Posted: December 8, 2023

Updated: Nov 15,2024

When it comes to Christmas events, Toronto is the city that never sleeps (and it applies to all seasons in fact). From amazing Christmas lights displays to unique christmas events where you can catch the “magic of the season”, and christmas markets where you can find trinkets and hearty goods, there are countless opportunities to have a memorable and enjoyable christmas season in Toronto. In this guide, I will share with you my best recommendations of the top Christmas events Toronto offers, those I attended, and how you can plan your holiday season around those!

Christmas Events Toronto: Christmas Concert Series at the Eaton Center

Everyone in Toronto knows that the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Eaton Center is THE Christmas event that everyone should attend! And if you didn’t know this (because you are not in Toronto), well… Now, you know because you know me! But this year though, because the Toronto Eaton Center did not have a physical Christmas tree (due to ongoing repairs on the roof), they still treated us with amazing concert series that were happening throughout the Christmas season.

 Imagine going to the biggest shopping mall in town, and being serenaded by music while you shop or chill with your friends! I specifically went on a day when they were having the Steel Pan Fantasy band playing, and I am truly glad I did! Such a heartwarming and nostalgia-inducing moment to listen to Christmas songs and popular songs played in the Caribbean style, by a steelpan band! This is definitely one of the Christmas events Toronto had this season that I truly enjoyed. Check out the Toronto Eaton Center Instagram page to find out the lineup and future events!

Christmas Events Toronto: Toronto Christmas markets

Toronto Christmas markets were one of the first Christmas events I ever attended in Toronto. From the first time I visited this city, I felt like there was something unique about Toronto Christmas markets. The Distillery Winter Village Christmas market is the most popular Christmas market in Toronto. It offers a wide variety of local stores, artisans workshops and trinkets shops where you can buy unique finds and Christmas gifts you might not find anywhere else.

The Distillery Winter Village is a very popular Christmas market in Toronto because of the humongous Dior tree located at the center of the market: every year, this Christmas tree (sponsored by Dior) attracts thousands of v樂威壯 isitors who spend their days and evenings at the Distillery Christmas market for unique memories. Whether you are visiting Toronto for the holidays or are a newcomer to the city, I definitely recommend spending an evening (or two) at the Distillery Winter Village. 

Christmas events  Toronto – Glow Gardens Christmas Market

The Glow Christmas market is another popular Toronto Christmas market, just like the Distillery Christmas market. However, what makes this specific Christmas market in Toronto unique are the following: it is an indoor Toronto Christmas market (located at the Toronto Congress Center), and has a unique display of Christmas lights installations that reflect how this holiday is celebrated in 6 different countries. The Glow Christmas Event Toronto also takes place in other Canadian cities and in one city in the USA (Hartford, Connecticut). So, if you are not able to catch it in Toronto, you can definitely experience it somewhere else!

Christmas Events Toronto: Netflix Canada Christmas House

Traditionally, we know that Netflix blesses us with Netflix Christmas movies that make us cry, laugh and feel different kinds of predictable emotions (which we love). But for the first time in Toronto, Netflix Canada decided to join the holiday spirit in a different way. They took over the Campbell House Museum and decorated it in a Netflix Christmas House, where adults and kids could get lost in dreamy rooms such as the “Winter Wonderland” room, the “Candy cane” room and so many more.

Moreover, anyone who went to this first Christmas event in Toronto received free hot chocolates and donuts on arrival, as well as candy treats and Christmas sweets inside. Parents and kids also had the opportunity to do Christmas ornament decoration workshops, or write letters to Santa. To top it all, there was a unique display of Christmas movie photos, where you could actually try to spot your favorite Netflix Christmas movie. I felt like this was a great Christmas event in Toronto, and I hope they bring this every single year.

PS: this exhibition might not be on for 2023.

Christmas Events Toronto: Toronto Christmas Parade

I was told that the Toronto Christmas parade was THE event to kick off the Christmas season in Toronto! And … perhaps it’s true. Well, at least it was the first of the Christmas events Toronto held, and that I attended. During the Toronto Christmas parade, popular companies in Canada across all industries (food and beverage, transportation, tech, communication, etc.) put together Christmas-style decorated floats. They march on the streets (this year, from Christie Pits to the St Lawrence Markets), spreading Christmas cheers to Torontonians, visitors and anyone who comes out on that day to hear them!

In addition, you can also see musical bands (from various schools), costume bands (such as penguins, clowns, etc.) gracing the streets with their energy, smiles and Christmas cheers. The Toronto Christmas parade usually takes place in mid-November. If you miss this in-person Christmas event in Toronto, CTV news has a rebroadcast in the first week of December. 

Christmas event Toronto – Northern Lights Toronto

I think this is another great fun christmas event that you can check out in Toronto. The Northern Lights Toronto is a unique Christmas lights installation experience that adds to the festive spirit of the city. And even though after having done so many Christmas lights tours and experiences in Toronto (by the time I am writing this), there was just something unique and different about the Northern Lights when I went there.

Maybe it was the fact that I went there during a cold Sunday winter night, or after a long week of work and needed to relax. I felt like there was something different about the energy at the Northern Lights Toronto. I can’t quite wrap my fingers around it. I think this is a great Christmas lights experience in Toronto. You should definitely consider it as one of the Christmas events Toronto has, that you don’t want to miss!

Christmas Events Toronto: Christmas at the Castle (Casa Loma)

Ah, the reputable Casa Loma: Toronto’s real life castle. Outside of the Christmas season, Casa Loma is already a well-known and well-loved tourist attraction. It always makes the list of “things to do in Toronto”, during all seasons. During the Christmas season, the “castle on the hill” magically transforms into a wonderland that attracts both adults and kids. Casa Loma offers two key Christmas events in Toronto: Christmas at the Castle (day tour) and Holiday Lights (night tour). The Casa Loma day tour ends at 5:00 PM, and that is also when the night tour starts.

During Christmas at the Castle (day tour), you get to have a tour of Casa Loma, fully decorated as a Christmas castle. Walking through the different rooms, halls and towers almost feels like you are exploring the intimacy of Sir Henry Pallatt and his family. This Casa Loma Christmas tour transports you to his century, when he conceptualized this castle and made it his home. The secret passageways are also full of secrets, and they are a great addition to this Christmas at the Castle experience. 

Christmas Events Toronto: Casa Loma Holiday Lights Tour 

The Holiday Lights Tour at Casa Loma perfectly complements the Christmas at the Castle experience. After spending an afternoon walking through the halls of Casa Loma, step outside at night to the illuminated gardens and transform your experience! I truly enjoyed the Holiday Lights at Casa Loma. I’d probably put it as my top Christmas lights experience in Toronto, and here is why: beyond Christmas lights in the Casa Loma gardens, you also get to explore unique Christmas-themed rooms, attend magic shows and fire shows, walked through a “special Christmas house” (I would say no more on this), and walk the secret passageway (the same one as for the Christmas at the Castle) experience.

I think this is a very good Christmas event in Toronto where you can bring your family to, and to even… start your family at! During my visit there, a gentleman proposed to his now fiancée (and it was a very heartwarming experience). Speaking of warmth, the Holiday Lights tour also has a stand for pretty affordable warm drinks and donuts: definitely comes in handy during your tour!

Terra Lumina at the Toronto Zoo: Christmas events in Toronto

The Terra Lumina experience at the Toronto Zoo is an outdoor nighttime walking tour where you can immerse yourself into a “virtual world” in which humans and animals coexist in peace. A pretty unique and immersive lights experience, if you ask me. I loved the concept of this because it reminds you of the role that you (as a human) play in nurturing and protecting the earth.

Throughout this light experience, you encounter animals from different realms, and are guided through audio narrations that not just educate, but also sensitize on the fact that each person plays a part in saving our planet. This is a great holiday activity for adults, but even more so for kids as it can help plant the seed of nature preservation in their hearts and minds. 

There you have it: the round-up of some of the best Christmas events Toronto offers during the holidays season! Check out this guide if you are up for more adventure or want to see more things to do in Toronto during December!