9 Things To Do For The Holidays In Toronto

9 THINGS TO DO FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN TORONTO

Stroll: Toronto Christmas Market
Starting November 20, the Distillery District's annual holiday street market embraces just about every festive theme on this list. Indeed, because there's so much to take in - local vendors and craftspeople, food stalls galore, family-friendly entertainment, a Ferris Wheel, beer gardens and, of course, Santa and his reindeer. The European-inspired extravaganza is a festive browser's delight. Holiday cheer greets you wherever your feet take you, but your cheer budget will go a bit further from Tuesday through Friday, when admission is free. Tickets for the weekend dates cost $5 and can be purchased in advance.
Please visit: http://www.torontochristmasmarket.com/

Shop: Toronto Eaton Centre
What happens when Toronto's most visited tourist attraction gets festive? With 1,722,000 SF of retail space - that's nearly 30 football fields - there's nowhere better to check off wish lists while admiring glittery decorations. And if you want to parlay a shopping spree with a St. Nick sighting, you're in luck: Santa's Log Cabin hosts scheduled visits with the jolly old elf in adjacant Trinity Square.
Please visit: https://www.cfshops.com/toronto-eaton-centre.html

Skate: Natrel Rink
The completion of the Queen's Quay revitalization project makes this scenic lakefront skating venue that much more enticing. The rink is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a Swedish Christmas Festival - including an ABBA-themed DJ night, naturally - and free skate and helmet rentals on certain days. There's a heated indoor change room with lockers and washrooms, a rink-side restaurant, and last but not lease, admission is always free.
Please visit: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/venues/natrelrink/

Shows: The National Ballet's Of Canada's The Nutcracker
With a cast of characters including the Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy, it's no wonder the National Ballet's annual staging of The Nutcracker is as glittery as it gets. The whole package is a true feast for the senses, with Tchaikovsky's timeless score and James Kudelka's choreography and libretto bringing out the best of some of Canada's finest ballet dancers, costume designers, set decorators and musicians.
Please visit: https://national.ballet.ca/Productions/2015-2016-Season/The-Nutcracker​ 

Crafts: One of a Kind Show & Sale
If you want some expert instruction on ornament creation, cookie decoration and festive photo props, the DeSerres Art School is hosting a range of workshops at North America's largest festive craft show. Or, if you'd prefer to let the experts handle the merchandise - while you take the credit - more than 800 artisans will be there to sell hand-crafted ceramics, jewellery, furniture, clothing, accessories, and plenty more besides.
Please visit: http://www.oneofakindshow.com/toronto/index.php​ 

Dine: Christmas by Lamplight Dinner, Black Creek Pioneer Village
For an old-fashioned festive evening, it's tough to beat "Christmas by Lamplight" at this open-air heritage museum. Decorated 19th-century homes and workshops, traditional folk music, carolling and choirs, old-school craft-making...the list goes on. Plus, you can add dinner to the experience with a prix-fixe menu inluding butternut squash soup, roasted turkey and pumpkin pie.
Please visit: http://www.blackcreek.ca/v2/events/christmas-by-lamplight.dot

Santa: Santa's Giant Storybook Experience, Sherway Gardens
Line-ups to see Santa are so 20th-century. At the Sherway Gardens mall, families can pre-book $15 visits to this interactive festive experience, in which good little boys and girls and help St. Nick and his reindeer save Christmas - and presumably get that much closer to having their wish list fulfilled.
Please visit: https://www.cfshops.com/sherway-gardens/news-events/events/santa-experience-2015.html

Cheer: Carols in the Tavern, Montgomery Inn
Party like it's 1899 at Monthomery's Inn. Starting in December, the historic Etobicoke establishment is hosting festive sing-alongs, serving savoury treats and pouring mulled cider. A $20 cover charge gets you in - pre-booking is required - and there's a ash bar for more throwback beverages.
Please visit: http://www.montgomerysinn.com/events/christmastime/

Snow: Blue Mountain Ski Resort
Some years, GTA residents can only dream of a white Christmas. However, the odds of a winter winterland are greatly increased if you drive two hours north to the Blue Mountain ski resort near Collingwood, where one of North America's most advanced snow-making systems can blanket the slopes if temperatures dip just below zero. Throw in a charming resort village primed for the holidays, and those dreams get closer to reality.
Please visit: http://www.bluemountain.ca/