Free, Family-Friendly Holiday & Winter Activities in Mississauga

Top Image Photo Credit: Adam Pulicicchio Photography

Food and living expenses continue to increase but you can enjoy the festivities and other winter activities this holiday season with these FREE activities in Mississauga! Whether it’s ongoing free activities you can sign up for, tree lightings, or Santa Claus parades – we’ve compiled a list for you to explore the nature and diversity of Mississauga without spending anything.

The Port Credit Cenotaph at Vimy Park, Mississauga | Photo Credit: City of Mississauga

Remembrance Day Ceremonies

Remembrance Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy as Canadians. Here are some of the events commemorating the day:

Sunday, November 10: St. John’s Dixie Cemetery from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Monday, November 11: Mississauga Civic Centre Community Memorial (located on the upper portion of Celebration Square) at 10:30 a.m.

Monday, November 11: Port Credit Cenotaph, Vimy Park from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Monday, November 11: Streetsville Village Square from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon)

Photo Credit: Mississauga Culture

Festive Events

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

Visit Mississauga’s charming community of Streetsville to experience the magic of the holidays! This free, outdoor event includes live music by River North, a traditional tree light ceremony at 7 p.m., maple taffy, photo ops, and rumour has it, Santa will be in town and available for photos from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.! The next day (Saturday, November 23) there will be a Polar Express Train and Horse Drawn Carriage rides.

Saturday, November 23: Light up the Square

Head over to Celebration Square from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a magical evening of lights, music, and fun! Watch the city’s Christmas tree light up at 7 p.m., join the DJ skate party on the officially opened skating rink, snap a photo with Santa Claus, grab a bite from one of the many food trucks, and enjoy some live music. If you’re going with young kids, check out the Kids Zone for lots of fun activities!

Thursday, November 28: Christmas in the Village (Clarkson)

Save the date for Clarkson’s Christmas in the Village! Taking place on Thursday evening from 6:30pm – 8pm 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! Another great thing about this event? Donations will be accepted for three of our agency members: Armagh House, Embrave, and The Compass!

Sunday, December 1: 8th Annual Mississauga’s Santa Claus Parade

Check out this Santa Claus parade on Motorway Blvd at Erin Mills Auto Centre at 12 p.m. (noon) to see over 75 floats, marching groups, bands, and ol’ St. Nick himself!

Saturday, December 7 – Sunday, December 8: Christmas Fair

Check out this holiday market at the German Canadian Club Hansa Haus from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.! It features an artisan marketplace, a lounge filled with mouth-watering food, and a meet-and-greet with Santa. Every child will receive a free gift from Santa Claus! This event has free entry, free parking, free face painting, and a free magic show at 3 p.m.

Saturday, December 7: Christmas Music Concert

St. Andrew’s Memorial Presbyterian Church in Port Credit is presenting its annual “Christmas in our Hearts” concert at 7 p.m.! The event is free, with donations gratefully accepted.

Tenth Line West Christmas light display | Photo Credit: Lisgar Residents Association

Saturday, December 7: Pitch in for a Picture

Trinity, a 12th grader in Mississauga, is hosting an event at 6601 Tenth Line West to raise funds for Food Banks Mississauga! Trinity’s neighbourhood is a go-to destination for its amazing holiday light display. If you’re checking out the twinkling lights on December 7, stop by Trinity’s winter photo booth for a photo and grab a cup of hot chocolate! The donation currency for this event will be shelf-stable food and cash donations. Support Trinity’s goal to raise $2,500!

Wednesday, December 11: Eden Community Christmas Sing

Head down to Eden United Church at 7 p.m. on December 11 for an evening of Christmas music and caroling for the entire family!

Sunday, December 15:  Bangladesh’s Bijoy Dibosh

Celebrate Bangladesh’s Bijoy Dibosh (Victory Day) with Mississauga Bangla Community Dhrupod! From stage performances showcasing Bengali culture to authentic Bengali pithas and delicacies, local vendors, and a raffle draw, this free event from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Paul Secondary School provides a great opportunity to celebrate the culture and flavours of Bangladesh!

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!

Photo Credit: City of Mississauga

Mississauga-centred Activities

Wednesday, November 13: Drop-In Art Hive

Feeling creative? Check out The Art Hive at the Art Gallery of Mississauga for a free opportunity to create some amazing art with Cynthia Morin from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.! All supplies are provided and no art-making experience is necessary. Registration is recommended, but drop-ins are welcome!

Thursday, November 14: Mississauga Canadian Immigrant Fair

The third annual 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!

Friday, November 15 – Saturday, November 16: 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 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 but you can register to access regular updates.

Friday, November 22 – Sunday, November 24: Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary Projection Exhibition

Experience a dazzling animated display at Celebration Square to celebrate the spirit and history of our city. Featuring the creative visions of local artists, this exhibition will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. all weekend and is free for all ages!

Saturday, November 30: Opening event for Fire Station 125

Sound the alarms! Mississauga’s newest fire station (and first net-zero emissions building!) at 6627 Tenth Line W officially opens on November 30 with a celebration from 12 p.m. (noon) to 3 p.m.! Come and learn about fire safety, tour the station, and take part in a fitting ceremony at 12 p.m. (noon)! Before you head there, consider bringing along some shelf-stable food donations to drop off for your neighbours in need!

Ongoing: Explore Black History in Mississauga

Visit the Bradley Museum and take in the exhibition Generation X Marks the Spot, exploring Black history in Mississauga. Curated by Dayo Kefentse, this project tells the story of young Caribbean Canadians who shaped Canadian culture here in our city in the 1980s and the importance of making societal change. Check it out Thursdays to Sundays until December 8 from 12 p.m. (noon) to 4 p.m.

Ongoing: Skate on the Square

Starting Saturday, November 23, 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.

Food Sorting at Food Banks Mississauga

Ongoing Free Activities

To participate in the following ongoing free activities, you must sign up online or borrow a pass.

Visit the Peel Art Gallery

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can get a “PAMA Family General Admission Pass” that allows free admission to the Peel Art Gallery for you and your family (up to 2 adults and 5 children).

Explore Mississauga’s Natural Beauty

With a Mississauga Public Library card, you can borrow a pass to visit the Credit Valley Conservation parks or any Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) parks for free. TRCA Parks include the Black Creek Pioneer Village, Bruce’s Mills Conservation Park, Heart Lake Conservation Park, and more! You can also get an Ontario Parks Pass to access and visit over 100 provincial parks for free.

Volunteer at Food Banks Mississauga

Sign up to volunteer and support neighbours experiencing food insecurity! Many roles are available, from delivering food through our Food Bank 2 Home program or sorting food with our Corporate Volunteering Program to being our mascot, Bowlina! This holiday season, we’re also looking for volunteers to represent us at various grocery stores across Mississauga, collecting donations for our Holiday Drive.

Discover Egyptian History in Mississauga

Learn all about Egyptian history at the Egyptian Museum in Riverview, Mississauga. Families can take advantage of the 50% discount and get tickets for only $10. Children under six can visit for free!

Sauga At Play

Sauga At Play is a free, drop-in, after-school program for 10 to 18-year-olds. Find drop-in programs like badminton, basketball, volleyball, and soccer at various community centres across the city. Youth Memberships may be required; visit your local community centre to pick up your membership and view the drop-in program schedule!

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.