Hundreds of people filled the streets of downtown Paris for the 17th annual Jingle Bell Night on Friday, November 21, 2025.
Organized by the Downtown Paris BIA, the event traditionally marks the start of the holidays and encourages people, whether they’re longtime residents or new to the area, to visit downtown Paris.
During the event, families were seen going from shop to shop as they explored the various businesses and their offerings, including tax-free shopping and other in-store promotions.
Both the Voices of SiNG iT and carolers from St. James Anglican Church, were also roaming the streets spreading holiday cheer.
As the annual tree lighting ceremony drew near, residents began lining Grand River Street North as members of C.O.R.E. Dance Project made their way towards the Cobblestone Common for a holiday dance routine.
Before the big countdown, members of the Sacred Heart School choir entertained the large crowd with a few of their own classic Christmas carols including ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ and ‘Joy to the World.’
As the clock struck 7:00 p.m., David McKee, Brantford’s Town Crier officially got the ceremony underway with a declaration.
“For 17 sparkling years, the most central part of Paris has been illuminated nightly during the darkest time of the year by the warm glow of lights on a special downtown tree,” he said. “Know ye that tonight, when the switch is thrown, the resiliency of downtown Paris will ignite and shine, for a grand celebration will be underway to enchant and inspire the whole community for the rest of the year and into the next. And so it is my happy duty to proclaim that when the lights come on, Jingle Bell Night for 2025 is officially underway.”
Noting that Grand River Street North would officially be reopening to the public after months of construction for the Downtown Dig, David Bailey, Mayor for the County of Brant said he was happy to see everyone out and about and enjoying the recent upgrades.
“I know that change is hard sometimes, but this is what downtown is going to look like,” he said. “The stores have been waiting for a whole year for all you people to come and to support them, and I want you to support them too. They’ve gone through a very hard time trying to get around all the barricades and all the dump trucks and bulldozers, so please shop local. On behalf of the County of Brant, I welcome you tonight, and I want to thank all for being here.”
Afterwards, residents helped count to three as this year’s winner of the Jingle Bell Night colouring contest, Presley Smith, got the opportunity to flip the switch and light the large Christmas tree.
Following the lighting, community members continued to roam the core of the downtown. Many explored the shops for holiday gifts, stopped in for a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants, donated toys to the County of Brant Firefighters for their annual toy drive, or took a ride on a horse-drawn wagon.
Pennylane Ritchie, chair of the Downtown Paris BIA, later said she was thrilled to see so many people sticking around and enjoying the evening.
“I think this is the biggest turnout that we’ve ever seen so we’re very happy,” she said. “I think what’s impressed me the most is that after the tree lighting, people have obviously dispersed, but our street is still 100 per cent totally full and I think it will be right until 9 p.m.”
Ritchie said the best way to describe the event was “high energy.”
‘There are tons of families, the stores are busy and it’s just incredible. The tree, which was donated by Davey Tree Care Services and decorated by volunteers with Rebel and Royal and Big Cityyy Arts, looks so good, and that, paired with the road finally being open to the public and all the new Christmas lights and the banners, the street has just come to life. There’s just such high energy here and I hope we can continue to make this event bigger and better every year.”
Paris resident Kara Kalvapalle, who was out with her husband, two children and father, couldn’t help but agree.
“I think this is one of the best Jingle Bell Night’s we’ve ever had,” she said. “The new street is incredible, the sidewalks are beautiful and you can just feel that everyone is so happy to be here. The vibe is so good and it sort of has that ‘Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow feel to it, you know? It just feels like the whole town is here celebrating together, so I’m very impressed.”
When asked if she was going to be doing any holiday shopping, Kalvapalle said “absolutely!”
“It’s so great to be here supporting all the businesses tonight, and it’s the best way to just kick off Christmas shopping with all the deals happening,” she said. “And with the street officially opening tonight after the event, you can feel that the businesses are just so ready to welcome everyone in so I’m really excited to be here supporting them.”
The mom of two added that she was impressed with how Grand River Street North was looking.
“The area just feels so much safer for pedestrians, and I think with the extra room on the sidewalks, there’s a lot more opportunities for different promotions and events here,” she said. “I know it’s not all done just yet but I think that it will be really great for these businesses to bring more people here to Paris.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
