There's Snow Place Like Home for winter adventures.

Unique experiences you won't find at any other time of year!

As part of our There's Snow Place Like Home campaign throughout the winter months, the Town of Oakville is excited to introduce a wide variety of opportunities for families, youth and adults to get outside and stay active while we're practising physical distancing this season. All programs offered follow strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Offerings will include Nordic walking, guided hikes, and a variety of outdoor fitness programs. Registration for weekly classes will open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9 for residents. Drop-in programs are posted on Active Oakville up to two weeks in advance. Spaces will be limited.

For those looking for safe and physically-distanced indoor activities, the town continues to offer limited pre-registered programming, fitness memberships, recreational swimming and skating, drop-in sport training, youth study spaces, and more.

We're offering more options for a safe and active winter.

We're offering more options for a safe and active winter.

Check out our Virtual Programs and Get Active and Creative at Home pages for more activities and resources to keep busy and social.

Click on the tabs that follow for information about our featured winter activities.

Kick Off with Santa

Residents are invited to kick off the winter festivities this Saturday, November 21 at 9 a.m. with the official launch of Mayor Rob Burton’s virtual fireside chat with Santa Claus. During the broadcast, Santa will answer your holiday questions and announce winners of this year’s colouring contest. Tune in to oakvillesantaclausparade.ca for a virtual visit.

Drive-Thru Toy Drive

To keep the holiday spirit going, the Oakville Firefighters’ revamped 28th annual “Drive-Thru Toy Drive” promises to sparkle on Friday, December 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Coronation Park. Residents are invited to drive through the park to enjoy the festive light display as they drop off their donations. As they exit the park, they can safely wave to Santa from inside their vehicle.

The Oakville Professional Firefighters Association is requesting gift cards this year, in lieu of toys and food items, if possible. Donations can also be dropped off at any Town of Oakville community centre or library branch between November 21 and December 18 during regular business hours.

The festive lights will remain lit throughout the winter season for residents to experience by car or by foot at their leisure.

We're expanding your outdoor play options throughout town. Five new outdoor skating rink locations will be added this year. Select courts will be cleared for pickleball or tennis. Certain trails will be groomed for country skiing and snowshoeing. And that's not all!

Please note: Trails and courts will be cleared subject to weather and after snowfall stops. Please do not use them during icy conditions.

Festive Light Installation at Coronation Park

Coronation Park is undergoing a magical transformation. Take a stroll or drive through and enjoy the light display. There will also be an outdoor skating rink for everyone to enjoy!

Book Walks

Oakville Public Library (OPL) is working with Parks and Open Space to provide fun story-themed walks along selected trails. Follow the pages to enjoy the tale that unfolds along the way. Scan the QR codes for reading recommendations available at your local branch.

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

The followig trails will be groomed for cross country skiing or snowshoeing:

  • Bronte Creek Trail
  • Joshua Creek Trail
  • East Joshua Creek Trail

Winter Cycling

Parks and Open Space teams will also be clearing select trails for cyclists to enjoy safe biking during the winter months at the following locations:

  • Crosstown Trail
  • Tannery Park
  • Bronte Waterfront Heritage Park

Winter Pickleball and Tennis

For the enjoyment of our enthusiastic players, the following tennis/pickleball courts will be cleared:

  • Shell Park*
  • Old Abbey Lane Park
  • Jonathon Park
  • Maplegrove Park
  • Bloomfield Park
  • River Oaks*
  • Glenashton Park
  • Fowley Park*

*Lit until 8 p.m.

Oakville Museum

Book your spot now for our outdoor tour that tells the story of Oakville’s role in the Underground Railroad. New tour themes will be added over the winter. Up to six people from the same household can visit.

Starting in December, the Museum will be decorated in grand period style. This year the decorations will extend to the exterior and courtyard to lend extra festive flare for tours and for passersby.

In addition, kid-friendly take-home activity kits will be available to help residents connect with Oakville’s stories in safe and engaging ways. All activities are in full compliance with provincial regulations.

Check out the Heritage links on our Get Active and Creative at Home page to take a virtual tour of Erchless Estate, explore our online archive of collections, and more from your favourite chair!

Book Walks

Oakville Public Library (OPL) is working with Parks and Open Space to provide fun story-themed walks along selected trails. Follow the pages to enjoy the tale that unfolds along the way. Scan the QR codes for reading recommendations available at your local branch.

Virtual OPL

Our Book Clubs, including the Historical Book Club in partnership with Oakville Museum, continue to be very popular, both virtual and in-person. So we're excited to introduce a new book club initiative, the Inclusion and Diversity Book Club in partnership with Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable!

Other new virtual programs include Literacy LEGO for preschoolers and Little Artists in Partnership with Oakville Galleries.

We also offer Ontario curriculum-inspired Kids Library Clubs, literary Fan Clubs, and New Parent Connections in Partnership with Oakville Parent Child Centre.

In addition, appointments can be booked for an opportunity to ignite your creativity and pursue passion projects using our state-of-the-art technology and equipment in our Creation Zones.

You'll find answers to your most-asked questions about registration, attendance requirements, etc. on the Programs FAQs page.

Access to Public Washrooms

The winterized public washrooms at Towne Square and Fisherman’s Park will be open.

In addition, residents will be able to access washrooms at all community centres and public libraries, Sixteen Mile Sports Complex and Joshua’s Creek Arenas during opening hours.

Coronation Park will have a temporary washroom trailer installed for the winter months.

Parking Lots

As well as our usual clearing, the Westbrook Park parking lot will be cleared this year.