Wondering what’s on this weekend? Here’s every Christmas weekend in Toronto for the 2026 season, with the biggest events and a few GTA picks for each. Find your dates and plan from there.
Weekend planning tips
- Friday nights are the best time for markets and lights before the Saturday crowds.
- Saturdays are the busiest day everywhere. Go early for markets and book timed tickets for the Distillery Winter Village, the zoo and WinterFest.
- Sundays are good for parades, matinees and brunch, and markets are often quieter in the morning.
- Check the weather: outdoor events can close for high winds or freezing rain. Have an indoor backup like a museum or show. Indoor winter activities
- Use transit to avoid parking hassles, especially downtown. Parking tips
Free picks for any weekend
Every weekend of the season, you can:
- Skate at Nathan Phillips Square with your own skates
- Visit the St. Lawrence Winter Market (Thursday to Sunday, November 19 to December 22)
- Walk our Christmas lights walking tour
- See the Christmas window displays downtown
More ideas: free Christmas things to do in Toronto.
Rainy or freezing weekend?
Swap outdoor plans for a holiday show, a museum family day, Ripley’s Aquarium or a movie. See Christmas shows in Toronto, museum holiday programs and Christmas movie screenings.
Christmas events this weekend: FAQ
What’s the busiest Christmas weekend in Toronto? Parade weekend (November 20 to 22) and the weekends of December 12 to 13 and 19 to 20.
How often is this page updated? We update it as organisers confirm their 2026 details, so check back each week.
November 6 – 8
- Royal Agricultural Winter Fair opens at Exhibition Place (Nov 6 – 15)
- Toronto Zoo: Glow in the Wild lantern trail (Thu – Sun)
- Free craft markets: Toronto Art Crawl at The Bentway and Leaside Presbyterian (Sat). Craft fairs
November 13 – 15
- Distillery Winter Village opened Thursday (Nov 12); evenings ticketed Fri – Sun
- The Grinch musical at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre (to Nov 22). Christmas shows
- Last weekend of the Royal Winter Fair
- Near Toronto: Oakville Santa Claus Parade (Sat). Parades near Toronto
November 20 – 22: parade weekend
- Sun: the 122nd Santa Claus Parade at 12:30 p.m., and the Holly Jolly Fun Run before it
- Fri: Miracle Christmas bars open; Harbourfront Centre tree lighting. Pop-up bars
- Sat: Bloor-Yorkville lighting ceremony (5 – 7 p.m.); WinterFest opens at Canada’s Wonderland; Breakfast with Santa at Ripley’s
- Free St. Lawrence Winter Market open Thu – Sun from Nov 19
- Near Toronto: parades in Mississauga, Brampton, Newmarket, Aurora and Pickering (Sat)
November 27 – 29
- One of a Kind Christmas Show opens (to Dec 6)
- Black Friday (Fri)
- Cavalcade of Lights usually opens around now (date TBA)
- Sun: CPKC Holiday Train at 750 Runnymede Road, 8:30 p.m.
- Near Toronto: Main Street Markham Festival of Lights (Fri) and Santa Claus Parade (Sat); Kerr Village tree lighting, Oakville (Sat)
December 4 – 6
- The Nutcracker opens (Dec 5)
- Elf in Concert with the TSO (Dec 3 – 6)
- One of a Kind’s final weekend
- Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday (to Dec 12). Hanukkah in Toronto
- Near Toronto: Stouffville Santa Claus Parade (Sat); Christmas on the Rails in Milton (Sat – Sun)
December 11 – 13
- Last weekend before Distillery evenings are ticketed every day (from Dec 14)
- Santa at Black Creek (Sat – Sun). Black Creek at Christmas
- Goblin: Christmas Carol opens (Dec 12)
December 18 – 20
- Messiah: TSO, Tafelmusik and the Sing-Along Messiah (Sun). Messiah in Toronto
- Choir! Choir! Choir! at Massey Hall (Sat)
- Final weekend of the St. Lawrence Winter Market
Christmas week
Christmas Eve (Thu), Christmas Day (Fri) and Boxing Day (Sat). Check what’s open on Christmas Day.
December 31 – January 3
- New Year’s Eve (Thu)
- Final weekend for the Distillery Winter Village, WinterFest and Glow in the Wild (all end Jan 3)
For the full calendar, see Toronto Christmas events 2026.
