🎨 Family Paint Party @ Bradford Greenhouses Indoor Christmas Market

Join us at the Bradford Greenhouse Indoor Christmas Market for a festive day of creativity and local shopping!

Free Market Entry: The market runs from 11 AM – 3 PM, so come browse, shop local, and soak up the holiday spirit.

Mini Paint Nite Sessions: Choose from three mini sessions, or join more than one. No experience needed! you’ll be guided step-by-step to create your own 11x14" holiday masterpiece.

📆 Saturday December 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

📍 Bradford Greenhouse (Barrie Location)

🕯️ First Light @ Sainte-Marie among the Hurons and Martyrs’ Shrine

Now in its 25th year, First Light is an award-winning, must-see holiday event with a great lineup of family activities, a huge artisan market, and multiple nightly live musical performances, all amidst the spectacular glow of thousands of candles. This year, guests to explore two attractions for the price of one: Sainte-Marie and Martyrs’ Shrine!

Highlights include:

• 5,000 candles across historic buildings and paths, beautifully decorated for the season.

• Lots of live music (various artists in 5-7 buildings each night) including opportunities to play and sing along.

• Historical demonstrations including blacksmithing and candlemaking.

• Crafts including gift sacs at Sainte-Marie, and ornaments at Martyrs’ Shrine.

• An opportunity to meet with St. Nicholas at Martyrs’ Shrine.

• A huge artisan market at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons (50+ local vendors).

• First Nations stories and hand drumming in traditional longhouses.

• Each night has a special feature too: fireworks on Thursdays, Candlelight Chorus on Fridays, extra musical performances Saturdays, and Advent Mass at the Martyrs’ Shrine Sundays.

📆 Runs until December 14th - Thursday to Sunday - 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

🎟️ Get tickets with discount code FL25SCOOP for 15% off the cost of admission (online bookings only).

🎄 🍸️ Moms Night Out - Handmade Holidays @ Five Points Theatre

Treat yourself to a creative, cozy night at Five Points Theatre. At this one-evening event, you’ll rotate through four holiday craft stations and make beautiful, gift-ready creations including stovetop potpourri, giftable hot chocolate mix, holiday ornaments and holiday greenery arrangements.

Tickets are $99 and include all materials, fees, HST, and one drink ticket. The bar and concessions will be open all night.

Gather your friends, leave the kids at home, and enjoy an elegant evening of hands-on holiday fun.

📆 Friday December 19th @ 6:30 p.m.

📍 Five Points Theatre, Barrie

🥘 Recipe of the Week: Hamburger Casserole

You may have heard the term "hamburger casserole" used to describe similarly cozy recipes using ground beef and elbow macaroni. But instead of the classic tomato-based goulash, this version is made with a sauce reminiscent of your favourite fast food secret sauce—pickles included.

🇨🇦 Save time & money with Eat Impact’s affordable produce boxes

Save money on your grocery bill by getting perfectly fresh surplus and imperfect produce delivered. Customize your box with your favourite fruits and veg and relax while they source, pack and deliver your box right to your door. Eat Impact sources your produce from local farmers and distributors to build a more sustainable food system that is flexible, customizable and wont break the bank!

Sign up with coupon code SCOOP to get 50% off your first box.

🗞️ Local Good News Stories

✈️ Snowbirds to return to Barrie skies for 2026 airshow. Read more.

🕎 Twelve-foot menorah to be lit in Barrie to celebrate Hanukkah. Read more.

🏪 Nominations open for Barrie chamber's Women in Business Awards. Read more.

🚜 Farmers 'bringing cheer' to Angus, Stroud and Thornton with tractor parades. Read more.

🎄 Angus Pop-up Market back with fun-filled Christmas Market at the Angus Arena. Read More.

❤️ Springwater Township donates $60,000 to Barrie's Seasons Centre. Read more.

📆 Orillia explores new way for public to fund local passion projects Read more.

🏪 Jackson heating up to help Busby Centre through Sweat for Shelter fundraiser Read more.

🏠️ Simcoe County home prices jump 2.3 per cent to $922,821 in November 2025. Read more.

🛝 How a Springwater family is redefining indoor play for all children. Read more.

🎾 Local tennis duo ends partnership with OFSAA gold medal win. Read more.

⛷️ Mount St. Louis sees 'amazing turnout' to start ski season. Read more.

 🌆 What’s Happenin’

Friday

📕 Baby Bookworms @ Varying Locations & Times - Learn more.

🎅 The Holiday Market @ Friday Harbour - 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Learn more.

✨ Magic of Lights Barrie @ Springwater Provincial Park - 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get tickets.

🎄 Forest of Lights @ Drysdale’s Tree Farm - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Get tickets.

🎬️ Friday Flicks @ The Barrie Library Painswick Branch - 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Learn more.

👗 Women Empowered: Dance, Shine, Connect @ Nawabs Indian Cuisine - 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Get tickets.

🎸 Blue Suede Tribute to The Music of Elvis - Christmas Special @ Georgian Theatre - 8 p.m. Get tickets.

🥁 Gen and the Grooves @ Rec Room Barrie - 8 p.m. Learn more.

🎤 Sin Bin Comedy Show @ Perfect SZN Barrie - 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Get tickets.

Saturday

🎅 Breakfast with Santa @ Bloom Bistro Barrie - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn more. 

🎄 Annual Holiday Market @ Bradford Greenhouses Barrie - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more.

🎅 The Holiday Market @ Friday Harbour - 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Learn more.

✨ Magic of Lights Barrie @ Springwater Provincial Park - 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get tickets.

🎄 Forest of Lights @ Drysdale’s Tree Farm - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Get tickets.

🏒 Barrie Colts vs. Niagara IceDogs @ Sadlon Arena - 7:30 p.m. Get tickets. 

🎻 The Barra MacNeils - An East Coast Christmas…25th Anniversary Tour @ Georgian Theatre - 7:30 p.m. Get tickets.

Sunday 

🎄 Annual Holiday Market @ Bradford Greenhouses Barrie - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more.

🎅 The Holiday Market @ Friday Harbour - 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Learn more.

🧒 Family Sundays @ The MacLaren Art Centre - 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn more.

✨ Magic of Lights Barrie @ Springwater Provincial Park - 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get tickets.

Thank You ❤️ 🍦 

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