Christmas Markets And Events In Toronto, Canada

Anne
Contributing Writer
Published
| 3 min read
Christmas Markets And Events In Toronto, Canada

Toronto is a sprawling city and is the capital of Ontario, Canada. The city is nestled on Lake Ontario and it features soaring skyscrapers and plenty of green spaces as well as an aquarium and the Toronto Zoo. Christmas is a great time of year in Toronto, with many exciting events planned and Christmas markets where visitors can buy the perfect gift for a loved one. Scroll below to find the best Christmas markets and events in Toronto, Canada this year.

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1. Toronto Christmas Market - November 15 to December 23, 2018

Today is the day!! Toronto Christmas Market opens at 4pm today ✨❤️ Our Opening Ceremony takes place at 6pm on the Main...

Posted by Toronto Christmas Market on Thursday, 15 November 2018

This festive market was inspired by European markets, like the Christkindlmarkt held in Germany in the 1400s. Ideally held in the Distillery Historic District, with its Victorian buildings and cobblestoned streets, this magical market runs for five weeks, selling the wares of local craft workers and artisanal food-makers and offering some spectacular light displays to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. The market runs from November 15 to December 23, 2018.

Toronto Christmas Market

Address: Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada

Website: Toronto Christmas Market

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2. Venus Fest and Winter Market – December 16, 2018

Posted by Venus Fest on Thursday, 15 November 2018

Venus Fest celebrates feminism in the arts. This is the first year Venus Fest has hosted a Winter Market, which will feature hand-crafted goods from local businesses operated by non-binary artists and women. It will be held in the Lula Lounge from 11h00 to 17:00 on December 16. After the market, visitors can enjoy performances by Kith & Kin and Bernice, along with a fun game of bingo.

Venus Fest

Address: Lula Lounge, Toronto, Canada

Website: Venus Fest

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3. Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto – November 24, 2018

Cavalcade of Lights - Toronto
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Benson Kua used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Cavalcade of Lights is an event which starts off the holiday season in Toronto. The famous Christmas tree, located in Nathan Phillips Square, is lit, while a fireworks display, outdoor skating party and musical performances are all held in the illumination of thousands of lights.

Cavalcade of Lights

Address: Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Canada

Website: Cavalcade of Lights

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4. A Nutcracker Christmas at the Castle - December 1, 2018 to January 6, 2019

Casa Loma
Source: Photo by user elPadawan used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Held at Casa Loma, Toronto’s unique castle, a range of events and activities are available over the festive season. Enjoy ice skating displays and shows by an illusionist entertainer. The castle will be decked out with holiday splendor​, including a 40ft tree in the Great Hall. Eight other Christmas trees by Canadian designers will be placed throughout the property. Take the kids to see Santa Claus in the castle workshop and to have fun participating in the creation of arts and crafts. Enjoy exploring Casa Loma at night with its dazzling lighting display throughout the gardens and take time out to shop at the outdoor Christmas Market.

Christmas at Casa Loma

Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, Canada

Website: Christmas at Casa Loma

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5. Ballet Creole “Soulful Messiah” – November 30, December 7-9, 2018

Posted by Ballet Creole on Friday, 18 May 2018

Ballet Creole brings in the Christmas spirit with their holiday production, “Soulful Messiah.” The event combines ballet, tap, African-Caribbean, jazz and modern dance styles set to Quincy Jones’ rendition of Handel’s Messiah.

Ballet Creole

Address: Flato Markham Theater, 171 Town Centre Blvd, Markham, Toronto, Canada

Website: Ballet Creole

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6. Home Alone in Concert – December 6, 7 and 8, 2018


It wouldn’t be Christmas without Macaulay Culkin’s famous 1990 film Home Alone, where the 8-year-old’s family leaves him behind and alone at Christmas, forcing him to fight off burglars. Now imagine watching that movie again, backed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Resonance Youth Choir, playing and singing along. The event will be held at the Roy Thomson Hall from December 6-8, 2018.

Home Alone in Concert

Address: Roy Thomson Hall, 500-145 Wellington St. W., Toronto, Canada

Website: Home Alone in Concert

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7. Conservatory by Candlelight – December 2018 to mid-January 2019

Fireplace topiary at Centennial Park Conservatory
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Torontofiredancer used under CC0

The Centennial Park Conservatory turns festive over the Christmas period, with decorations, flowering plants and more than 30 varieties of the holiday favorite poinsettia. In the evenings, the conservatory is lit by hundreds of candles. The event will run from December until mid-January from 17h00 to 19h00.

Centennial Park Conservatory

Address: 151 Elmcrest Road, Toronto, Canada

Website: Centennial Park Conservatory

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8. The Happy Place - November 1, 2018 to January 1, 2019

Posted by HAPPY PLACE on Wednesday, 31 October 2018

If you want to have fun without all the festive trappings, The Happy Place is perfect for you. The wacky pop-up environment is visiting Queens Quay West during November and December and consists of multi-sensory immersive rooms. Among the attractions, you can dance in the world’s largest Confetti Dome, jump from a double rainbow into the pot of happiness, or enjoy the rubber ducky bathtub of fun, to “capture your happy.”

The Happy Place

Address: 245 Queens Quay W, Toronto, Canada

Website: The Happy Place

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9. Polar Express in IMAX 3D - December 8, 9, 15 and 16, 2018


Polar Express is the ideal film to enjoy during the holiday season, and how better than in IMAX 3D? The film tells the tale of a young boy who doesn’t believe in Santa, taking an extraordinary train journey to the North Pole. The movie will be screened on December 8, 9, 15 and 16, 2018.

Cinesphere & IMAX

Address: West Island, 955 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, Canada

Website: Cinesphere & IMAX

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10. Aurora Winter Festival – November 29 to December 30, 2018

Now is your next chance to WIN 4 tickets to the very first Aurora Winter Festival arriving November 29, just in time for...

Posted by Aurora Winter Festival Toronto on Wednesday, 7 November 2018

A new event starting in 2018 is the Aurora Winter Festival located in Ontario Place. Visit a hidden village with a tube park, skating rink, beautiful light displays, amusement rides, magical characters, food gardens and, of course, a Christmas Market. Among other attractions, the kids can have fun in Santa’s Workshop, while the whole family can enjoy a ride on the choo-choo train, or ride on the 60-foot Ferris wheel, offering the best view of the whole festival.

Aurora Winter Festival

Address: Ontario Place, Toronto, Canada

Website: Aurora Winter Festival

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Christmas in Toronto, Canada

Have fun this holiday season by enjoying many of the festive attractions on offer in Toronto, Canada.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Anne Sewell was born in England, but has spent most of her life in Africa - Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa - and now resides on the beautiful Costa del Sol in southern Spain. She loves writing...Read more

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