Downtown Lights are Sparkly and Bright

It's a family tradition to at least once a Christmas season drive around the neighbourhood checking out the light displays. It's always been a favourite thing of mine to do, but this year we decided to change things up a bit and head to downtown Brampton and see the concentration of lights around the Gage Park skating rink. I think Christmas lights are particularly pretty when there's snow on the ground and almost wish they would stay around all winter long. 

Happy Boxing Day

Christkindl Market

As mentioned ad nauseam, at least it's starting to feel that way a bit, I was on the quest for Christmas Markets in Ontario. I'm sure there are lots of little community fairs, sales, and markets at this time of year, but after my very brief Google search, I discovered the only 2 that take place in Ontario and coincidentally they were close enough for a visit. 

Who am I kidding, I would have been willing to make an epic trek to get my Christmas Market fix.

The first market was the annual Christkindl Market taking place in Kitchener, Ontario. Fun fact: the town of Kitchener gets its name from Lord Kitchener (yeah, this guy) when it was renamed from Berlin during the Second World War. Although the residence of the city wanted to cut ties from Deutschland, the city is still strong in its Germanic culture. Kitchener also yearly plays host to a large Oktoberfest.

After my visit to the Brampton Christmas Market, I didn't want to get my hopes up too high. That said, the market certainly exceeded my expectations, I was slightly disappointed more of the stalls weren't outside in the charming wooden huts, but I know, windchill. 

This market had all the hallmarks of a magical European Christmas Market; skating rink, wooden huts, sausage in a bun, Christmas ornaments, mulled wine (albeit only to be consumed in the beer garden), sugared almonds etc. However, this market also had traditional German dancing, Klaus the Organ Grinder, German carols, kartoffelpuffer, the pickle ornament, lederhosen, and lots of Stollen. 

Klaus the Organ Grinder

Honestly, it felt like the most German Market I've ever been to (I'm including the ones in Germany). The markets in Germany felt more authentic as if saying, 'this is our tradition, enjoy it with us here in Germany', whereas the Christkindl Market felt more like, 'this is German! This is a Christmas market!'. Not a bad thing in the least! 
In Kitchener, this is how they do.

Brampton Christmas Market

Back in early November every town seemed to be having their Santa Claus parades and turning on lights on trees, Brampton was no different and tied the occasion in with a mini Christmas market. The scale was tiny, but still quite festive. The red huts were on point, filled with local businesses selling their wares and food trucks warming people up with hot drinks and hot portable food. Spectators lined the main street in anticipation of jolly man himself. I bought my obligatory (and necessary) hot apple cider and we took in the lights, sights, and smells. Cute little market, so much more could be done, but not a bad start for my first Christmas Market of the season.

To Market, To Market: Brampton Farmers Market

Thanksgiving weekend in Brampton means the end of the weekly Saturday farmers market. I visited a couple weeks back and took in the sights and tastes of the Brampton Farmers Market.

It's a place where you can get local Ontario grown produce and inspect the wares of local small businesses.

I think I might have found my new tea shop.

The flowers were a big hit the weekend I visited, with Dahlias in full bloom and costing only .50 cents a flower, people were going a little cray.

I love popcorn, can hardly resist it EVER. So of course a big ol' bag of it was purchased, sweet and salty. Spoiled my lunch.

I love a local market. There's so much to see and new things to try and local businesses to support. You just never know what your going to spot at the market.