I recently got back from a fun and festive filled weekend in North Bay and I have to say, this Northern Ontario city really surprised me! There really are a ton of fun and festive things to do in North Bay at Christmas time.
North Bay really is the perfect Hallmark Christmas destination, and you’re about to find out why.
In North Bay they have everything from a weekly Christmas market that runs throughout the month of November, to a Christmas bar, Christmas photo opps, a charming downtown to explore, and even a Hallmark Movie self guided tour (it’s been the shooting location for a few of them!).
If you’ve been looking for the perfect Ontario destination to visit this holiday season, I hope this guide convinces you to add North Bay to your list.
Here you can expect a holiday escape filled with twinkling lights, Hallmark-worthy backdrops, the most charming downtown, great food, and plenty of cozy winter activities.
Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, this is your guide to the best things to do in North Bay at Christmas time.
So grab a peppermint hot chocolate, cozy up by the fire, and get ready to fall in love with North Bay at Christmas time!
Before we get started, if you’re looking for more Ontario Christmas travel guides & recommendations, you may want to check out these posts:
- Magical Christmas Towns of Ontario Guide
- Fun & Festive Things to do in Toronto at Christmas Time
- Cheap & Free Activities to do in Toronto at Christmas Time
And Quebec is just a short road trip away, so you may also want to check out these Christmas guides:
- Magical things to do in Montebello at Christmas
- Festive things to do in Quebe City at Christmas time
And be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. I share a lot of travel content on those that never make it to the blog!
Now, let’s get into the guide of the best things to do in North Bay at Christmas time.
I’m going to start this guide with general information you might need for your trip, then get into the list of the list of North Bay’s Christmas activities.
Why Visit North Bay at Christmas Time
North Bay has a way of surprising people in the best way possible. It managed to totally surprise me!
One step in North Bay and you’ll quickly realize why it’s the shooting location of so many beloved Hallmark Christmas movies. And if Hallmark thinks it’s the perfect Christmas destination, it must be right?
But don’t just take their word for it…
During the holidays North Bay’s charming historic downtown comes alive with festive markets, Christmas pop-ups, live music, seasonal treats, and even a Christmas bar (which is brand new this year).
Amongst the festive decorations and holiday chatter you’ll find all sorts of fun activities to keep you busy. Sip a hot cocoa in a cozy cafe, watch the snow fall over the beautiful lakefront, or get in a little Christmas shopping at one of the many downtown shops.
There’s lots to do in North Bay at Christmas, and you’ll feel like you stepped into your very own Hallmark movie.
Whether traveling alone (like I did), doing a girls trip, a romantic getaway, or a family outting, you will love your time in North Bay during the holiday season.
How to Get to North Bay
One of the best parts about visiting North Bay is how easy it is to get to, especially for a winter road trip if you already live in Ontario!
Even though I live a little further in Montreal I opted to drive, and it was an easy drive for me.
Driving to North Bay
If you’re visiting from Ontario or the surrounding area (like Montreal) I definitely recommend driving. Here is how the drive breaks down:
- From Toronto: About 4 hours via ON-400 and ON-11. It’s a very straightforward and scenic drive once you’re north of Barrie.
- From Ottawa: Around 4 hours along Highway 17, passing through beautiful stretches of the Ottawa Valley.
- From Montreal: Approximately 6 hours, mostly on divided highways. It’s not a short road trip, but it is easy enough to do in one day!
- From Sudbury: Just over 1 hour. If you live in Sudbury, North Bay is perfect for a quick day trip.
- From Huntsville / Muskoka: Around 1 to 1.5 hours on ON-11. Also a perfect distance to make North Bay a day trip destination.
Parking throughout downtown North Bay is very easy and accessible. Free parking is available in 2 hour windows (and evenings and weekends for the Winter Market) at the North Bay Museum. They have a large parking lot and this is where I parked whenever I was downtown!
Flying to North Bay
Of course if you don’t want to drive, flying to North Bay is definitely an option.
North Bay Jack Garland Airport (YYB) offers flights within Ontario, and if you’re flying from outside of Ontario you’ll have to fly to a larger airport like Toronto Pearson and then go to North Bay from there.
Trip Planning Tips for Christmas in North Bay
Even though a visit to North Bay may not be a big trip, it’s best to plan ahead to get the most out of your time in the city. Here are some things you’ll want to consider:
Best time to visit
If you want to experience the North Bay Winter Market, which is the biggest Christmas festival in North Bay, you will definitely want to make sure you visit during a weekend in November.
The North Bay Winter Market runs during the first 3 Saturdays of November this year (Nov 8, Nov 15, and Nov 22), and then on Friday November 28th. I will cover more about this market later on in this guide, but it is definitely THE North Bay Christmas activity not to miss.
November (and early December) overall is when events, markets, and holiday décor are in full swing, so you really can’t go wrong during this time.
And weekends are when most of the festive attractions will be running! You will definitely find week days to be a little quieter.
What to Pack
Although temperatures can fluctuate, you can expect they’ll be below zero or close to zero. Expect evenings to be much colder as well. You’ll want to make sure you bring:
- Warm boots
- Mittens or gloves
- A good winter coat
- layers
- A cozy scarf
- A bathing suit if you’re going to stay at a cottage with a sauna like The Finch!
Since downtown North Bay is extremely walkable, you’ll want to make sure you’re dressed for spending a few hours outside in the cold.
How long to stay in North Bay
How long you choose to stay in North Bay will definitely depend on how far you’re coming from. If you’re coming a bit of a ways like I did from Montreal, I would recommend 2 nights as the perfect amount of time.
If you’re coming from closer, like Toronto or Ottawa, and only driving 4 hours I would say 1 night will give you plenty of time.
Finally, if you’re coming from somewhere very close like Sudbury, you can easily visit North Bay for the day.
Now that you know when to visit North Bay at Christmas time, what to pack, and how long to stay here, let’s get into the list of the best things to do in North Bay at Christmas time!
Things to do in North Bay at Christmas Time
North Bay at Christmas time is absolutely charming and straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Here are the top things to do in North Bay at Christmas time.
1. Explore the North Bay Winter Market
I’ve already mentioned this earlier in this North Bay Christmas guide, but the North Bay Winter Market is really the heart and soul of North Bay at Christmas time.
This is hands down the event that you won’t want to miss, and it’s so much fun!
The North Bay Winter Market runs the first 3 Saturdays in November (Nov 8, 15, and 22nd) as well as a bonus Friday on Nov 28th during the Old-Fashioned Christmas Walk.
During the North Bay Winter Market you can explore a ton of local vendors in a classic Christmas Market, ride the Christmas train, enjoy tons of festive treats, live music, visits with Santa, outdoor holiday movie screenings, hot food, indoor crafting opportunities, free museum visits, warming stations, photo opportunities, and so much more!
It is such a fun event and you can really feel the festive cheer throughout the city while the market is running.
The North Bay Winter Market is definitely one of the best places to soak up holiday spirit in North Bay and connect with the local community.
2. Visit the Christmas pop-up bar at The Block Public House
I love a good cheesy Christmas bar, and I was so excited to find out that North Bay has their very own this year!
For the first time ever The Block Public House is decorated from head to toe in festive decorations, and the decor alone is worth the stop.
Picture a bar covered in twinkling lights, over the top holiday decorations, and festive cocktails that feel straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie. That’s exactly what you’re going to find at The Block Public House until the end of December!
It’s cozy, fun, and the perfect way to warm up and get into the holiday spirit after exploring downtown North Bay.
3. Do the free self-guided Hallmark movie walking tour
North Bay has been the filming location of a bunch of Hallmark Christmas movies, and you can do a self guided tour to discover the local filming spots!
This self guided Hallmark movie walking tour is completely free, and can be done from your phone through this link.
The self guided tour will take you walking throughout North Bay’s charming downtown to discover all sorts of cool filming spots, and it even shows you stills from the movies they appeared in.
This is such a great way to explore North Bay, familiarize yourself with their downtown area, and learn all about the different filming locations that have appeared in Hallmark movies.
4. Warm up and have a festive treat at The Opera Bakery Café
No Christmas trip is complete without a cozy cafe visit to enjoy some festive delights, and The Opera Bakery Café Ia must visit while in North Bay.
If you did the Hallmark Movie Walking Tour, you’ll have discovered that this charming little café has been the filming location of a few of them, and one step inside and you’ll be able to see why that is!
This locals favourite offers cozy holiday vibes, festive baked goods, and some of the best seasonal lattes around. The gingerbread latte I had was SO good. And the maple cookie complete with holly was delicious and so festive looking!
Whether you’re grabbing a warm drink before the market or taking a midday break, The Opera Bakery Café is one of the coziest Christmas cafés in town.
5. Browse the local boutiques downtown and get in some Christmas shopping
I couldn’t write a guide to all the festive things to do in North Bay at Christmas time without including some great stores to get in a little Christmas shopping!
Downtown North Bay has all sorts of cute little shops to explore, and it’s fun to wander through them and see all the local offerings.
My favourite street for shopping is Main Street, there are lots of shops along this street to check out!
Here were some of my favourites (in no particular order):
- The Farm for all things local. They highlight Canadian made clothing, accessories and a have a wide range of unique items
- The Abbey for festive goods and decorations. It’s also a great spot for cards and gifts!
- The Annex for high end and unique clothing
- October’s Meta for a great assortment of tea and all things witchy
6. Have breakfast at Hoagie’s Diner (straight out of a Christmas movie!)
I feel like almost every single classic Christmas movie and Hallmark movie has a cozy small town retro diner in it, and that’s exactly what Hoagie’s Diner is!
One step in Hoagie’s Diner and you’ll immediately be able to picture it in a cozy Christmas movie.
Hoagie’s is a purely classic retro diner that will really make you feel like you stepped back in time.
It’s a local’s favourite, and features homestyle comfort food and classic diner staples in a fun, retro atmosphere.
I had the french toast with strawberry compote and whipped cream while I was here (I wanted the Belgian Waffles, but just a heads up they stop serving these at 11am!) and it was delicious.
This is the perfect place to start your day in North Bay.
7. Enjoy North Bay’s hidden gem lunch spot: Crossroads Convenience
Speaking of great places to eat while you’re in North Bay, here’s another spot you can’t miss.
Don’t let the name fool you, Crossroads Convenience is one of North Bay’s most delicious and underrated lunch spots.
I had no idea what I was in for when I came here for lunch, but my oh my, it was incredible!
Not only is the interior absolutely adorable (another vintage gem, and another Hallmark shooting spot!), but the food here is sublime.
Although it is a quick eats spot, where you order at the counter and pay up front, it eats like a 5 star dining experience. Well, at least in flavour.
I had the turkey & kimchi sandwich and I was blown away by just how much flavour was packed into this sandwich. It had layers of thick turkey, kimchi, melted cheddar cheese, bacon, and some sort of sauce that pulled everything together perfectly.
If you’re not able to stop by Crossroads Convenience for lunch, they are also open in the evening so you can enjoy a more casual dinner and some cocktails!
8. Indulge in a cozy fireside dinner at Churchill’s
Nothing screams festive, holiday meal like getting to enjoy incredible dining next to a cozy, crackling fire.
The atmosphere at Churchill’s Prime Rib House is warm and intimate, the service is excellent, and the food is incredibly delicious.
I had the prime rib (it felt like I had to) which came with a giant Yorkshire pudding, lots of au jus, mashed potatoes, and veggies. It was truly the perfect cozy holiday meal.
I’ve been dreaming of this prime rib ever since!
Oh, and you have to try the baklava cheesecake. It’s unreal.
This really is the perfect spot for a cozy, upscale holiday meal during your time in North Bay.
9. Stay in a cozy lakeside cottage at The Finch Beach Resort
I couldn’t write a guide to the best things to do in North Bay at Christmas time without including a recommendation on where to stay!
The Finch Beach Resort is a cozy retreat with 4 private cottages that are tucked along the shores of Lake Nipissing. Waking up with stunning lake views, cozying up by the fire while listening to music on vintage records, and enjoying a private wood barrel sauna in the snow is the definition of perfect winter getaway if you ask me, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at The Finch.
I stayed in the Corky cottage, a beautiful 3 bedroom cottage with a huge kitchen and living room with lake views. I loved waking up here to the beautiful view and being able to relax by the fire.
I also loved the wood barrel sauna overlooking the lake!
This is definitely the perfect place to stay during your time in North Bay.
10. Bonus Festive Things to Do in North Bay at Christmas time
If you have extra time while you’re in North Bay, here are some extra things you may want to do. Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to do any of these, but I look forward to doing them next time!
- Take a snowy walk along the waterfront: The waterfront in North Bay is gorgeous! You can walk along Kate Pace Way and Kings Landing Pier. Parking is free at the North Bay Marina!
- Go snowshoeing or winter hiking: If there’s snow on the ground this is a great opportunity to get in some snowshoeing or hiking. North Bay has all sorts of local trails to check out.
- Visit Duchesnay Falls: Located just minutes from downtown North Bay, if you’re a waterfall lover this is not to be missed.
- Catch a holiday performance: if one aligns with your dates, you should definitely check out a show at the Capitol Centre. You can see a list of what’s playing here.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best things to do in North Bay at Christmas time!
North Bay during the holiday season is truly magical, and it’s such a fun destination to visit.
North Bay may not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of a Christmas getaway in Ontario, but you’ll be surprised by just how much there is to see and do there.
With its festive markets, cozy cafés, film-worthy streets, welcoming locals, and peaceful lakeside setting, this Northern Ontario gem offers a holiday experience that’s both charming and memorable.
I hope this guide convinced you to add North Bay to your holiday travel list!
And if you’re looking for more Canadian Christmas inspiration, don’t forget to check out these guides:
- Magical Christmas Towns of Ontario Guide
- Fun & Festive Things to do in Toronto at Christmas Time
- Cheap & Free Activities to do in Toronto at Christmas Time
- Magical things to do in Montebello at Christmas
- Festive things to do in Quebe City at Christmas time
Thank you to Tourism North Bay for the incredible hospitality and for arranging such a wonderful trip for me. As always, all thoughts and opinions in this article are my own.
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