What's going on in and around Newmarket this weekend

Thursday, Nov. 24

Brew HAHA Amateur Comedy Night: RyGuy Comedy presents Brew HAHA comedy show featuring headliner Leonard Chan (Just For Laughs, CBC, SiriusXM, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Beaverton) at Old Flame Brewing Co., 140 Main St. S., Newmarket, at doors open 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Ticket, $20 in advance, $25 at door if available, includes a 12oz beer (19+) or soft drink, courtesy of Old Flame Brewing Co.

Board Gaming: Join local board game enthusiasts at Cardinal Press Espresso Bar at 200 Main St. Newmarket from 6 to 10 p.m. The games are provided and teachers are available, or you bring your games to teach others. Note from organizers: We don't tend to play a lot of 'traditional' board games such as Monopoly, Clue, Sorry! Let them know what you would like to play when you RSVP and they will bring those games.

Wavestage Theatre presents Chicago: Set in the legendary city during the roaring '20s, Chicago tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses locked up in Cook County Jail. Kander and Ebb's famous musical will be sure to razzle dazzle. Ages 10 and up. Multiple dates and show times from Nov. 24 to 27 at NewRoads Performing Arts Centre, 505 Pickering Cres. Single event or subscription pricing available at newtix.ca. For details visit wavestagetheatre.com

Friday, Nov. 25

Lennie Gallant's The Innkeeper's Christmas: The Newmarket Folk Society presents East Coast performer Lennie Gallant and The Innkeeper's Christmas at the Royal Canadian Legion, 707 Srigley St. at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online or by calling 705-431-7182 and leaving a message.

Niemi Christmas Market: The Niemi Family Farm's annual Christmas market runs on weekends throughout November and December. The farm, located at 18463 Highway 48 in Mount Albert, is transformed into Christmas land with bonfires and smores, the Polar Express that takes visitors on a ride to see the animals, Santa in his workshop, and a Christmas market of vendors. Tickets are required and can be booked online. The market is open 25, 26. Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22.

The Distillery Winter Village: Toronto's popular distillery district is once again welcoming guests to its festive winter village this year. Along with the local shops and restaurants in the area there will also be vendor cabins featuring a number of unique artisans. Tickets are required on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays after 4 p.m. but all other times you can access the village free of charge. The winter village is open to Dec. 31.

Festive Nights at Brooks Farm: Starting Nov. 25, visitors are invited to experience the season of lights at Brooks Farms, at 122 Ashworth Rd., Mount Albert. The festive event features an enchanted forest, holiday displays, live music, a bonfire with marshmallows, holiday characters, a storytime wagon ride, a craft market with local artisans, gifts for the kids, festive foods and Santa. Tickets are required and can be bought online. Festive Nights runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 5 p.m. from Nov. 25 to Dec. 18 with two extra nights on Dec. 22 and 23.

Stouffville Holiday Market, Nov. 25 to 27: Visit outdoor artisanal vendors, take photos with Santa, enjoy food and drinks, and live entertainment from Don Amero, Good Lovelies, Preston Pablo and Shawn Hook throughout the weekend in Memorial Park, Civic Square and Main Street.

Markham Festival of Lights: Main Street Markham’s Annual Festival of Lights Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. features local craft vendors in a heated Holiday Market tent at our second annual Holiday Market, photos with Santa, carollers, warm-up stations, characters, festive light displays and more. Join the community for the tree lighting at Main and Robinson Street at 8 p.m. and take in a dazzling fireworks display.

Newmarket Farmers' Market Christmas Market: Vendors galore from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall, 200 Doug Duncan Dr.

Newmarket Cycles Bicycle Lending Library: You can borrow a bicycle and bike accessories for free using your Newmarket Public Library card from 1 to 4 p.m. at NewMakeIt, 621 Timothy St. A group ride from 4 to 5 p.m. follows.

Santa Under the Stars: Aurora's nighttime parade features twinkly magic, decorated floats, marching bands, special guests and, of course, Santa Claus. The parade begins at 6 p.m. and travels southbound along Yonge Street from Orchard Heights Boulevard to Murray Drive.

Old-Fashioned Christmas, Georgina Pioneer Village: Beginning at 3 p.m, kick off the holiday season by experiencing a traditional 19th century holiday celebration with Georgina Pioneer Village, 26557 Civic Centre Rd. Enjoy live music, a chance to meet with Santa and complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Admission: $1 under 15 yrs; $2 16 yrs+. At 5:30 p.m., make your way to the Civic Centre to join in on the countdown to the Festival of Lights. Enjoy a magical holiday tribute with festive animated lighting set to music, fun for the whole family.

Markham Santa Claus Parade: The Rotary Club of Markham Sunshine hosts the 48 annual Santa Parade beginning at 11 a.m. along Main Street Markham between Hwy. 7 and 16th Avenue.

Richmond Hill Merry Marketplace: The Merry Marketplace features a local artisan market, live entertainment, food concessions, contests and activities Saturdays until Dec. 17 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Richmond Green Park.

Niemi Christmas Market: The Niemi Family Farm's annual Christmas market runs Fridays and Saturdays throughout November and December. The farm at 18463 Highway 48 in Mount Albert is transformed into Christmas land with bonfires and smores, the Polar Express that takes visitors on a ride to see the animals, Santa in his workshop, and a Christmas market of vendors. Tickets are required and can be booked online. The market is open Nov. 26 and Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22.

Festive Nights at Brooks Farm: Experience the season of lights at Brooks Farms, 122 Ashworth Rd., Mount Albert with an enchanted forest, holiday displays, live music, a bonfire with marshmallows, holiday characters, a storytime wagon ride, a craft market with local artisans, gifts for the kids, festive foods and Santa. Tickets are required and can be bought online. Festive Nights runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 5 p.m. until Dec. 18 with two extra nights on Dec. 22 and 23.

Sunday, Nov. 27

Babes Who Brunch - Glitz & Galz: The Last Disco: Event includes bottomless prosecco (a Babes Who Brunch tradition), a specialty welcome cocktail, one drink ticket per guest for a specialty drink, oyster bar, famous Eventmrkt eats (featuring a variety of passed appetizers & grazing station), glitz beauty bar, surprise entertainment & a local love swag bag. This is also the perfect place to network with some bad-ass galz and get all the photo ops you could wish for. Dress code for this glammed up event calls for 70s inspired looks, colour scheme of different tones of purple and pink, silver, and accents of sandstone along with all things Glitzy of course. Tickets, $95. From noon to 5 p.m. at Eventmrkt, 352 Doug Duncan Dr.

Keynote Seniors Choir Cool Notes concert: Keynotes Seniors Choir is holding a free concert this called Cool Sounds, offering a variety of choral selections and some festive numbers, at 2 p.m. at the Newmarket Seniors' Meeting Place. Special performance by the woodwind quartet from Sir William Mulock Secondary School. There will be light refreshments available. A freewill offering is being collected to help offset costs.

Sing We Now of Christmas: Presented by Tapestry Chamber Choir of Newmarket with guest artist - Harpist, Maria Jacobson, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 484 Water St. Doors open 2:30 p.m., show starts: 3 p.m. Tickets, $20, must be purchased online.

Coming Up:

A Season for Giving, Hands Across the Nations Holiday Event, Thursday, Dec. 1: Enjoy a glass of wine or beer, some great food and find out what HATN has been up to and plans for the future from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at EVENTMRKT, 352 Doug Duncan Dr #1, Newmarket. Tickets $80.

Pickering College Holiday Boutique Soiree, Friday, Dec. 2: This new Pickering College event offers a unique elevated experience with exclusive access to specialized décor and floral design demonstrations and festive cocktails and appetizers from 6 to 10 p.m. Shop select boutique vendors and visit the outdoor market to find the perfect gifts. Kick off your holiday season with a fun-filled night with friends. Parking available on campus at 16945 Bayview Ave. Limited number of tickets available. Purchase in advance online. Tickets: $75 single, $250 four ticket bundle

Pickering College Holiday Boutique and Cafe, Saturday, Dec. 3: With over 45 vendors, you are sure to find the perfect gift or holiday décor item for anyone on your shopping list. Christmas décor, art, pottery, baked goods, skin care products, handmade goods, jewelry, home décor, clothing, accessories and more. Free admission, open to the public, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pickering College, 16945 Bayview Ave.

Aurora Christmas Market, Dec. 2 to 4, Dec. 9 to 11: Check out one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario. Aurora's Christmas Market will be filled with good cheer, hands-on virtual workshops and activities, fantastic seasonal vendors. Friday to Sunday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. (no admittance after 8:45 p.m.) at Aurora Town Park, 49 Wells Street. Free, check online for events and workshop schedules.

Sutton Parade of Lights, Saturday, Dec. 3.: The parade starts at 5 p.m. in Jackson’s Point and travels south along Dalton Road and east along High Street to the Sutton Fairgrounds. The Kinette Club of Sutton will be collecting non-perishable food items along both parade routes for the Georgina Community Food Pantry.

A Main Street Christmas, Schomberg, Saturday, Dec. 3: The Santa Claus parade starts at 4 p.m. at the Shomberg Arena to Western Avenue, then travels south along Main Street to Church Street. Following the parade, stroll down Main Street Schomberg and enjoy the holiday festivities, including jugglers, musicians and plenty of food. Admission is $5 and includes entrance to the Christmas market. The night ends with the many festive lights of the Farmers Parade of Lights beginning at 8 p.m.

Whitchurch-Stouffville Santa Claus Parade, Saturday, Dec. 3: Enjoy the magic of Christmas with the nighttime parade of lights along Main Street from Ninth Line to Park Drive starting at 6 p.m.

Mount Albert and District Lions Santa Parade, Saturday, Dec. 3: The parade begins at 11 a.m. and travels north on King Street, east on Shannon Road, south on Victoria Street, east on Mill Street, south on Centre Street, and west on Main Street to the Mount Albert Community Centre. Visit the community centre after the parade for hotdogs, hot chocolate and a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Toy and non-perishable food donations will be collected along the route.

Unionville Olde Tyme Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 3: Visit Unionville for a merry afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. featuring holiday light displays, live music and a parade starting at 5 p.m. on Main Street Unionville.

Newmarket Comicon, Sunday, Dec. 4: Vendors selling comic books, toys, video games, sports cards, jewelry and pretty much anything geeky cool from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Newmarket Community Centre and Lions Hall, 200 Doug Duncan Dr. Admission $5 online or cash at the door for adults, children age 12 and under get in free. If you purchase your ticket online you will get a limited edition comic free at the door. Please bring non-perishable food items for your local community food bank and get entered to win some fun prizes. One raffle ticket will be given for each item.

Old Fashioned Christmas at Sharon Temple, Dec. 4: This free event — with a donation of a non-perishable food item — at the Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum at 18994 Leslie St, East Gwillimbury, includes an artisan vendors market inside the temple and hall, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, horse and wagon rides (noon to 4 p.m.), charity barbecue for purchase, free hot chocolate and hot mulled wine, and kids holiday crafts ($5)

Barra MacNeils Live in Newmarket, Sunday, Dec. 11: The Barra MacNeils - An East Coast Christmas is a musical potpourri of traditional MacNeil family favourites gleaned from Christmas ceilidhs, midnight masses and the general festive frolic that accompanies each holiday season. With their captivating vocals, distinctive harmonies and extraordinary musicianship, The Barra MacNeils inject new life and energy into the sights and sounds of Christmas. Tickets can be purchased online or call (905) 953-5122. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at NewRoads Performing Arts Centre, 505 Pickering Cres.

Visual and Performing Arts Newmarket Three for the Show concert series: VPAN's 2022-23 concert series at 2 p.m. at the NewRoads Performing Arts Centre in Newmarket features: Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 (Old Town Hall) Young Artists Showcase; Sunday, March 26, 2023, The Quatuor Despax; Sunday, May 7, 2023, the Drew Jurecka jazz trio. To subscribe by cheque, VPAN subscription form 2022-2023.docx. To subscribe online, visit the website.

Board Gaming: Join local board game enthusiasts every other Friday at Cardinal Press Espresso Bar at 200 Main St. Newmarket at 6 p.m. The games are provided and teachers are available, or you bring your games to teach others. Note from organizers: We don't tend to play a lot of 'traditional' board games such as Monopoly, Clue, Sorry! Let them know what you would like to play when you RSVP and they will bring those games.

English Country Dance: Join the dance at Trinity United Church, 461 Park Ave. at Main Street, Newmarket from 2 to 4 p.m. Beginners welcome; all dances taught; you don't need to bring a partner. Admission by donation; your first class is free. Join the group on the first, third and (when there is one) fifth Saturday of the month.

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