Catch the holiday spirit with 25 Toronto adventures, experiences and attractions guaranteed to get you and your crew feeling festive.
Toronto has endlessly diverse food joints, urban parks, dazzling nightclubs, bumping festivals—and so much more. There’s no better time to explore it than now, as the frost settles, making the city lights sparkle and shine.
Whether you’re looking to experience Indigenous music, shop artisan gift shows, celebrate Lunar New Year or explore our winter wonderland at your leisure, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 25 ways to celebrate the season in Toronto.
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Join the party at a holiday festival
1. Immerse yourself in the soundscape of the Tkaronto Music Festival (November 7–9, 2024) at the TD Music Hall. Experience the sounds and vibes of top Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island.
2. Grab your girlfriends and get ready to dance! Celebrate sisterhood and one of the most important holidays in the Hindu calendar at Disco Diwali (November 16, 2024). This women-only event will include a full-course dinner, games and prizes, DJs, dancing and a cash bar.
3. Dive into WinterFest (November 16, 2024–January 4, 2025) at Canada’s Wonderland. This annual celebration includes an ice-skating rink, over a dozen live shows and other holiday entertainment, millions of glittering lights, two 15-metre (50-foot) Christmas trees and—of course—all the thrills of the park rides! Enjoy holiday entertainment, food and fun all in one place.
4. Join the party in downtown Chinatown with music, dance and food this Lunar New Year (February 9, 2025). Have a blast as we usher in the Year of the Snake! Enjoy Chinese street food, live musical performances, fortune telling and the larger-than-life, captivating lion and dragon dances. Bring cash and your appetite!
Celebrate arts and culture this season
5. Follow siblings Marie and Misha’s journey to the glittering palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy, in wintertime’s favourite ballet classic: the National Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker (December 6–31, 2024).
6. Start your engines and sashay down to Meridian Centre to see all-star queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race in A Drag Queen Christmas (December 6, 2024). Admire the robust lineup of queens, including Sasha Colby, Saphira Cristal, Roxxxy Andrews and many more, as they sing your Christmas favourites.
7. World-renowned Cirque du Soleil is back to captivate and amaze you with its first-ever holiday show, ’Twas The Night Before Christmas (December 12–January 3, 2025). Catch its magical, gravity-defying acrobatic performance, glimmering costumes and sets and ethereal music at Meridian Hall.
8. Jump into the Lunar New Year with Year of the Snake (February 8, 2025), an evening surrounded by music and community with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall.
Find the perfect gifts at holiday markets and pop-ups
9. Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) to see Borology: A Filipinx Market (November 2, 2024) featuring 30 Filipinx-owned local businesses offering a wide array of products ranging from jewellery and accessories to beauty and housewares.
10. At the Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Market (November 2, 2024), you can get the perfect handmade gift from a talented lineup of 180+ local artisans. At this one-day show in King West, you can browse hundreds of art and photography pieces, jewellery, fashion, skincare, home decor and more. The event also includes food and live music from DJ Kid Artik.
11. Show some holiday love to local BIPOC businesses at Seasons Greetings (November 16, 2024), a pop-up market and networking event held at Artwater Inc. Art Gallery. Enjoy everything the market has to offer, including a live DJ, exciting networking opportunities, activities and many handmade market goods!
12. Shop everything from candles and shortbread to hand-thrown ceramics and chunky knit blankets at Toronto’s One Of A Kind Show (November 21–December 1, 2024), a shining showcase of handmade and expertly created crafts representing the best of Canadian makers and artists.
Immerse yourself in Toronto holiday traditions
13. Welcome Santa at The Santa Claus Parade Toronto (November 24, 2024), a tradition bringing joy and excitement to believers of all ages since 1905, with its festive floats, live music and costumed revellers.
14. Take a stroll and admire the window displays at the corner of Queen and Yonge Streets as Hudson’s Bay decks out its store windows with festive scenes. Or head to Yorkville’s Mink Mile for luxe holiday displays from ultra-luxe designer boutiques.
15. An annual tradition since 1967, Nathan Phillips Square will once again be lit up with glowing installations, a massive, glittering tree and millions of shining string lights and ornaments this holiday season in the Cavalcade of Lights (November 25, 2024–January 7, 2025). Don’t miss the legendary opening night fireworks and live music!
16. Rent a pair of skates and hop onto Nathan Phillips Square’s outdoor ice rink (opening November 25, 2024), with your special someone, friends and/or family. The rink is illuminated with dazzling lights after dark, making the evening the best time to visit.
17. Walk into a glittering world of lights, performances and activities at Casa Loma Christmas at the Castle (December 2–January 6). This is a must-visit for families with young children, as wintery holiday mascots, glittering Christmas lights and Ol’ Saint Nick himself await to spread holiday cheer.
Discover Toronto parks and hiking trails
18. Seek out icy winter vistas at the Leslie Street Spit, a beginner-friendly trail carving through Tommy Thompson Park, which is known for its shoreline ice formations, wild bird populations and sculptural bare trees.
19. Snag a hot drink at Evergreen Brick Works and begin your trek into Midtown’s Moore Park Ravine trail. This charming trail is touted as one of Toronto’s best hikes for fall and winter and is perfect for families with small children.
20. Discover the wintertime beauty of High Park. One of the city’s most popular parks, it features trails and gardens which only get better in the snow. Follow the trail network along the west side of the park to reach Grenadier Pond, which turns into an icy mirror perfect for photos in the winter.
21. Enjoy a short stroll, or take it further, at Cedarvale Ravine and the Belt Line. These neighbouring trails are located just a few blocks apart uptown near Eglinton Avenue West and are perfect for those looking for a longer hike in the city.
Enjoy food, drinks and good company
22. The Distillery Historic District’s beloved Distillery Winter Village is back (opening November 13, 2024)! Visit Santa, join the gingerbread hunt, wish upon stars, admire the 17-metre (56-foot) Christmas tree, take family photos at the LED light walls and shop the Distillery Christmas Market—all while enjoying hot apple cider and hot chocolate from their vendors.
23. No Las Posadas (December 16, 2024) celebration is complete without incredible food. Enjoy Cuban comfort food and house-brewed cerveza at La Cubana, Nicaraguan carne asada and flan at La Bella Managua or Mexican faves at El Catrin Destileria, which has a heated patio so you can celebrate under the stars.
24. Celebrate Chanukah (December 25, 2024–January 2, 2025) with a delicious meal with family and friends. Enjoy amazing kosher eats at Taverne Bernhardt’s, Pancer’s Original Delicatessen or Milk ‘N Honey.
25. Fuel your Kwanzaa (December 26, 2024–January 1, 2025) with African eats like jollof rice, bobelo, pounded yam, fried plantain, and grilled seabass at African Village Bar & Grill. Don’t forget the drinks: sample New Orleans and Prohibition-era cocktails at Nunu Ethiopian Fusion!
