Christmas Window Displays in Toronto

For generations, Torontonians lined up on Queen Street to see the animated Christmas windows at Simpsons and later Hudson’s Bay. After the Bay closed in 2025, it looked like the tradition might end, but the windows came back for the holidays. Here’s what to know about Toronto’s Christmas window displays.

Holiday windows at the former Hudson’s Bay, Queen and Yonge

The historic department store building at 176 Yonge Street (at Queen) is owned by Cadillac Fairview, which relaunched the holiday windows in 2025. That year, Mars Wrigley Canada took over the seven Yonge Street windows with a continuous story about chocolate-making “elves,” unveiled on December 14 and lit 24 hours a day until January 2. A wish-list tie-in raised money for Food Banks of Canada.

Cadillac Fairview plans to keep the windows running with rotating campaigns, so look for a new holiday display in 2026. Part of the Queen Street side is behind Ontario Line construction, so the Yonge Street windows are the main viewing area. We’ll update this page when the 2026 windows are announced.

Other festive windows

• Bloor-Yorkville: luxury stores along Bloor Street West and in Yorkville Village dress their windows for the season. Pair a stroll with the neighbourhood’s lights. Christmas in Yorkville
• CF Toronto Eaton Centre: holiday decor and shopfront displays across the mall, steps from Queen and Yonge. Eaton Centre at Christmas
• Distillery District shops: the district’s boutiques decorate alongside the Winter Village. Distillery Winter Village

A short history of Toronto’s Christmas windows

For much of the 20th century, Toronto’s two great department stores, Eaton’s and Simpsons, competed to create the most spectacular animated Christmas windows on Queen and Yonge streets. Families made the trip downtown every December to press their noses to the glass, see moving elves and toy trains, and then visit Santa inside. When Simpsons became part of Hudson’s Bay, the tradition continued at the Queen and Yonge store for decades. Read more in the history of Christmas in Toronto.

Other places to see festive windows

• Bloor-Yorkville: luxury boutiques along Bloor Street and Yorkville Avenue dress their windows in elegant holiday themes. Yorkville at Christmas
• The Eaton Centre: stores throughout the mall decorate their storefronts, and the mall’s own decor is a highlight. Eaton Centre at Christmas
• Independent shops on Queen West, in Leslieville and in the Junction often create quirky, handmade window displays.
• Hotel lobbies downtown, some with gingerbread displays and grand trees.

Window-walk tips

• Go after dark when the windows glow, around 5 p.m. in December.
• Visit on a weeknight to avoid crowds.
• Bring a thermos and make it part of a lights walk. Christmas lights walking tour
• Take photos without flash to avoid glare on the glass.

Christmas window displays: FAQ

Are there still Christmas windows at Queen and Yonge? The windows at the former Hudson’s Bay building returned for the holidays after the store closed. Check for 2026 details closer to the season.

Are the window displays free? Yes. Window displays are free to view from the sidewalk.

Make it a walk

The windows at Queen and Yonge are on our self-guided Christmas lights walking tour, between St. Lawrence Market and Nathan Phillips Square.

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