Top Things to Do in Summerside This December

The holidays are here, and Summerside is ready to celebrate! Watch our city transform into a magical Winter Wonderland with festive lights, delicious treats, and activities for the whole family. Whether you’re a fan of parades, cocoa, or a good old-fashioned hockey game, there’s something here to make your December extra special.

Here’s our guide to the Top Things to Do in Summerside This December

1. Step into a Winter Wonderland at the Yuletide Festival

Running every Saturday until December 21, the Summerside Yuletide Festival turns Veterans Memorial Square Park into a scene straight out of a Christmas card. This festive village is packed with fun: horse-drawn carriage rides, festive treats, singalongs, games, performances, and even a chance to meet Santa! And if that isn’t enough, the festival hosts a wealth of activities outside the park throughout December, with performances and live shows happening in the Harbourfront Theatre, Holman’s Christmas Light Gardens, and the Scott MacAulay Performing Arts Centre. Click here for more details.

2. Feel the Magic at the Summerside Santa Parade

What’s Christmas without the Summerside Santa Parade? On Friday, December 6th, at 6 PM, Watch as Summerside’s downtown streets come alive with festive floats, dazzling lights, and holiday music that will have you humming carols all night. Bundle up, grab a hot drink, and find your spot to see Santa himself roll into town. It’s the perfect way to kick off the season and make memories with your loved ones.

3. Embark on the Hot Chocolate Trail

Did someone say hot chocolate? Follow the North Cape Coastal’s Hot Chocolate Trail to Summerside for some of the most creative and delicious hot chocolates you have ever tasted! This year, we’ve got four stops, each offering their own totally unique creations. Check out the list below and see which ones will make it on your Must Try list:

• Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour: Indulge in their Not So Hot Chocolate Shake, made with creamy vanilla ice cream, their signature hot chocolate powder, chocolate sauce, marshmallows, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of crushed candy canes.
• PEI Roti Fusion Cuisine: Experience the Caribbean in a cup with their Caribbean Hot Cocoa Tea, crafted from grated raw cocoa balls, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, and sweetened condensed milk.
• Samuel’s Coffee House: Try their Sammy’s Chocolate Orange, featuring dark chocolate cocoa mixed with house-made orange syrup, topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a wedge of chocolate orange.
• Sunrise Breakfast Café: Choose from their four inventive hot chocolates:
  • Hot Hot Chocolate, with a spicy kick of pepper power, cinnamon, and a toasted marshmallow on top.
  • English Hot Chocolate, blending chocolate milk and black tea, garnished with sliced almonds.
  • Tropical Hot Chocolate, combining coconut milk and chocolate milk, topped with toasted coconut chips.
  • Osmanthus Night, a fragrant blend of chocolate milk and osmanthus paste, finished with dried osmanthus petals.

Don’t forget to vote for your favourite by scanning the Hot Chocolate QR code in participating locations.

Available from November 16th to December 22nd.

For the full Hot Chocolate Trail map, click here!

4. Take in the Lights for Life Show at PCH & Greens Shore Park

The Lights for Life display at Prince County Hospital is a holiday tradition that’s as moving as it is magical. Every evening in December at 6 PM, 7 PM, and 8 PM, watch as the hospital’s façade comes alive with synchronized light shows set to music. Created in memory of loved ones, this event is a beautiful way to reflect on the season’s true meaning while enjoying a stunning visual spectacle. Find their Downtown display along the Baywalk Boardwalk and at Green’s Shore Park! It’s the perfect place to enjoy beautifully lit strolls by the water, enchanted by the magical display of holiday lights.

5. Tour Summerside’s Best-Decorated Homes

Get on your best Christmas sweater and head out for a self-guided tour of the most beautifully decorated homes in Summerside. From twinkling lights to creative displays, this is a great way to soak up the holiday spirit with your family or friends. Pro tip: Top the evening’s adventure off with a hot meal in one of Summerisde’s cozy local restaurants.

6. Cheer at a Hockey Game at Credit Union Place

Few things feel as Canadian as watching a live hockey game in the middle of winter. The Credit Union Place (CUP) is the place to be for exciting matches, cold beer, and buttery popcorn this season. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just there for the atmosphere, it’s a fun way to spend a weekend evening. This December, we have five Summerside Western Capitals games taking place at the CUP! See the complete lineup here!

7. Discover Holman’s Christmas Light Gardens

Step into a winter wonderland at Holman’s Christmas Light Gardens! This historic garden is transformed into a dazzling holiday display, featuring a stunning 20-foot Christmas tree, twinkling lights, Santa perched on the roof, and cozy campfire pits throughout the property.

Inside Holman’s parlour, you’ll find even more seasonal cheer with special events and activities
like live performances by talented Island artists, festive karaoke nights, and a charming market featuring local vendors.

This enchanting experience is sure to add sparkle to your holiday season—don’t miss it!

Find the gardens at Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour at 286 Fitzroy Street.

8. Explore Christmas Trees Through the Ages

Immerse yourself in the timeless magic of the holidays with the Christmas Trees Through the Ages exhibit, presented by Culture Summerside and Wyatt Heritage Properties Inc. This festive showcase, held at the historic Lefurgey Cultural Centre, transforms the main floor of the 1867 building into a stunning evergreen forest.

Discover the fascinating history of Christmas trees, how they became a central part of holiday celebrations, and the evolving traditions and fashions that surround them. First launched in 2019, this exhibit grows each year with new trees and decorations, engaging all five senses and stirring cherished holiday memories.

December 2 to December 21, the exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Lefurgey Cultural Centre at 205 Prince Street.

Celebrate the Season in Summerside!

From parades to cocoa to dazzling lights, Summerside is the place to be this December. Don’t miss out on these amazing activities—make your plans, gather your loved ones, and get ready to create unforgettable memories this holiday season. For more details on these events and more, visit Explore Summerside.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Explore Summerside!