Free, Family-Friendly Holiday & Winter Activities in Mississauga

Food and living expenses continue to increase, but you can enjoy the festivities and other winter activities this holiday season with these FREE (or inexpensive) activities in Mississauga! Whether it’s ongoing free activities you can sign up for, holiday bazaars and markets, tree lightings, or Santa Claus parades – we’ve compiled a list for you to celebrate the holidays in Mississauga without spending anything (or very little).

Festive Events

Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22: Christmas in the Village (Streetsville)

Visit Mississauga’s charming community of Streetsville to experience the magic of the holidays! This free holiday event kicks off on Friday, November 21, with live music by Jeff Jones, a traditional tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m., photo ops, and, rumour has it, Santa will be in town and available for photos from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.! On Saturday, November 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., there will be live entertainment, a Christmas market, toy collection, kids crafts, a petting zoo, pony rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, carnival rides, a Polar Express train, AND of course, Santa will be back for more selfies!

Saturday, November 22: Light up the Square

Head over to Celebration Square from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, for the official Mississauga Santa Claus parade, the opening of the outdoor ice rink, and the lighting of the Christmas tree! Food Banks Mississauga will be participating in the festivities and marching in the parade, so make sure you come by to see our mascot, Bowlina, in her full holiday spirit!

Thursday, November 27: Christmas in the Village (Clarkson)

Save the date for Clarkson’s Christmas in the Village! Taking place on Thursday evening from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. on the front lawn of Clarkson Community Church, there will be live music, a petting zoo, face painting, games and crafts, a visit from Santa, and lots of soup, hot chocolate, cookies, and candy canes!

Fund & Food Drives for Food Banks Mississauga

Volunteers from Food Banks Mississauga will be at grocery stores across Mississauga collecting donations for our Holiday Drive! This activity will cost you something BUT it’s for a great cause: ensuring our neighbours experiencing food insecurity across Mississauga can gather around the table and enjoy this Holiday season filled with joy, togetherness, and healthy food. 🥧🍗

Dates and store locations will be confirmed soon, so please check back for details!

Friday, December 5 – Sunday, December 14: Festival of Trees

The 5th Annual Mississauga Festival of Trees will be on from December 5 – 14 (except December 8) at the Small Arms Inspection Building. This celebration of the winter season will feature local, handmade goods, workshops, live entertainment, and commissioned artist-created trees. This festival is a pay-what-you-can event, with every donation supporting local artists and community programs.

Sunday, December 7: Charles Dickens Writes a Christmas Carol

A fan of the Christmas classics? For only $20, check out this Canadian adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol by Richard Quesnel, a dramatic reading performed by many local Mississauga actors! Check out this one-time performance at 2 p.m. on December 7 at St. Stephen’s on the Hill United Church, Mississauga.

Tuesday, December 31: New Year’s Eve

Ring in the new year at Celebration Square! Bring the kids for NYE Jr. from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. for family-friendly fun and a confetti countdown. The main stage will feature live music until the midnight fireworks finale!

Holiday Bazaars & Markets

The following holiday bazaars and markets have no admission fee.

Saturday, November 8: Tidings & Tinsel Community Market

This holiday market takes place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, at Clarkson Road Presbyterian Church. There will be free gift bags for the first 20 guests, a scavenger hunt and prizes for all guests, and lots of local vendors to shop and experience. The market will also be collecting clothing donations for the Peel Drug Advisory Panel.

Saturday, November 8: Christmas Bazaar

This Christmas bazaar takes place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, at Sheridan United Church.

Saturday, November 15: Port Credit Christmas Market

Head to the Royal Canadian Legion in Port Credit for this event hosted by Vendors Market. From 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on November 15, shop unique holiday gifts from local vendors and enjoy some yummy holiday treats!

Saturday, November 15: Frosty’s Frolic Christmas Bazaar

From 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on November 15, St. Andrew’s Memorial Presbyterian Church will be hosting its Christmas bazaar. There will be jewellery, crafts, and baking for sale as well as a lunch and silent auction.

Saturday, November 15: Christmas Craft Sale

The Irish Club of Mississauga is hosting a Christmas Craft Sale from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on November 15. This festive event will have a bake sale and unique gifts to stuff those Christmas stockings! Plus, door and raffle prizes!

Saturday, November 15: Annual Christmas Bazaar & Marketplace

Eden United Church (Battleford) is hosting its annual Christmas Bazaar & Marketplace from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on November 15. Buy gifts for the holidays from local artisans and vendors, indulge in some delicious baking, pick up a used book, and treat yourself to a snack or lunch from the Christmas Cafe.

Friday, November 21 – Saturday, November 22: Ward 1 Outdoor Christmas Market

Hosted by Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko, this family-friendly event takes place outside the Air Force Veterans Club from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Friday, November 21 and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22. With live entertainment, a festive artisan market, ice sculptures, and pictures with Santa, this outdoor market promises much more than just an opportunity to check some items off your holiday giving list! Folks are encouraged to bring a shelf-stable food item for The Compass (a food bank in our network of 60+ food programs across Mississauga).

Saturday, November 22: Home for the Holidays Artisan Market

The Mom Market Peel Region is hosting their annual holiday market at the Small Arms Inspection Buildings on November 22, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. With stalls from over 85 local businesses, this market will also feature a kids corner, face painting, photo opportunities, holiday music, food stands with seating, and grand prize draws.

Saturday, November 22: Holiday Market

Shop one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted gifts at the Arts on the Credit Christmas Market at the Unitarian Congregation Mississauga from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on November 22.

Saturday, November 29: Home for the Holidays Artisan Market

From 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on November 29, PORTICO Church will be hosting its Christmas Market. All are welcome to come and enjoy fun, exciting shows and activities for the whole family!

Saturday, December 13: Cranberry Christmas Market

Mississauga Arts Council is hosting their annual curated Holiday Market at Clarke Memorial Hall on December 13, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Shop local for your holiday gifts and enjoy festive entertainment from the Mississauga Festival Choir and NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir! Admission is free, but there will be a collection for shelf-stable and personal care items for The Compass (a food bank in our network of 60+ food programs across Mississauga).

 

Mississauga-Centred Activities

Tuesday, November 4: Free Lecture – The Art of Mending

The Hazel McCallion Central Library holds free monthly lectures by UTM faculty members. This month’s lecture is by Professor Alison Syme from the Department of Visual Studies on The Art of Mending. This event on November 4 from 7 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. is open anyone aged 13+ and offers a livestream link for those interested but unable to attend in person.

Tuesday, November 11: Remembrance Day Ceremony

Remembrance Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy as Canadians. There will be a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Mississauga Civic Centre Community Memorial (located on the upper portion of Celebration Square) at 10:30 a.m. on November 11.

Friday, November 14 – Saturday, November 15: Mississauga Comic Expo

Enjoy workshops, panels, cosplay photoshoots, tabletop board game demos, video game free-play sessions, presentations, and more at the Hazel McCallion Central Library! The Mississauga Comic Expo is completely free and runs from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. All programs are drop-in and are first-come, first-serve,d but you can register to access regular updates.

Wednesday, November 12: Mississauga Canadian Immigrant Fair

The Canadian Immigrant Fair returns to Mississauga from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 14 at the Living Arts Centre. This free event is for newcomers to connect and find information on jobs and education opportunities. Check out this event to find hiring employers and recruiters, inspirational immigrant speakers, career tips and coaching, a resumé clinic, practical workshops, immigration and settlement help, and much more!

Wednesday, November 19: Midday Melodies with Labyrinth Ensemble Quartet

Head over to the Hazel McCallion Central Library from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19 for a free, cozy midday concert by Labyrinth Ensemble Quartet!

Friday, December 12: Free Skating at Burnhamthorpe CC Rink

Ward 3 Councillor Chris Fonseca invites you to a free skating event on Friday, December 12 at 6:15pm at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre Rink  / Chic Murray Arena. Bring your skates and come enjoy some skating and hot chocolate! (There will also be another free skate on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 6:15 p.m.)

Ongoing: Skate on the Square

Starting Saturday, November 22, the skating rink at Celebration Square will be open and ready for your spins, glides, and (maybe) the occasional slips! Bring your own skates and helmets, or rent them on site.

 

This article is a part of a seasonal series, so check back in the new year for a list of activities for the winter months! If you have a free, family-friendly activity to add to this list, email us at marketing@foodbanksmississauga.ca.