Candlelight Festival

The Candlelight Festival includes an illuminated procession and carol-sing down Port Hope's main street, lighting of the bandshell, live music, projection art, an outdoor market, festive food and moonlight shopping!

• The Candlelight Festival Walk takes place Friday, November 29. It will begin at Walton & Pine Streets (155 Walton St.) at 6:00pm. Bring your singing voice and participate in the group carol sing along the route.
  • Participants are invited to bring their own light source to carry (a lantern, candle with protective container, battery-operated candle or flashlight). A limited number of flame- and battery-operated candles will be available at the start of the walk, while supplies last. Participants are also invited to bring a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Fare Share Food Bank.
  • The Carol List can be found on our digital Candlelight Song Sheet webpage. Our friends at SONG will help lead the caroling and encourage all participants sing along to some holiday favourites. 
• Following the Walk, indulge in a cup of hot cider in Memorial Park and help us countdown to light up the Park for the season. Listen to live music, and head over to Lent Lane to explore the outdoor market, and explore every block in the downtown. Participating stores and restaurants will be open late on November 29 as part of Block Friday Moonlight Madness, presented by the Port Hope HBIA.
• The Knights of Columbus Hall will be open as a warming room throughout the evening (4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.), so pop in for a hot beverage and break from the outdoors. The Port Hope Rotary Club are animating this space and look forward to connecting with you!
• The Capitol Theatre will be hosting a Sneak Peek of the Festival of Lights and Trees. This magical experience is in its 28th year - be sure to check it out!
• Municipal transit is running late until 11:00 p.m. to help bring you downtown from around town.

To view the walk route, visit our festival map, and toggle on the Candlelight Walk Route Map layer at the bottom.

Event surveys

During the Candlelight Walk and Santa Parade we will have a team from Enigma Research conducting surveys so we can complete an economic impact study to measure success of the event and gather data to better understand our event audience. If you are approached by a surveyor wearing a purple volunteer lanyard, please consider giving some of your time to complete the survey - there is a great participation prize up for grabs!

Our Song List will be posted on our Candlelight Song Sheet webpage before the event so you can practice before the big day!

The Candlelight Festival is an annual holiday experience. We invite you to come and explore the seasonal transformation of Port Hope from November 29, 2024 until January 2, 2025.

Check out the Festival of Lights and Trees viewing schedule and Panto showtimes for more festive fun at the Capitol Theatre!

Festival activities by date:

• Walton St. Dress Shoppe (circa 1867), built by Robert C. Smith
• Walton St. Chemist (circa 1850), built by Nathan W. Leverich
• Capitol Theatre (circa 1830), an Art-Deco-influenced atmospheric theatre. The theatre closed in 1987 and reopened in 1995. Further renovations were done in 2020.
• Union Cemetery (est. 1873, buildings circa 1880)
• 72 Augusta St. (circa 1865), owned by Henry Russell, restored in 1993
• 254 Ridout St., the "Trick House" (circa 1850), home of Richard Trick, mason & bricklayer
• Log Cabin, Hope St. N. (circa 1847), originally on Mastwood Road, Hope Township, built by Nicholas Dodds. His descendents, Judy & Don Dodd, acquired and dismantled the house before generously donating it to Clay Benson to restore it to its original stature on the Benson property, beside the Ganaraska River.
• The Randall House, Little Hope St., moved from original site in 1845 or 1846. Mr. Randall owned a stationary shop downtown, which was in business until the early 2000s. If he was to follow the fashion of the times, the exterior ashler siding would have been painted with a paint & sand mixture to provide the illusion of a stone house. The house was renovated by Don & Joan Rumgay in the 1990s.
• The Mowat House, King St. (circa 1840). Originally owned by William Mitchell, Farley & Claire Mowat have owned it since 1976. Farley's parents owned it from 1959 - 1976.

 How to become a partner or sponsor

The Port Hope Candlelight Festival begins the last Friday in November and will run until January 2 the following year. 

We are seeking community partnerships and sponsorship to assist us in the delivering a creative and engaging program. Sponsorship provides an opportunity for organizations to connect with the Festival audience and help celebrate the holiday season throughout Port Hope. 

We are also seeking interested artists and makers to participate in our Candlelight Festival Market in Lent Lane.

Email us today to discover how you can be a part of this annual winter event.