Toronto Ontario (and surrounding area) Christmas See/do ideas

If you are travelling to Toronto Ontario area in month of December, here are some holiday see/do ideas I put together for two HE Guests bookings. Sharing in case helpful to others in your planning.
Hmmmm… thought I could attach a file. Can’t so instead providing a copy paste of list:

Christmas focused Holiday experiences in GTA

Here’s a list of festive things to do in Toronto and the surrounding area for Christmas in December, including event names, dates, locations, costs, and websites:

1. Toronto Christmas Market Toronto Christmas Market

  • Dates: Nov 16 - Dec 22 Location: Distillery District, 55 Mill St, Toronto, ON
  • Cost: Free entry DURING the week; some activities may have fees ***My tip, make a reservation at a restaurant for the day you are going so you don’t have to wait in absurd line to get in.

2. Nathan Phillips Square Christmas Tree Lighting

  • Dates: Dec 1 – Jan 7 Location: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St W, Toronto
  • Cost: Free Website: City of Toronto Events

3. Holiday Magic at the Toronto Zoo

  • Dates: December 1 – 30 Location: 2000 Meadowvale Rd, Toronto, ON
  • Cost: Paid (varies by age) Website: Toronto Zoo

4. Winter Wonderland at Ontario Place

  • Dates: Dec1 – Jan 7 Location: 955 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON
  • Cost: Free Website: Ontario Place

5. Christmas at the Castle

  • Dates: Dec 1 – 30 Location: Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON
  • Cost: Paid (varies by age) Website: Casa Loma

6. Yorkville Holiday Window Displays Yorkville Village

  • Dates: Throughout Dec Location: Yorkville, Toronto, ON
  • Cost: Free **This is wandering the streets enjoying the window displays

7. Light Up the Village in Etobicoke

  • Dates: November 25 - December 31 Location: Etobicoke, ON
  • Cost: Free Website: Etobicoke Events

8. Kensington Market Winter Solstice Festival

  • Dates: December 21, 2024 Location: Kensington Market, Toronto, ON
  • Cost: Free Website: Kensington Market

9. Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade

  • Dates: November 24, 2024 Location: Downtown Toronto
  • Cost: Free Website: Santa Claus Parade

10. Outdoor Skating Rinks

  • Dates: Open through December (check for specific rinks)
  • Location: Various locations (Nathan Phillips Square, Harbourfront Centre, etc.)
  • Cost: Free (skate rentals may have a fee) Website: Toronto Outdoor Skating Rinks

11. Holiday Shopping at St. Lawrence Market

  • Dates: Open throughout December Location: 93 Front St E, Toronto, ON
  • Cost: Free Website: St. Lawrence Market

12. Christmas Lights Across Toronto

  • Dates: Throughout Dec Location: Various neighborhoods (check local listings)
  • Cost: Free Website: Toronto Light Displays

Worth also checking out:

The Eaton Centre

Activities outside of the Toronto core for Christmas

1. Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Festival

  • Dates: Nov 18 - Dec 30 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
  • Cost: Free (some activities may have fees) Website: Niagara-on-the-Lake

2. Burlington Festival of Lights

  • Dates: Dec 1 - Jan 7
  • Location: Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, ON
  • Cost: Free Website: Festival of Lights Burlington

3. Mississauga Celebration Square Tree Lighting

  • Dates: Dec 1 - Jan 7 Location: 300 City Centre Dr, Mississauga, ON
  • Cost: Free Website: Mississauga Celebration Square

4. Oakville Festival of Lights

5. Streetsville’s Christmas in the Village

  • Dates: Dec1 – Dec 24 Location: Streetsville, Mississauga, ON
  • Cost: Free (some activities may have fees) Website: Streetsville Village

6. Vaughan Winter Wonderland - Christmas Market at WinterFest,

  • Dates: Dec 1 - Jan 7
  • Location: Vaughan Mills, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr, Vaughan, ON
  • Cost: Free Website: Vaughan Mills

7. Christmas in the Village at Port Credit

  • Dates: Dec 1 – Dec 24 Location: Port Credit, Mississauga, ON
  • Cost: Free (some activities may have fees) Website: Port Credit BIA

8. Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights

9. Halton Hills Christmas Market

10. Guelph Christmas Market

  • Dates: TBC Location: Downtown Guelph, ON
  • Cost: Free (some activities may have fees) Website: Downtown Guelph

Christmas Markets not listed above:

  • Festival of Trees in Mississauga https://www.creativehub1352.ca/festival-of-trees
  • Aurora Christmas Market
  • Niemi Family Farm Christmas Market (Mount Albert)
  • Christmas Market at the Canadian Museum of History
  • Once Upon a Christmas in Perth
  • Holiday Market at Mackinnon Brothers Brewing (Bath)
  • Burlington Holiday Market
  • Christmas in the City Market (Hamilton)
  • Cambridge Christmas Market
  • Christkindl Market in Kitchener
  • St. Jacobs Sparkles
  • Christmas Night Market in Dresden
  • Merry Market in London
  • Christmas Market at Friday Harbour
  • Collingwood Christmas Market
  • Christmas on the Bay in Meaford
  • Orangeville Christmas Market
  • Brockville Christmas Market
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This is an excellent list! I love the Distillery District Christmas Market and I like to add a show, such as attending the Nutcracker at the Four Seasons Centre for Arts, seeing a Hockey game at the Air Canada Centre and skating at Nathan Philips Square. All things magical and wintry!
My home is near Corktown and I love recommending the shops on Queen Street East, Lady Marmalade for breakfast/brunch, Batifole for an excellent french-inspired meal and Terroni Sud for an Italian meal + market.
Christmas shopping is a lot of fun, with several Etsy markets. In November, Toronto hosts the One-of-a-Kind-Show which is Ahh-mazing!!
There is so much to do in Toronto, and December is the perfect time to put you in the holiday spirit!

1 Like