Looking for Christmas lights near Toronto? Some of the best holiday light displays in the region are just outside the city, from an amusement park lit with millions of bulbs in Vaughan to a free waterfront festival in Burlington and historic main streets glowing in Markham and Oakville. Here are the best Christmas lights across the GTA for 2026, with dates, prices and how to get there.
Christmas lights near Toronto 2026 at a glance
| Display | Where | 2026 dates | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest | Vaughan (York) | Select nights, Nov 21 – Jan 3 | Ticketed |
| Burlington Festival of Lights | Spencer Smith Park, Burlington (Halton) | Nightly, late Nov – early Jan (TBA) | Free |
| Main Street Markham Festival of Lights | Main Street Markham (York) | Friday, Nov 27 | Free |
| Mississauga tree lighting | Celebration Square (Peel) | Saturday, Nov 21 | Free |
| Toronto Zoo: Glow in the Wild | Scarborough (Toronto) | Thu – Sun until Jan 3 | $38 |
| Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights | Niagara Falls | Usually mid-Nov – early Jan | Free |
1. Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest, Vaughan
The biggest holiday light event in the GTA outside downtown Toronto. On select nights from November 21 to January 3, the amusement park glows with millions of lights, plus holiday shows, food and a selection of rides. It’s about 30 to 45 minutes north of downtown. Full WinterFest guide
2. Burlington Festival of Lights
For more than 30 years, Burlington has lit up Spencer Smith Park on the Lake Ontario waterfront with dozens of glowing displays and photo spots. It’s free, it runs nightly from late November into early January, and you can walk through the park or see the lights from your car along Lakeshore Road. In 2025 it ran until January 7. Burlington Christmas events
3. Main Street Markham Festival of Lights
On Friday, November 27, 2026, Main Street Markham holds its 41st annual Festival of Lights with the lighting of its Christmas tree, live entertainment and festive activities, the night before the Markham Santa Claus Parade. Markham Christmas events
4. Mississauga Celebration Square
Mississauga lights its official Christmas tree at Celebration Square on Saturday, November 21, at the end of its evening Santa Claus Parade, and opens its largest outdoor rink. The square stays lit through the holidays. Mississauga Christmas events
5. Small-town and village lights
- Kerr Village, Oakville: tree lighting and holiday market on Saturday, November 28, 1 to 6 p.m. Oakville Christmas events
- Streetsville, Mississauga: tree lighting at Christmas in the Village, November 20.
- Downtown Brampton: tree lighting at Ken Whillans Square in late November. Brampton Christmas events
- Downtown Oshawa: tree lighting at the Bright and Merry Market, usually mid-November. Oshawa Christmas events
- Unionville and Kleinburg: historic villages decorated for the season. Unionville · Kleinburg
6. Nighttime parades
Several GTA parades are basically moving light shows: Brampton’s Nighttime Santa Claus Parade and Aurora’s Santa Under the Stars on November 21, plus Oshawa’s Parade of Lights and the Ajax Spectacle of Lights. See Santa Claus parades near Toronto.
7. Drive-through light shows
If you’d rather stay warm, drive-through light shows pop up around the GTA most seasons. See drive-through Christmas lights near Toronto.
In Toronto itself
Don’t skip the city: the Distillery Winter Village, the Cavalcade of Lights, Casa Loma and Yorkville are covered in our guide to the best Christmas lights in Toronto.
Tips
- Combine lights with a parade or market on the same evening, especially November 21 and November 27 to 28.
- Go on weeknights to avoid crowds at WinterFest and Burlington.
- Check dates before driving out. Some displays run only on select nights or close in bad weather.
More tree lightings: tree lighting ceremonies near Toronto.
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