Toronto at Christmastime is bursting with sparkling lights, festive music and holiday fever. The months of November and December bring plenty of holiday activities to Toronto that will bring out the Christmas spirit in your friends and family!
Here are some of the best things to do in Toronto for the holidays:
Toronto Christmas Market
This is a popular Toronto holiday event that you’ll definitely want to add to your bucket list. The magical Christmas Market takes over the entire cobblestone Distillery Historic District during the holiday season. The five-week-long event features sparkling Christmas lights, music, dance performances, holiday treats, rides, artisanal vendors and so much more.
Cavalcade of Lights
Nathan Philip’s Square annually kicks off the holiday season in Toronto with the ultimate cavalcade. Toronto’s official Christmas tree is lit and a gorgeous lights display is unveiled, accompanied by a fireworks show, live musical performances and a DJ skating party. Throughout most of the holiday season, the square remains a winter carnival, with a shopping market, carousel ride, ice skating and more.
Aurora Winter Festival
Toronto’s Ontario Place is transformed into an enchanted winter wonderland that resembles a village in the North Pole during the holiday season. The festival is filled with exciting mystical attractions, along with a tubing park, ice skating rink, amusement rides, food gardens, theatrical performances and more.
Santa Claus Parade
The Santa Claus Parade has been a tradition for over 100 years and has become one of the largest parades in Canada. Thousands of people line the streets to welcome Santa to town and watch the parade’s marching bands, dancers and costumed characters. For many, it’s a nostalgic experience that sparks holiday joy.
Christmas at Casa Loma
Toronto’s beautiful gothic castle is festively decorated for the month of December with a 40-foot Christmas tree and dazzling light displays in the gardens. Casa Loma’s holiday celebrations offer plenty of activities for kids and adults alike, including visits with Santa, holiday-themed crafts, an outdoor holiday market, orchestral performances and more.
The Nutcracker
The National Ballet of Canada annually presents Tchaikovsky’s original The Nutcracker. This ballet is one of the most recognizable in the world, and the performance of the popular Christmas classic has become an extremely popular Toronto attraction during the holiday season.
Christmas by Lamplight
Step into a Victorian Christmas scene at Black Creek Pioneer Village, where the historical Toronto museum and entertainment attraction is lit by lanterns, candles and fireplaces. You can tour the village homes and workshops while enjoying Christmas carols, traditional folk music, horse and carriage rides, and more seasonal activities.