Oshawa kicks off holiday season with Bright & Merry Market

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.

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.

Indulge in a variety of sweet, savoury, and international flavours at the holiday food market – With local vendors like Portobello Road, Masala Box and Table Soups you will definitely want to wear your stretchy pants, and if you’ve still got room after that you won’t want to miss The Whimsical Crispie Co. for dessert.

Kick your holiday shopping off with a stroll through the artisan market – With more than 25 vendors 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 much more.

Come say hello at the Oshawa Tourism boot – You can 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, Oshawa Art Association, Oshawa Fire Services, Oshawa Generals, Oshawa Museum and 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 – 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.

There are a few other must-see spots in the market as well:

• 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.

For All that’s Merry + Bright is next Thursday evening. Patrons are responsible for supplying their own ugly Christmas sweaters.

With files from Krista Licsi, Oshawa Tourism