10 Things to do in Toronto at Christmas

Christmas in Toronto is magical, if you are planning to visit the capital of Ontario in December, it is worth the experience. Festivals brighten up the holiday season with food tastings, dancing and traditional dances. You'll also come across reenactments of Christmas plays, light displays and fireworks shows. Keep in mind that it's a cold season, with temperatures ranging from 3° to -3°.

If you want to take advantage of some of the best things to do in Toronto, I recommend organizing your itinerary so you don't miss a second of fun. The holiday season is inaugurated by the annual Ride of Lights, with attractions for the whole family. Afterwards, there are theme parks, flea markets, fairs and bazaars, as well as Boxing Day offers. If you enjoy adding new experiences, you have to go for a walk in the Santa Claus Parade or ice skating.

The best way to start the Christmas celebrations in Ontario's capital city is to go to the annual Cavalcade of Lights. Without a doubt, it is an ideal event if you are looking for things to do in Toronto in November. It is available until January, with a full itinerary that offers activities for the whole family.

It's a local tradition since 1967, where the tree lighting and skating rinks stand out. You can attend every day from 17:00 to 23:00 to enjoy multicultural demonstrations, street food stalls, carolers and traditional dances.

Also, don't miss fire dancing, aerial acrobatics, Quebec, French-Ontarian and Canadian traditions, as well as performances by indigenous artists. If you are looking for things to do in Toronto at night, this is a night tour not to be missed.

Christmas in Toronto comes alive in winter, which makes every event more special. For a magical experience and to find some things to do in the city with kids, I recommend escaping to Canada's Wonderland theme park. This park is located in Vaughan, forty minutes from downtown, and is easily accessible by cab or public transportation.

The most popular attraction of this park is the WinterFest that will transport you to Wonderland, for its energy and extravagant decorations. You will find fun activities such as skating rinks, Christmas entertainment, live performances, light shows and the International Street decorated with hundreds of trees. Without a doubt, it is one of the best things to do in Toronto in December. If you want a quieter plan you can escape to Algonquin Park on the outskirts of the city.

If you want to buy Christmas items as well as experience Canadian culture, you have to visit the One of a Kind Winter Show bazaar in Toronto. It is the perfect place to take a gastronomic tour of the city, as you will find many street food stalls. It is considered a local tradition, since it has been held since 1975. You will find more than 650 stalls, mostly from local artisans.

To attend this event you must purchase tickets on the website. Also, if you are looking for things to do in Toronto with children, the bazaar has a childcare service for children between two and eight years old, ideal for you to tour the facilities without worrying about crowds. It's a private area, with games, painting rooms and more.

If you plan to tour the city or take advantage of Toronto tours, I recommend making a quick stop at this location.

Black Friday is one of the best things to do in Toronto in November, especially if you want to do some Christmas shopping. However, the biggest annual bargain event in Canada is Boxing Day, which takes place on December 26. To celebrate in some flea markets and local squares, gift exchanges are also held, as it is a Canadian tradition.

For Canadians this day is a second Christmas, even in many restaurants they serve Boxing Day brunch which is a mix of typical Christmas meals. Additionally, you can take a tour around the city in search of deals and discounts. You should know that this day comes from a British tradition, but has been adapted over the years. For convenience, you can ride a bike and explore the shopping streets.

The best places to shop or spend the day during Boxing Day are:

• CN Tower: if you don't like to go shopping and want to escape the long lines, you can spend a leisurely day here. It is the perfect place to get breathtaking views of the city, from the revolving restaurant or the Edge Walk.
• Pacific Mall: it is a shopping mall open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., so you will have plenty of time to do your Christmas shopping.
• Toronto Zoo: if you are looking for things to do in Toronto with kids during Boxing Day, you can organize this very fun family plan. There are different types of animals and plants, as well as carousels, a Zoomobile safari, face painting areas, zip line, obstacle parks and more. It is usually open until 3:00 p.m. and admission is around 15 euros.

Christmas markets are a must-see at Christmas time, especially if you plan to spend at least 3 days in Toronto. They are usually quaint little streets covered with snow and decorated with lights. It's a unique experience, where you can try grilled German sausages, hot chocolate and wine, roasted chestnuts and more.

They are also the perfect locations to buy souvenirs of your trip, as well as take advantage of the attractions in the surroundings: skating rinks, carousels, rides and more. Without a doubt, it is an ideal family plan to enjoy live entertainment. There are traditional markets that are set up in the city every year, as well as gastronomic fairs.

Distillery Winter Village

The Distillery District Christmas market is one of the most popular. Therefore, it is an ideal option to take advantage of the best gastronomic tours of the city since it has a variety of food stalls. It offers family entertainment, displayed in its colonial streets. In addition, you will find decorated huts, hot chocolate stands and taverns to taste beers, wines and local cider.

Many people come to have their pictures taken at the big Christmas tree, or to do some last minute shopping. The best part is that it is a free plan available from November to December. This area belongs to a historic district, where emblematic buildings with a great architectural heritage are preserved. I recommend you take your time to take an in-depth tour, so you can learn about the site of an old Canadian distillery.

Kensington Market

Another Christmas market you can't miss is Kensington Market. It is open most of the year, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day. During the Christmas festivities, you will find many tourists crowded together enjoying the live music while sipping a Canadian mulled wine. Additionally, winter parties are held, so it's a great option if you're looking for things to do in Toronto in winter.

There are also festivals, Christmas play screenings and there are plenty of stores where you can buy clothes, objects or toys. Of course, the delicious food is not lacking, with Christmas proposals and dishes from different cultures. You can also stop by the La Plaza Fair in Nathan Phillips Square, located five minutes away by car. It is available throughout the month of December and is a winter carnival with crafts, live music, traditional dances, light shows and mulled wine stations.

At Christmas time, the city of ice rinks attracts hundreds of tourists, as it coincides with the winter season. It is a very popular attraction, so there are plenty of places where you can practice your skating skills. Without a doubt, it is one of the best things to do in Toronto in December with your family. You will be able to find public and private options, the most relevant being:

• Union Winter Skating Rink : it's a free rink, available from November to January. Note that it is not available on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or December 25 itself. It's a great place for beginners and experts, with DJ parties on Friday nights.
• Evergreen Brick Works Skating Rink: ideal if you are looking for things to do in Toronto in winter, as it is free and available from December to March. You can also schedule skating lessons if you are inexperienced.
• Colonel Samuel Smith Park: it is ideal for expert skaters, as it has a variety of curves and obstacles. It is installed in the city from November to March.
• Nathan Phillips Square rink: the most popular option is located in Nathan Phillips Square. It is an excellent recreational activity for the winter, the most interesting thing is that it has a glass arch that covers the entire track. You can not leave without eating a hot dog, in the street stalls that surround the ice area.

Toronto is a city where history and culture events abound, in fact at Christmas time the Gardiner Museum offers a very special Christmas exhibit. It is a party, where different artists interpret Christmas symbols and transform them into sculptures and other artistic representations.

Also, more than 10 Christmas trees with different themes and decorations are exhibited. It is probably one of the best museums in Toronto, as it focuses on ceramic art. You can also take advantage of guided tours and Christmas workshops. Don't forget to visit the clay decorating spaces for free.

Christmas lights adorn Toronto every December, warm decorations that embellish the winter atmosphere. The city is transformed into a fairy tale that shines from every angle, so it is worth taking advantage of the light festivals and the corners where lights are lit. You can stop by the Distillery District Christmas Market, where displays sparkle under strings of lights.

Other places where you can appreciate Christmas lights in Toronto include Yonge-Dundas Square, which offers a magical ceremony with dozens of lit Christmas trees.

Overall, this place has a very similar energy to Picadilly Circus or Time Square because of the illuminated signs, but it is noticeably embellished with the Christmas spirit. If you still want to see lights, you'll find massive displays in the Financial District. Also, on the outskirts of the city, farms and Christmas villages dress up to welcome the most beautiful time of the year.

If you love Christmas, then you have to attend the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, also known as the Toronto Santa Claus Parade. It will transport you to a magical paradise, offering a route with themed floats, living characters and hundreds of Santas. In the procession you will also find people dressed as clowns, something unusual that started as a joke among the organizers in 1982 and became a Canadian tradition.

Without a doubt, it is one of the best things to do in Toronto in November as it usually takes place on the third Sunday of this month. It is the best way to warm up and welcome the Christmas spirit. Plus, if you're going with kids, they're sure to be excited to deliver letters to Santa and get treats from the elves.

The Christmas tree is the star of the celebrations, so it's a must on a Christmas itinerary. In fact, Toronto has the largest tree in Canada, so it is worth a closer look. It is installed at Eaton Centre, with hundreds of lights and decorations adorning the 30-meter fir tree.

This mall is very large and is located in the Financial District, so it is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. On the other hand, in Casa Loma you can also find an impressive Christmas tree in the Great Hall of this beautiful mansion. It is a neo-Gothic castle, considered a true relic of the architecture of this era. In December it dresses up with Christmas events for the whole family.