Top 5 Things To Get You Into the Christmas Spirit in TBAY (A guide to feeling festive ASAP)
Amanda Bay
December 16, 2025
The moment December arrives, everything shifts. Suddenly you’re knee deep in wrapping paper, humming ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ without even realizing it, and wondering how your evenings turned into a mix of twinkle lights and half finished to-do lists. It’s chaotic, it’s cozy, it’s the best!
And sure, you’re probably sprinting around town trying to find gifts for your entire family (plus your coworker, and Secret Santa ), but the real magic happens when you slow down and let yourself enjoy all the little holiday traditions that only come once a year.
If you’re ready to get festive, here are five must-do Christmas activities in Thunder Bay that will get you fully, completely, holly jolly in the holiday spirit.
1. Ice Skating at Prince Arthur’s Landing
There’s just something about skating outdoors that instantly flips your Christmas switch. The moment your skates hit the ice at Prince Arthur’s Landing, it’s like stepping straight into your own holiday movie. Soft snow falling, Christmas music drifting through the air, and a giant sparkling Christmas tree glowing over the waterfront. You cozy up by the outdoor fireplace between laps, warm your hands, and feel your inner child come alive.
The rink is open daily from 12 PM to 9 PM, so you can sneak in a festive skate any day of the week. Bring a friend, bring a date, bring your whole family…this one deserves to be an annual tradition.
2. Sip a Holiday Bevy at Sweet North
Nothing, and we mean nothing, screams Christmas like treating yourself to an over-the-top seasonal drink. Skip the instant hot chocolate this year and go full festive with a Sweet North specialty.
Whether you’re craving an Eggnog Latte, a classic Apple Cider moment, something with a little holiday spice, a Candy Cane Latte that tastes like a cup of memories, or a Gingerbread Latte made with house-made gingerbread syrup, brown sugar, molasses, and steeped spices, Sweet North has so many yummy options. And now with their cozy setup inside Indigo, you can browse books, grab gifts, wander the aisles, and then collapse into a comfy chair with your fancy festive drink.
3. Get a Photo with Santa!
Listen… it doesn’t matter how old you are. Getting a photo with Santa is always in the spirit of the season. It’s nostalgic, it’s adorable, and honestly, nothing pulls you into the magic of December like standing in line with excited little kids while festive music plays and the entire mall smells like cinnamon.
Santa photos also become these heart tugging time capsules. Whether you’re bringing your own kids or keeping your personal yearly tradition alive, every photo captures a moment you’ll never get back, a reminder of how much things change (and how much they stay the same).
If you haven’t gotten your 2025 Santa pic yet… this is it. Go get your moment with the big man. He’s at Intercity Shopping Centre this weekend! And don’t miss “The Mean Guy” (aka The Grinch) at Red Lion Smokehouse this Saturday, December 20th, for photos by donation and free carriage rides!
4. See a Holiday Show
There’s something undeniably magical about going to the theatre in December. The moment you step in from the cold, snowflakes still clinging to your coat, you’re hit with warmth, music, chatter, and that unmistakable festive buzz. Even if it’s your first time, a holiday show becomes the thing you remember, the thing you repeat next year, the thing that quietly becomes your December tradition. And this year, Thunder Bay’s theatre scene is delivering big time:
Some Kind of Christmas: Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
The beloved holiday favourite is finally back! This free family event fills the auditorium with local performances from Rodney Brown, JIM n’ I, Tommy Horricks and more, plus a screening of Mickey’s Christmas and the infamous penny toy auction. Expect free popcorn, drinks, and of course photo ops with Santa. It’s the kind of show that feels like coming home for the holidays.
If you want pure festive joy in musical form, Holiday Pops brings together timeless selections from The Nutcracker, a full audience sing-along, and Adam Shugar’s Hanukkah Overture featuring a surprise klezmer clarinet solo that always steals the moment. With Jeff Christmas conducting and vocalists Carly Martin and Robert Perrier lighting up the stage, it will be an unforgettable night at the TBCA!
Every Christmas Ever Told (and then some): Magnus Theatre
Think A Christmas Carol… but completely unraveled. Instead of performing the same classic for the millionth time, the actors spin into a hilarious, rapid-fire mashup of every Christmas story ever told, plus traditions from around the world, seasonal icons, and every carol you can imagine. It’s fast, funny, nostalgic, and full of that wonderfully chaotic holiday energy that makes December so fun.
5. Build a Snowman
Yes, seriously. Building a snowman is a guaranteed holiday mood booster. There’s something so festive about stepping outside into fresh snow and crafting something goofy and imperfect with your own hands. Roll a giant snowball, stack it, give it a carrot nose, and argue with your friends about whether it needs eyebrows.
Playing in the snow doesn’t just get you outside, it reconnects you to every Christmas morning from your childhood. Cold cheeks, wet mittens, laughing until your stomach hurts… that’s the real spirit of the season. So make the cookies, watch the movies, play in the snow, take the silly Santa photo, and check off as many festive activities as you can, because December only comes once, and it goes fast.
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CEDC © 2025. All rights reserved.