A Festive Weekend in Ingersoll

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the 28th Annual Ingersoll Rotary Christmas Parade. (Kyrah Smith photo)

Kyrah Smith, Echo Correspondent

The weekend of Nov. 15 proved to be a true kickoff to the holiday season in Ingersoll, offering residents a blend of beloved traditions and fresh new festivities.

The celebrations began with the much-loved Ingersoll Rotary Christmas Parade, now in its 28th year. With the theme of Santa’s Workshop, the parade set off at 11 a.m. from the corner of Wilson and Mutual Street, making its way to Harrisfield Public School on Caffyn Street. The weather was mild, but the holiday spirit was anything but; onlookers lined the streets in Santa hats and Christmas sweaters, ready to welcome the season.

The Ingersoll Pipe Band proudly opened the procession, followed by Mayor Brian Petrie and Member of Parliament Arpan Khanna. A variety of local businesses and community groups joined in with festive floats, performances, and plenty of cheer. Candy canes were handed out to children, and surprise appearances from The Grinch and Cindy Lou brought smiles to the crowd. The parade concluded with the stars of the season themselves, Santa and Mrs. Claus, waving to families as they passed.

On November 16th, the town welcomed something new: a Christmas Market Pop-Up hosted by Aftermath Tattoo Studios. The event offered a unique twist on holiday shopping, featuring alternative local vendors such as Ink Envelope, Wilted Crafts, Curios and Oddities. Guests could snap a picture with Santa, sip complimentary hot chocolate courtesy of the Olde Bakery Café, or even add some festive sparkle with hair tinsel installations.

The market embraced a gothic holiday aesthetic, complete with a Christmas tree decorated in bats and skulls, a detail Santa himself playfully highlighted: “Where else in Ingersoll can you go to get hair tinsel and see a Christmas tree decorated with bats and skulls?”

Together, the Christmas Parade and the Pop-Up Market made for a wonderful weekend of celebration. With festivities now in full swing, the holiday season in Ingersoll is just getting started.