It’s November, and you know what that means: Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé come out of hiding, peppermint flavours line the shelves and coffee shops, and the winter boots return from storage. It means the holiday festivities are finally here, full of activities and events to help you take full advantage of the cold, Canadian winter. There are tons of them around in the Toronto area, so if you’re already blasting Christmas music and decorating trees, read on to find more places to bask in the holiday spirit.
Here are all the Christmas activities happening in Toronto and in the GTA:
The Distillery Winter Village
Arguably the most iconic Christmas market in the area, the Distillery Winter Village takes place in the city’s east end. Shop local vendors, take in lights and decorations, and then head over to some of the area’s cozy restaurants after taking a photo in front of the iconic Christmas tree. It will be lit on November 17th, and the event runs from November 18th to December 31st. Free tickets are required on weekends and can be reserved online.
Miracle Pop-Up Bar
This year, the iconic Christmas-themed pop-up–which activates in different cities across America every year–is taking up residence at 875 Bloor Street West in the trendy Ossington neighbourhood. It’s open from November 18th to December 31st. A portion of the money from the drinks goes to support Nellie’s Shelter. This year you can even book the pop-up bar for private bookings of 20 people or more. You can find out more information can be found on its website.
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Winterfest
Similar to Halloween Haunt, Canada’s Wonderland transforms into a seasonal celebration with Winterfest. Skate on the lake, take pictures in front of the famous mountain, head over to the themed rides and take in live shows and more. You can even rent your own igloo for the night, or check out the new restaurant, the Lazy Bear Lodge, which will be decked out with cozy fire pits and festive wood-fired food. Tickets can be purchased online.
Holiday Nights of Lights
Also located in Vaughan (not far from Wonderland, actually), Assembly Park becomes a vision of Christmas from November 24th through January 7th. The self-guided walking tour offers visitors a lighted experience, synchronized to holiday music, that is built with over 1.5 million animated LED lights. Holiday-themed axe throwing and bumper cars are also available. Tickets can be purchased online.
Festival of Trees
Last year was the inaugural celebration for this Mississauga festival. This year, it runs from December 2nd to December 11th, and offers tons of activities for the whole family, like light displays, art installations, artisan and culinary markets, workshops and, of course, a ton of vendors offering gifts for the whole family. It’s held at the Small Arms Inspection Building.
