If you're someone who loves the holidays and can't wait to host your family in southwestern Ontario this season, or if you’re visiting family in southwestern Ontario and want to know about the best local ways to make the holidays magical, you're in the right place!🎄✨ The joy of being together with family, filling a space with warmth, laughter, and delicious food is what makes this time of year so special.
People come to Ontario’s Southwest from far and wide during the holidays to visit their families. And we’re here to help make your holiday gatherings effortless and fun for not just local hosts but their visiting relatives too!
Transform Dinner Prep into a Fun Family Adventure
If you're preparing a homemade dish for a festive feast, bring your loved ones along to explore the local farms and markets and pick out the freshest ingredients. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time together. Plus, choosing the local ingredients directly from the source adds an extra layer of excitement to your holiday meals. As an added bonus, you’ll be supporting local farmers and artisans while ensuring that everything on your table has a story behind it. So bundle up, grab your market bags, and visit these hidden gems!
- Woodstock Farmers' Market: Open year-round on Saturdays. Local farms bring a variety of local produce, meats, and baked goods to this indoor farmer's market.
- Your Farm Market (Woodstock): Open year-round, this market provides fresh local ingredients all within a 100km radius of Woodstock.
- Bre's Fresh Market (Tillsonburg): Bre’s mission is to save customers the hassle of driving the countryside in pursuit of local produce. They provide local food not only from their farm but from neighbouring farms in the tri-county area.
- Covent Garden Market (London): Open year-round, this indoor market offers a wide range of local products, including fresh produce, meats, dairy, and artisanal foods. It’s a perfect spot for holiday shopping with family.
- Western Fair District Market (London): Open on Saturdays and Sundays all year long, featuring local farmers and producers offering everything from fresh produce to homemade goods.
- BJ’s Country Market (Delaware): A year-round market offering a great selection of local meats, produce, and delicious baked goods. Ideal for holiday meal preparation.
- Arva Flour Mill: Open year-round, this historic flour mill offers a range of locally milled flour and baking essentials, perfect for holiday cooking and baking.
- Sarnia Farmers' Market: This market is open year-round on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It’s known for its friendly atmosphere and a great selection of local produce, meats, and baked goods.
- Williamson Farms Country Store (Forest): has a great selection of beef products from their farm.
For Those Who Want Stress-Free Meals
Skip spending hours in the kitchen and focus on spending that time with your family instead! And since you're celebrating your holidays in a destination surrounded by local farms, you know that the local restaurants are well-stocked to create a gourmet holiday meal for your gatherings. Check out these local spots or caterers offering you and your loved ones incredible holiday feasts.
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Clock Tower Bistro and Inn (Strathroy): This charming bistro offers a warm, festive atmosphere perfect for hosting a holiday meal. Known for using fresh, seasonal ingredients, they'll create a custom menu for you to use at the Inn and Bistro (seating capacity of up to 160 guests) or off-site events.
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43 North Pubhouse & Patio (Strathroy): This is the restaurant at Caradoc Sands Golf Course. We love them because they use locally grown and organic produce from Slegers Greens in their dishes. It's a great place to host your family dinner but they also offer catering packages if you'd prefer they bring the food to you.
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The Springs Restaurant (London): Located in a historic refurbished church, The Springs emphasizes locally sourced ingredients in their holiday menus. This venue is perfect if accessibility is important for your family because it has a wheelchair ramp and an accessible bathroom on the main floor.
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East Park (London): This venue offers a unique way to host your holiday gathering where you can enjoy unlimited rock climbing, bumper cars, and a jungle gym on site. They also offer catering so you can just show up and be ready for family fun.
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Shale Ridge Estate Winery & Cidery (Thedford): This winery offers cozy indoor spaces and delicious menus that feature locally crafted wine and cider. The warm, inviting atmosphere ensures your holiday event will be a memorable one.
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Widder Station Golf, Grill & Tap House (Thedford): Widder Station combines elegance with a laid-back vibe, offering an ideal space for holiday parties. As seen in the photo below, they have a bright event space and know how to create a festive atmosphere.
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SixThirtyNine (Woodstock): This restaurant is known for its farm-to-table approach, making it a perfect choice for holiday meals. SixThirtyNine offers catering options that feature ingredients from local farms, ensuring a delicious and authentic dining experience.
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Fore! Oxford (Woodstock): Enjoy family time while testing out your skills with their golf simulators. This unique venue offers a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for gathering with family, friends, or colleagues for a fun and festive experience. They'll even organize the catering for you from a local business.
Being Present is Better than Getting Presents
If you're the type who loves seeing the joy on your family's faces when they open their presents but want to make this year even more memorable, consider planning a surprise family outing in lieu of giving gifts! Here are some incredible ideas for holiday experiences and events that will bring your loved ones closer and create lasting memories.
- Magic of the Lights at Fanshawe Conservation Area (London): Experience the holidays in a magical way by driving through the enchanting light displays at Fanshawe Conservation Area. From Nov. 22, 2024 – Jan. 4, 2025, you can drive through the dazzling displays of twinkling lights.
- Winter Campfire Experience (Bright): On weekends from Nov. 23 to Dec. 22, 2024, you can enjoy an old-fashioned winter experience with a cozy campfire at Snyder's Family Farm. Roast marshmallows, sip hot cocoa, and enjoy the crisp winter air during this charming outdoor adventure.
- Tree Lane Farms Winter Festival (Ilderton): From Nov. 23rd to Dec. 20th, 2024, celebrate the holiday season at Tree Lane Farms. You can pick out a fresh Christmas tree, enjoy holiday-themed activities, and meet the farm animals.
- Stars On Ice at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena (Sarnia): Get into the festive spirit by attending the Stars On Ice on Dec. 7th, 2024! Watch world-class figure skaters perform breathtaking routines making this show an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
Want to see what other events are in the area? Check them out below!
The Gift of Personal Space
We firmly believe that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to spending time together. By having visiting relatives stay at one of these comfortable accommodations nearby everyone has their own space to recharge.
- Elm Hurst Inn & Spa (Ingersoll): This historic inn offers elegant accommodations and a relaxing spa, perfect for unwinding during the holiday season.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Woodstock Ontario Canada: Conveniently located with modern amenities, this hotel is ideal for holiday visitors.
- Colonial Hotel (Grand Bend): Offering a variety of comfortable rooms, this is a great spot for families to unwind, recharge, and enjoy the festive charm of Grand Bend.
- Insignia Hotel (Sarnia): This hotel combines comfort and convenience with easy access to Sarnia’s holiday attractions. Visitors will appreciate the modern amenities, the pool, and infrared sauna.
- Holiday Inn Express Strathroy: With spacious rooms and excellent service, this new hotel is a great choice for holiday travellers.
- Clock Tower Inn and Bistro (Strathroy): This charming inn offers beautifully decorated rooms above a cozy bistro. Families will love the warm hospitality and unique character of this boutique accommodation.
- Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre (London): This family-friendly hotel features a tropical atrium with a pool, making it a fun and relaxing spot for holiday guests. With great amenities and an on-site restaurant, it’s a perfect stay for visitors of all ages.
- The Park Hotel (London): Located in downtown London, The Park Hotel offers stylish suites and easy access to the city’s holiday festivities. Guests can enjoy modern comforts and explore nearby shopping, dining, and events.
We hope all hosts and visitors in Ontario's Southwest this holiday season are able to embrace the joy of making memories. If you want to share your favourite holiday memories with us, please tag us on social media.