10 Things to do in Toronto at Christmas

Christmas in Toronto is magical, and if you're planning to visit Ontario's capital city in December, it's well worth the experience. Festivals brighten up the holiday season with food tastings, dancing and traditional dances. You'll also find Christmas play reenactments, 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 organising your itinerary so you don't miss out on a second of fun. The holiday season is kicked off by the annual Ride of Lights, with attractions for the whole family. After that, there are theme parks, markets, fairs and bazaars, as well as Boxing Day offers. If you enjoy adding new experiences, take a walk in the Father Christmas Parade or go ice skating.

The best way to kick off your Christmas celebrations in Ontario's capital city is to head to the annual Cavalcade of Lights. It's a great event if you're looking for things to do in Toronto in November. It runs until January, with a full itinerary offering activities for the whole family.

It's been a local tradition since 1967, featuring a tree lighting and skating rinks. 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're 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 extra 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 taxi or public transport.

The most popular attraction at this park is WinterFest which will transport you to Wonderland with its energy and extravagant decorations. You'll find fun activities such as skating rinks, Christmas entertainment, live performances, light shows and the International Street decorated with hundreds of trees. It's definitely one of the best things to do in Toronto in December. For a quieter plan, you can escape to Algonquin Park on the outskirts of the city.

If you're in the mood for Christmas shopping as well as experiencing Canadian culture, you'll want to head to the One of a Kind Winter Show bazaar in Toronto. It's the perfect place to take a foodie tour of the city, as you'll find plenty of street food stalls. It's considered a local tradition, having been held since 1975. You'll find over 650 stalls, mostly from local artisans.

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

If you're planning 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 local markets and squares, gift exchanges are also held, as it is a Canadian tradition.

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

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

• CN Tower: if you don't like shopping and want to escape the long queues, you can spend a leisurely day here. It's the perfect place to get stunning views of the city, from the revolving restaurant or the Edge Walk.
• Pacific Mall: this mall is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., so you'll 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 organise this 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's 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 in snow and decorated with lights. It's a unique experience, where you can sample 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 surrounding area: skating rinks, carousels, amusement r ides and more. Without a doubt, it's an ideal family plan to enjoy live entertainment. There are traditional markets set up in the city every year, as well as food fairs.

Distillery Winter Village

The Distillery District Christmas market is one of the most popular. As such, it's an ideal choice for taking advantage of the city 's best food tours as it features a variety of food stalls. It offers family entertainment, spread out in its colonial streets. In addition, you will find decorated huts, hot chocolate stalls and taverns to sample local beers, wines and 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's free from November to December. This area belongs to a historic district, where emblematic buildings with a great architectural heritage are preserved. I recommend taking the time to take an in-depth tour, so you can see the site of an old Canadian distillery.

Kensington Market

Another Christmas market not to be missed is Kensington Market. It is open most of the year, except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. During the Christmas festivities, you'll find many tourists crowded together enjoying the live music while sipping on Canadian mulled wine. Additionally, there are winter parties, 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 shops where you can buy clothes, objects or toys. Of course, there's no shortage of delicious food, with Christmas offerings and dishes from different cultures. You can also stop by La Plaza Fair in Nathan Phillips Square, a five-minute drive away. It runs throughout December and is a winter carnival with arts and crafts, live music, traditional dancing, light shows and mulled wine stations.

At Christmas time, the city's ice rink attracts hundreds of tourists as it coincides with the winter season. It's a popular attraction, so there are plenty of places to practice your skating skills. It's definitely one of the best things to do in Toronto in December with your family. You can find both public and private options, the most relevant being:

• Union Winter Skating Rink : this is a free rink, available from November to January. Note that it is not available on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day or December 25th itself. It's a great place for beginners and experts alike, with DJ parties on Friday nights.
• Evergreen Brick Works Skating Rink: This is ideal if you're looking for things to do in Toronto in winter, as it's free and available from December to March. You can also schedule skating lessons if you are inexperienced.
• Colonel Samuel Smith Park 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't leave without grabbing a hot dog from 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 exhibition. It's a party, where different artists interpret Christmas symbols and transform them into sculptures and other artistic representations.

In addition, more than 10 Christmas trees with different themes and decorations are on display. This 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 check out the free clay decorating spaces.

Christmas lights adorn Toronto each December, warm decorations that embellish the wintry atmosphere. The city is transformed into a fairytale that sparkles from every angle, so it's well worth taking advantage of the light festivals and lighting locations. Stop by the Distillery District Christmas Market, where displays sparkle under strings of lights.

Other places to see 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's made even more beautiful 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 must attend the Toronto Father Christmas Parade, also known as the Toronto Father Christmas Parade. It will transport you to a magical paradise, featuring a route with themed floats, live characters and hundreds of Santas. The procession also features people dressed as clowns, something unusual that started as a joke among the organisers in 1982 and became a Canadian tradition.

It's definitely one of the best things to do in Toronto in November as it usually takes place on the third Sunday of this month. It's the best way to warm up and get into the Christmas spirit. Plus, if you've got kids in tow, 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's well worth a closer look. It's set up at the Eaton Centre, with hundreds of lights and decorations adorning the 30-metre tree.

This shopping centre is very large and is located in the Financial District, so it is easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Casa Loma also has 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 period. In December it dresses up with Christmas events for the whole family.