing back the Festival of Lights for 2026, running from November 20 to December 4 in Downtown Bracebridge, Ontario. The festival, now in its 34th year, offers a mix of late-night shopping, self-guided activities, and the annual Santa Claus Parade.
The festival kicks off with the Moonlight Shopping Party and Street Festival on Friday, November 20, from 6 to 9 p.m., ending with a fireworks display at 8 p.m. Visitors can enjoy late-night shopping in local stores and live holiday window displays from the Bracebridge School of Dance Arts.
From November 20 through December 4, residents and visitors can take part in self-guided activities, including the Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt and the Let It Glow window display contest. Prizes for both contests include $50 Shop the Bridge gift cards, with three winners per contest.
The Santa Claus Parade, presented by the Rotary Club of Bracebridge/Muskoka Lakes, closes out the festival on Friday, December 4 at 6 p.m. along Manitoba Street.
Volunteers are still needed for set-up, event-day, and teardown crews. High-school aged volunteers in grade nine or older can receive documentation towards their 40 hours of community service. Anyone interested can find more details on the Town of Bracebridge website.
