It’s time for some ‘cool’ outdoor play! Get into the spirit at a winter festival, and be sure to plan for the holiday season ahead, as many events require advance tickets. This guide includes Holiday Lights festivals as well as Winter carnivals that are typically held in January/February each year (a great way to beat those winter blues!) with fun activities like dog sled racing, participate in traditional winter games, snow shoe, sledding and plenty of other creative winter activities.
2023/2024 Winter Festivals Guide in and around Toronto
Celebrate Winter in the GTA and Southern Ontario
FEATURED
Holiday Nights of Lights
- December 1, 2023 - January 7, 2024
- Scarborough Town Centre, 500 Progress Avenue, Scarborough ON
An immersive walk-through experience like no other, featuring more than 1.5 million LED lights animated and synchronized to everyone’s favourite Holiday tunes. Back for the fourth year, the event will be bigger and brighter with new displays and interactive activities! Walking through giant ornaments and animated tunnels… upon exiting the light show, enter the Market – filled with delicious food trucks and artisan vendors!
2023 Family Friendly Winter Festivals
Gift of Lights
Nov 22, 2024
to Jan 4, 2025
Bingemans
Gift of Lights is a family-friendly drive-thru holiday light display with two tunnels and over 300 animated and static light displays! Enjoy this holiday spectacle from inside the comfort of your own vehicle and tune into Gift of Lights Radio at 103.3FM. Get into the holiday spirit from the comfort ...
Cavalcade of Lights
Nov 30, 2024
to Jan 7, 2025
Nathan Phillips Square
Experience the magic of the holiday season with the much-loved Cavalcade of Lights presented by Desjardins Financial Group. With an opening night inspired by international lantern, fire and light festivals and winter solstice celebrations, Cavalcade of Lights is a free event that transforms City Hall and its surrounds into a ...
Holiday Fair In The Square
Dec 6, 2024
to Dec 23, 2024
Mel Lastman Square
Holiday Fair in the Square has moved to the heart of North York! This year, the Fair will once again transform Mel Lastman Square into a magical winter wonderland! Stroll through the stalls of the artisan marketplace, warm up in the Fireside Lounge while sipping a hot chocolate or mulled ...
Barrie WinterFest
Feb 1, 2025
to Feb 2, 2025
Centennial Park in Barrie
The City of Barrie proudly presents Barrie Winterfest, a community tradition and one of the top winter festivals in Ontario. Enjoy spectacular ice sculptures, lumberjack shows, polar bear dip, family entertainment, drop-in activities, skating & much more winter fun. The 2025 event features favourite winter activities all day including spectacular ...
Maple Syrup Experience at Elliott Tree Farm
Feb 15, 2025
to Apr 6, 2025
Elliott Tree Farm
The Elliott Tree Farm 2025 Maple Syrup Experience kicks off on Saturday February 15 for Family Day Weekend! Join us within an hour of the GTA for our annual Canadian tradition with our famous pancake breakfast at the Horse Barn Canteen, followed by a 10 – 15-minute sugarbush trail walk ...
Brampton Winter Lights
Nov 17, 2023
to Nov 18, 2023
Downtown Brampton
Kick off the holiday season with the City of Brampton at its annual Winter Lights Festival, presented by Fieldgate Developments, on November 17 and 18. Join the City for a weekend of free, family-friendly activities including stage performances, the annual Tree Lighting ceremony, amusement rides, holiday markets, and more! Admission ...
Santa Fest
Nov 18, 2023
to Dec 23, 2023
Santa’s Village
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – in the most magical place in Muskoka! Once again, Santa and his Elves will be hosting a special Christmas Celebration here at Santa’s Village. Join us for an evening of Christmas Wonder – Walk the One Million Light Display, ride the ...
Magical Christmas Forest
Nov 24, 2023
to Dec 23, 2023
Kortright Centre for Conservation
Escape into the Magical Christmas Forest at Kortright Centre for Conservation! Experience a winter wonderland filled with lights, crafts, activities, wagon rides, and treats for the whole family — and enjoy a visit with Santa in his cabin! Advance tickets required. Dates: November 24 – 26, 30, 2023 December 1 ...
Winter Blooms Festival
Nov 24, 2023
to Dec 17, 2023
Toronto Botanical Garden
Enjoy a wonderful indoor/outdoor holiday experience that combines the magic of the season with the wonders of nature – featuring shopping, food, workshops, Elf School for Kids and plant-focused experiences that will engage visitors of all ages. Immerse yourself in the change of season and the outdoor wonders of winter ...
17th Annual Wanderlust
Nov 25, 2023
to Nov 25, 2023
Lesliegrove Park
Get outside and enjoy the local festive cheer this season! Join us on Saturday, November 25th from 12-8pm for a host of FREE Leslieville Wanderlust activities to help cheer in our 17th year of making spirits bright! On the roster for the special day: Tree lighting ceremony In-store events & ...
Light Up the Square 2023
Nov 25, 2023
to Nov 25, 2023
Mississauga Celebration Square
Join the fun as we light the Christmas tree for the first time this season. There will be ice skating, live performances, and the Holiday Street Market will be offering tasty treats and artisanal goods all night long. The magic doesn’t stop there. Mississauga’s downtown transforms into a technicolour wonderland ...
Holiday Fair In The Square 2023
Dec 1, 2023
to Dec 23, 2023
Mel Lastman Square
Holiday Fair In The Square is back, and it’s better than ever before! Get ready for a magical winter wonderland in the heart of North York’s Mel Lastman Square. Featuring unique artisan and food vendors, an outdoor Polar Point Bar, roaming performers, a fireside lounge, and more, there’s something for ...
Cooksville's Magical Holiday Season Celebration
Dec 2, 2023
to Dec 2, 2023
67 Hillcrest Ave, Mississauga
Back by popular demand is Heart Comonos’ annual Holiday Magic Season Celebration. Join hundreds of your neighbours for music, food, conversation, and gathering around fire pits in Cooksville’s biggest FREE holiday event. There will be: Candlelights Live music Carols Fire pits Belgian waffles Coffee Hot chocolate + gifts for everyone! ...
Santa Claus Christmas Playland Party - Argentia Location
Dec 2, 2023
to Dec 2, 2023
Amazing Adventures Playland (Argentia Location)
Welcome to our annual exciting Santa Claus Christmas Party!! at Amazing Adventures Playland Our event is designed for the entire family to enjoy. No need to worry about the cold unpredictable weather as our venues are indoors. Catch Santa Claus as he walks around the playground. He will interact with ...
Old Fashioned Christmas
Dec 3, 2023
to Dec 3, 2023
Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum
Join us for our annual Old Fashioned Christmas event on Sunday, December 3rd! Enjoy an artisan vendors market, horse-drawn wagon rides, hot beverages, and don’t forget to take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus! This is a free event with the donation of a non-perishable food item. Featuring: An ...
Hello Winter
Feb 1, 2024
to Mar 15, 2024
Heritage Park and Downtown Barrie
Grab your mittens! Barrie Winterfest officially kicks off Hello Winter! Enjoy the many outdoor, arts, culture and community events taking place in February & March. Hello Winter features activities and events for everyone to enjoy, including Barrie Winterfest, Barrie Skating Club Showcase & Learn to Skate, Barrie Film Festival Screen ...
Lunar Nights: Year of the Dragon Festival
Feb 8, 2024
to Feb 25, 2024
Markham Museum
The Lunar Nights: Year of the Dragon Festival at the Markham Museum illuminates the city with a mesmerizing display of a lantern trail filled with scenes featuring 250+ colourful lanterns, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the lunar new year. Beyond the captivating outdoor walk-through lantern show, visitors will have ...
Love & Peace Lantern Festival
Feb 9, 2024
to Feb 25, 2024
Woodside Square Mall
Ancient techniques, Ingenious production “Love and Peace”Lantern Festival is a large-scale international outdoor light show composed of four main thematic elements. Our mission is to guide you through extraordinary scenes from ancient times to the present. Meanwhile, you can explore the wonders of thousands of universes and experience the world with ...
Sweet City Fest
Feb 9, 2024
to Feb 19, 2024
stackt market
Sweet City Fest is a festival celebrating all things SWEET. Running from FEB 9-19, expect shopping deals, themed vendor markets and workshops, live music nights, Valentine’s Day experiences, food and drink specials, and tons of family activities for the long weekend.
Enchanted Lights
Feb 10, 2024
to Mar 10, 2024
Mel Lastman Square
Embrace the magic of the season at Enchanted Lights, an extraordinary winter-themed light show illuminating the hearts of our community! This enchanting event invites all to indulge in the beauty of diverse cultures through a mesmerizing display of lights, entertainment, and culinary delights. Event Highlights: Winter Wonderland of Lights: A ...
2024 LunarFest GTA
Feb 17, 2024
to Feb 18, 2024
Varley Art Gallery of Markham
Welcome the Year of the Dragon with LunarFest! Returning to Varley Art Gallery courtyard, the Lunar Lanterns brings together local Indigenous artists to share stories that highlight why we are Born to be Free. Join us inside the gallery on Feb 17 – 18 for a weekend of fun crafts ...
Family Day Winter Carnival Weekend
Feb 17, 2024
to Feb 19, 2024
Schneider Haus National Historic Site
Celebrate Family Day at Schneider Haus with our winter carnival theme all weekend long! Enjoy outdoor games, an obstacle course, a winter scavenger hunt, snow painting, snow science and snow sculpting! (We’re really hoping for snow!). Once you’ve chilled with your family, come on inside to warm up at our ...
Heartland Forest WinterFest
Feb 24, 2024
to Feb 24, 2024
Heartland Forest
We invite families in the Region for a special winter celebration at Heartland Forest. The event includes a toasty fire pit with S’mores, yummy hot chocolate, our signature Tundra Trek on the trails, a petting zoo and craft station, interactive exhibits inside the Nature Centre and so much more! The ...
The Distillery District Winter Village
Nov 13, 2024
to Dec 31, 2024
The Distillery Historic District
The Distillery Winter Village is an intimate, picture-perfect holiday experience, where friends and family gather to explore the rich history of The Distillery District, take-in the timeless romance of the holidays, and enjoy a curated selection of Toronto’s finest craftspeople, local shops, restaurants and cafes. All of your favourite Distillery ...
Winter Nights, City Lights
Nov 15, 2024
to Jan 31, 2025
The Esplanade Park
Pickering’s Winter Nights, City Lights kicks off the holiday season with family fun After the event, the park will be lit until January 31st. Join us for our annual winter season celebration! Watch as we light up Esplanade Park with festive decor and fireworks. Enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, a ...
Holiday Magic at Blue Mountain
Nov 16, 2024
to Jan 5, 2025
Blue Mountain Village
Experience the magic of the holidays at Blue Mountain Village with special events every weekend, offering unforgettable activities for the whole family. Weekends fill up quickly, but the fun continues all week long! Enjoy the sparkling Holiday Light Trail, festive shopping, delicious dining, and the festive charm around every corner. ...
Winterfest at Canada's Wonderland
Nov 16, 2024
to Jan 4, 2025
Canada’s Wonderland
Canada’s Wonderland transforms into a magical, winter wonderland for WinterFest – an immersive holiday experience for the whole family. This event features ice-skating on Snow Flake Lake, more than a dozen live shows and holiday entertainment, exciting rides, millions of spectacular lights, and hundreds of beautiful Christmas trees throughout the ...
Sainte-Marie’s First Light
Nov 21, 2024
to Dec 8, 2024
Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons
Now in its 24th year, Sainte-Marie’s First Light is an award-winning, must-see holiday event with a great lineup of family activities and live musical performances, all amidst the spectacular glow of thousands of candles. This year, you’re visiting two candlelit attractions for the price of one: Sainte-Marie among the Hurons ...
Safari Lights
Nov 21, 2024
to Dec 13, 2024
Safari Niagara
Make this holiday season a special one by driving through our dazzling holiday lights drive-thru adventure! There is snow-much to see! Immersive light tunnels, luminous motion lights, whimsical animal light displays you won’t see anywhere else! A bigger, better and BRIGHTER Safari Lights experience awaits you! Thousands more twinkling lights, ...
Christmas Land With Polar Express at Niemi’s
Nov 22, 2024
to Dec 21, 2024
Niemi Family Farm
Experience the Magic of Christmas – Polar Express, Santa Claus, Bonfire, Smores, Christmas Market & Santa Land! Polar Express will bring you around the farm to meet the farm animals. Meet Santa in His workshop in the magical Christmas Land at Niemi’s Christmas Village in Mount Albert, Ontario. Santa spends ...
Santa's Village Muskoka Christmas
Nov 23, 2024
to Dec 23, 2024
Santa’s Village
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – in the most magical place in Muskoka! Once again, Santa and his Elves will be hosting a special Christmas Celebration here at Santa’s Village. Join us for an evening of Christmas Wonder – Walk the One Million Light Display, ride the ...
Burlington Festival of Lights
Nov 29, 2024
to Jan 8, 2025
Spencer Smith Park
Celebrating 29 Years of Holiday Magic The Festival of Lights illuminates Burlington’s waterfront through December to early January each year. Thousands of local residents and visitors from across the region, and beyond, have made it a seasonal tradition to wander through the park with family and friends to view the ...
Brooks Farms Festive Nights
Nov 29, 2024
to Dec 23, 2024
Brooks Farms
Festive Nights on the farm! Join us this Festive Season to take part in a magical evening of lights in our new enchanted forest! festive nights returns November 29th Magically Lit Christmas Forest Holiday Displays and Plenty of Photo Opportunities Live Music Featuring Local Musicians Bonfires and Marshmallow Roasting Elsa, ...
Winterfest Toronto
Nov 29, 2024
to Jan 5, 2025
Harbourfront Centre
Join us this festive season at Harbourfront Centre’s new holiday market, Winterfest Toronto, in partnership with Street Eats Market. Celebrate the spirit of the season with our 33-foot holiday tree: the centre piece in our Public Square. Enjoy sparkling lights, tasty food offerings, mulled wine, S’Mores, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind gifts and ...
Mississauga Festival of Trees
Dec 6, 2024
to Dec 8, 2024
Small Arms Inspection Building
Experience the magic of the Festival of Trees! The fourth-annual Mississauga Festival of Trees is a celebration of the winter season, art, food, and community. With twinkling canopies of seasonal lights, commissioned artist-created trees, artisan and culinary markets with local, handmade goods, workshops, live entertainment, and more. Join us to ...
Christkindl Market 2024
Dec 6, 2024
to Dec 7, 2024
Glencolton Farm
Join us at our 8th annual Christkindl Market for a Fabulous spread of traditional European sights, smells and fun There are activities for the children, music, artisan vendors and amazing European style foods and baking. Walk the candlelit pathways and warm up in the stable with hot apple cider Buy ...
Pingle's Red & Green Christmas Whobilation
Dec 7, 2024
to Dec 22, 2024
Pingle’s Farm Market
Come out to the farm this holiday season, where good ol’ fashioned Santa Claus meets the bad to the bone Grinch! For this year’s Christmas event, we’re opening up our BRAND NEW ANIMAL BARN! Enjoy a short walk through the farm, then mingle with the farm animals & capture that ...
Wye Marsh Winter Open House
Dec 21, 2024
to Dec 21, 2024
Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
Welcome Winter at Wye Marsh! Join us to welcome in the winter season at Wye Marsh on Saturday, December 21, 2024. Winter Open House Features: Bannock Roasting Raptor Selfies Nature Craft Guided Discovery Hike ~ Animal Tracking Feature Creature Guided Discovery Hike ~ Winter Trees Raptor Selfies Trumpeter Swan Viewing ...
Winterlit
Dec 29, 2024
to Feb 17, 2025
Mountsberg Conservation Area
Add some whimsy to your winter nights and plan your visit to Mountsberg’s award-winning display of outdoor lights at Winterlit. Enjoy a moonlit stroll along two different trails featuring sustainably sourced, illuminated art installations. This unique evening out is a celebration of nature, winter, and community. Featuring: Two twinkling trails ...
Ignite the Night
Jan 11, 2025
to Mar 1, 2025
Terra Cotta Conservation Area
Explore a brightly lit 2-kilometre winter trail at Ignite the Night. Visitors can experience the beauty of Terra Cotta CA’s forest after dark on Saturday nights from January 4 until March 1, 2025. Ignite the Night lights up different parts of the Terra Cotta winter forest and interpretive signage guides ...
Huntsville SnowFest
Jan 24, 2025
to Mar 2, 2025
River Mill Park
This season-long celebration transforms the heart of Muskoka into a frosty playground for families seeking winter magic on ice. On select weekends, the River Mill Skating Rink comes alive with a unique blend of entertainment that’ll have you lacing up your skates faster than you can say “hot chocolate”! Featuring ...
The Fire & Ice Festival
Jan 25, 2025
to Jan 25, 2025
Downtown Bracebridge
Join us on January 25th, 2025 in Downtown Bracebridge. The “FIRE” features include performances by talented fire artists and a spectacular fireworks display. Warm up around the many fire pits throughout the festival and enjoy a classic Muskoka treat, on a open fire. The “ICE” features include our, interactive ...
Stratford WinterFest
Jan 25, 2025
to Jan 25, 2025
Stratford Upper Queens Park
Stratford’s Annual Winter Festival is packed with family fun activities and demonstrations. Blacksmith Demonstrations begin Zoltan the Adequate Show Ice Sculpting Face Painting Blacksmith Demonstrations Maple Taffy Great Canadian Lumberjack Show and more!
