Scarborough is Toronto’s capital of over-the-top residential Christmas lights, and it’s home to the Toronto Zoo’s holiday lantern trail. Add civic skating, big malls and some of the best global food in the city.
What to do in Scarborough at Christmas
- See residential light displays in Malvern, Northwood Park and Kennedy Park, where families build award-winning yard displays, some raising money for charity. Please be respectful of residents. Neighbourhood Christmas lights
- Walk Glow in the Wild at the Toronto Zoo, with more than 2,000 lanterns on a 1.5 km trail (Thursday to Sunday until January 3). Glow in the Wild
- Skate at Albert Campbell Square at the Scarborough Civic Centre. Outdoor skating
- Shop Scarborough Town Centre, which opens early for Boxing Day. Boxing Day sales
- Eat well on Christmas Day: Scarborough’s Hakka, Szechuan, Vietnamese and buffet restaurants are often open. Restaurants open on Christmas Day
- Winter walks along the Scarborough Bluffs and in Rouge National Urban Park. Winter hikes
About Scarborough
Scarborough is Toronto’s eastern district, home to more than 600,000 people and some of the most diverse communities in Canada. It stretches from the dramatic Scarborough Bluffs on Lake Ontario to the Rouge National Urban Park in the northeast. Its strip plazas are famous for outstanding food from around the world, and at Christmas its residential streets put on some of the city’s most enthusiastic light displays.
More things to do in Scarborough at Christmas
- Walk the Scarborough Bluffs at Bluffer’s Park for winter views of the cliffs and lake. Stay on marked paths and away from cliff edges.
- Explore Rouge National Urban Park, Canada’s first national urban park, with forest trails and frozen marshes. Winter hikes
- Shop at Scarborough Town Centre for holiday gifts and Santa visits.
- Eat your way around the world: Scarborough’s restaurants serve Hakka, Cantonese, Sri Lankan, Filipino, Caribbean, Afghan and many other cuisines. A festive family dinner here is a Toronto tradition for many.
- Visit the Toronto Zoo by day or for its evening lantern trail. Toronto Zoo holiday lights
A Scarborough Christmas day
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | A winter walk at Bluffer’s Park |
| Lunch | Dim sum or Hakka food in a Scarborough plaza |
| Afternoon | The Toronto Zoo |
| Evening | The zoo’s Glow in the Wild, or a drive past residential lights |
Visiting residential light displays
Scarborough’s most decorated homes draw visitors every December. Please be respectful: park legally, keep noise down, stay on the sidewalk and don’t block driveways. Some displays collect donations for charity. See Christmas lights neighbourhoods in Toronto.
Christmas in Scarborough: FAQ
Where are the best Christmas lights in Scarborough? Residential streets across the district put on big displays; see our lights neighbourhoods guide for areas to explore.
How do I get to Scarborough? Take Line 2 to Kennedy station, then connect by bus, or drive via Highway 401.
More: Toronto neighbourhoods at Christmas
Getting there
Line 2 runs to Kennedy, with buses replacing the former Line 3 to Scarborough Centre. By car, use Highway 401.
