Toronto is one of the world’s most diverse cities, and its holiday season reflects that. From November to January, you can experience a remarkable range of traditions. Here’s a guide with 2026 dates.
Holiday calendar 2026–27
| Date | Celebration |
|---|---|
| Mid-to-late November | Santa Claus Parade and Cavalcade of Lights |
| Dec 4 to 12 | Hanukkah |
| Dec 16 to 24 | Simbang Gabi |
| Mon, Dec 21 | Winter solstice and the Kensington Market festival |
| Thu, Dec 24 | Christmas Eve |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Boxing Day, first day of Kwanzaa |
| Thu, Dec 31 | New Year’s Eve |
| Fri, Jan 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Thu, Jan 7 | Orthodox Christmas |
A month of traditions: how Toronto celebrates
November belongs to the start of the season: the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the Distillery Winter Village’s opening, tree lightings and, above all, the Santa Claus Parade, which brings hundreds of thousands of families downtown on a Sunday afternoon.
Early December is about lights and giving: the CPKC Holiday Train collects food for local food banks, community groups run toy drives, and Hanukkah’s public menorah lightings brighten squares and community centres.
Mid-December is the season of music: The Nutcracker, Messiah, carol services and community choir concerts. Filipino families attend Simbang Gabi Masses in the nine days before Christmas, and Kensington Market marks the winter solstice with lanterns and fire.
Christmas week turns quieter and more personal: church services on Christmas Eve, family dinners, skating on Christmas afternoon, and Boxing Day shopping or walks on December 26, which also marks the start of Kwanzaa.
New Year brings fireworks over the lake on December 31, polar bear dips and levees on January 1, and Orthodox Christmas celebrations on January 7 for many Serbian, Russian, Ethiopian and other Orthodox communities.
Respectful greetings
In a city this diverse, “Happy holidays” and “Season’s greetings” are warm, inclusive choices, while “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah” and “Happy Kwanzaa” are always welcome among those who celebrate. When in doubt, follow the other person’s lead.
Toronto’s own traditions
- The Santa Claus Parade, dating back to 1905.
- Skating at Nathan Phillips Square under the Toronto sign.
- The Distillery Winter Village.
- Holiday windows downtown.
Read more in the history of Christmas in Toronto and Canadian Christmas traditions.
Christmas around the world, in Toronto
- Italian Christmas: panettone, the Feast of the Seven Fishes and festive Little Italy.
- Caribbean Christmas: black cake, sorrel and parang.
- Filipino Christmas: Simbang Gabi and parol lanterns.
- Orthodox Christmas on January 7.
- German traditions at the Kitchener Christkindl Market.
Other winter celebrations
- Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, with public menorah lightings.
- Kwanzaa, celebrating African heritage.
- The winter solstice, welcoming back the light.
- Lunar New Year follows in early 2027, with celebrations across the city.
Toronto’s holiday food traditions
Toronto’s tables reflect its many communities at this time of year:
- Tourtière and butter tarts from Canadian kitchens
- Panettone and the Feast of the Seven Fishes in Italian families. Italian Christmas
- Latkes and sufganiyot for Hanukkah
- Black cake and sorrel in Caribbean homes. Caribbean Christmas
- Bibingka and puto bumbong after Simbang Gabi
- Kutia and twelve meatless dishes for Ukrainian Christmas Eve
- Melomakarona and kourabiedes from Greek bakeries on the Danforth
Find bakeries and shops in Christmas bakeries in Toronto.
Start a new family tradition
Looking for a tradition to make your own? Try:
- Watching the Santa Claus Parade every November.
- An annual skate at Nathan Phillips Square.
- Cutting your own tree at a farm near the city. Tree farms
- Volunteering together at a food bank or toy drive. Volunteer
- Seeing The Nutcracker with each new generation. The Nutcracker
- A Boxing Day walk in a ravine or along the lake.
Holiday traditions in Toronto: FAQ
What holidays are celebrated in Toronto in December? Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice and New Year’s Eve, as well as many cultural and faith celebrations.
What’s Toronto’s oldest Christmas tradition? The Santa Claus Parade, which dates back to 1905. See the history of Christmas in Toronto.
Faith and community
See Christmas church services, Christmas carols and volunteering at Christmas.
Start your Toronto holiday
Head to the complete guide to Christmas in Toronto.
