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Summary

This riverside Ontario town has horse-drawn trolleys and twinkly streets with limestone shops

It's a magical Christmas destination.

Carollers standing on a stone entranceway. Right: A horse-drawn wagon travelling though a town.

Christmas festivities in a small Ontario town.

@townofstmarys | Instagram, @townofstmarys | Instagram
Lead Writer, Travel

This enchanting small town in Ontario is straight out of a Christmas storybook. Boasting limestone buildings, quaint streets, twinkling shops and holiday cheer, it's a magical spot to visit during the festive season.

St. Marys is a charming spot for a day trip or weekend getaway. Located less than 2 hours from Toronto, the little riverside village is known as "The Stonetown" due to the many limestone buildings and homes in the area.

During the Christmas season, St. Marys transforms into a Hallmark-worthy town with glowing shop windows and festive streets.

One of the highlights is WinterLights, a free attraction featuring over 100 colourful displays that's running until January 1. To add to the experience, you can follow the Holiday Lights map which takes you past some of the town's most festive homes.

On select dates, you can enjoy free horse-drawn wagon rides around the glittering lights.

On December 6 and 7, the WinterLights Night Market is taking place. It offers unique items from local vendors, free horse-drawn wagon rides, free s'mores and more.

The town is also part of the Stratford Christmas Trail, which leads to all sorts of festive shops throughout the area.

While you're visiting, you can head to some of the local shops to check off that gift list.

With old-world streets and magical Christmas experiences, St. Marys is a quaint spot for a holiday adventure.

St. Marys Tourism Website

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

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TravelCanada
  • Madeline Forsyth

    Lead Writer

    Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media. After earning her B.A. (Hons) at Queen's University, she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant. Now, she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe. Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity. She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss Experience. Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter.

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