Christmas in Ontario – 13 Festive Experiences for Families 2024
If you are looking for the perfect holiday adventure, Christmas in Ontario can be a wonderfully festive place.
Having grown up in Ontario, as well as having raised four kids there, I should know! Over the years, we have practically done it all.
Not only do we have some of the nicest small towns, but we also have some of the best Christmas experiences for families.
Whether you are looking for a drive-thru light display or a visit with Santa in his workshop, you will have no problem finding the perfect way to celebrate the season with your family.
13 Festive Experiences for Families That You Need to Try
With all these wonderful things to do during Christmas, where do you start?
We have put together a list with a variety of experiences, just to give you an idea of how much Ontario has to offer.
While there are many similar experiences available all over the province, these are just some ideas that have become quite popular over the years.
1. Take Part in the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Distillery Winter Village
Christmas would not be complete without a visit to one of the largest and most popular Christmas markets!
The Distillery Winter Village (formerly known as the Toronto Christmas Market), has been a staple for Torontonians for the last 12 years.
With more than 75 local merchants, restaurants, and cafés, as well as seasonal vendors and food cabins, you’re sure to find the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list!
We love to just stroll through the fully accessible, pedestrian-only market. I can’t get enough of the starlit canopies, the Grand Christmas Tree in Trinity Square, the holiday photo opportunities, as well as festive music throughout.
Don’t forget to grab a selfie with Santa while visiting the Market!
Santa and his team of elves will be roaming the cobblestone streets this year, rather than sitting in his workshop.
You will also find an awesome line-up of buskers and carolers making their way through the Market.
Tickets are required for the tree lighting event on November 17th after 4:00 pm, and on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays after 4:00 pm.
Tickets are also required between December 18th – December 31st after 4:00 pm.
At all other times, access is free of charge, and tickets are not required.
Where: Distillery Historic District, Toronto
When: November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024. Outdoor shopping cabins and food vendors will be open from 12 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Regular restaurants and shops will have their usual hours.
Cost: $15 plus HST per person (Kids 9 years and under are free)
More Info: www.thedistillerywintervillage.com
2. Explore Niagara’s Festival of Lights
The annual Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights is Canada’s largest free outdoor light festival.
Imagine Niagara Falls transformed into a winter wonderland, with three million lights worked into a variety of displays!
The lights decorate 8 km of the Niagara Parkway. They also illuminate Queen Victoria Park, the Dufferin Islands, and various tourist areas throughout Niagara Falls.
Clifton Hill, the Victoria Centre, Fallsview Boulevard, and Lundy’s Lane also play host to some amazing animated light installations and projections.
We like to admire the lights on foot, but you can also enjoy the festive lights from the warmth and comfort of your vehicle by driving the full route.
The Festival of Lights is something our family never gets tired of seeing year after year.
You can download a map of all the light installations so that your family won’t miss their favourites!
Where: Most illuminations are on the Niagara Parkway between Clifton Hill and Dufferin Islands
When: November 18, 2023 – January 7, 2024. Lights are on from 5 pm until midnight including holidays.
Cost: Free
More Info: www.wfol.com
3. Do Some Crafting at Mountsburg Christmas Town
Christmas in Ontario would not be complete, without a visit to the ever-popular Mountsburg Christmas Town.
This annual family-friendly event is hosted by Conservation Halton, and sells out every year!
In fact, if this attraction is on your list, you really need to watch out for when the tickets go on sale. Because trust me when I say, they usually sell out within a few days.
Mountsburg offers a scavenger hunt through the woods and Santa’s magic village, hot chocolate and cookies, and a Christmas craft.
Finish off the day with a virtual Christmas storytime inside Mrs. Claus’ cabin kitchen.
Reservations are required and can be booked online using the Conservation Halton reservation system.
Where: Mountsberg Conservation Park, 2259 Milburough Line, Campbellville, ON
When: November 16 to December 23, 2023, (evenings and weekends Tuesday-Sunday)
Cost: $35 for adults, $29 per child
More Info: www.conservationhalton.ca
4. Be Amazed by the Floats at the Toronto Santa Claus Parade
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade, also known as The Original Santa Claus Parade, is held annually on the third Sunday of November in downtown Toronto.
The Parade has been a central part of the holiday season in Toronto for 117 years. I have memories of seeing the parade as a young child.
Since its inception in 1905, the parade has grown considerably, bringing more than half a million people to the streets of Toronto, and millions more watching at home.
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is one of the largest parade productions in North America, and the oldest Santa Claus parade in the world.
This seasonal event is a family favourite and an important part of the fabric of Toronto’s community.
🎅🏻 Fun Fact: In the 1913 Santa Claus Parade, Eaton’s department store arranged for Santa to be pulled by live reindeer, which had been imported from Labrador, Canada specifically for the Parade!
Nowadays, you can easily find approximately 30 floats, 20 bands, and of course Santa along the 5.6-kilometre (3.5-mile) route.
The parade route spans from Christie Pits along Bloor Street West, south on Avenue Road/Queen’s Park Crescent/University Avenue to Front Street West, and east along Front Street to St. Lawrence Market.
I recommend arriving early, especially if you have younger kids. The parade route fills up pretty quickly, so you want to make sure to get front-row seats!
We would also recommend bringing extra blankets, camp chairs and snacks for the kids, as it does tend to be a long day.
Where: Downtown Toronto.
When: November 26th, 2023 at 12:30 PM.
Cost: Free
More Info: www.thesantaclausparade.com
5. Stroll Through a Small Town During the Christmas Season
Ontario is filled with a ton of gorgeous small towns that are just waiting to be explored.
And once the holiday season rolls around, these towns are transformed into something truly spectacular to see!
Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of those places! Normally picturesque and quite popular with tourists, Christmas transforms this town into a picture-perfect wonderland that would rival any Hallmark movie set!
Stroll through town, visit the many unique shops (including ‘Just Christmas‘ the Christmas store!), stay in a decked-out Vintage Hotel, grab some local goodies from a roadside stand, enjoy a delicious meal, or go for a horse-drawn carriage ride.
We love visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake, but seeing it all decked out at Christmas is extra special. Not to mention, we even got to meet Santa during our last visit. He was seated outside the Christmas store talking with the kids and taking family photos.
You really can’t go wrong! There are so many family-friendly things to do and events to attend in Niagara-on-the-Lake during the holiday season!
Where: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
When: Most of the retail shops are open from about 10 am to 6 pm
Cost: Check the various websites for cost.
More Info: www.niagaraonthelake.com
6. Experience the Magic of Christmas at Casa Loma
Experience the magic of the season at Casa Loma’s self-guided Holiday Lights Tour.
Stroll through the gardens and tunnels of the property, while enjoying the spectacular decorations and outdoor lighting displays at your own pace.
The entrance for the Holiday Lights Tour is on the southwest corner of the property at Davenport Rd. and Walmer Rd.
Keep in mind, that this event is primarily outdoors and requires walking approximately 2 kilometres, including various sets of stairs.
Where: Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, Ontario
When: December 1st, 2023 – January 8th, 2024, 5 pm – 10 pm (select dates)
Cost: $45 – $55
More Info: www.casaloma.ca
7. Enjoy WinterFest at Canada’s Wonderland
WinterFest is when Canada’s Wonderland transforms into a magical winter wonderland.
This immersive, family-friendly holiday event is a one-of-a-kind experience. Our family has had a blast going to this event.
Not only do they have ice-skating in front of the iconic mountain, but there is also a nightly Christmas tree lighting ceremony, live holiday shows, strolling performers, select family rides, and interactive holiday attractions like cookie decorating with Mr. Claus or writing letters to Santa at the North Pole Post Office.
Enjoy festive food, visit with Santa, take part in Christmas crafts, or shop for seasonal merchandise. Make sure that you try the festive funnel cake! It was dee-lish!
There are tons of things to do for the whole family! While the kids enjoyed taking in all the rides, I preferred just to admire the festive light displays with my feet firmly planted on the ground.
Where: 1 Canada’s Wonderland Dr., Vaughan, ON
When: November 17, 2023 to January 6, 2024
Cost: $29.99 per daily ticket
More Info: www.canadaswonderland.com
8. Attend a Performance of The Nutcracker Ballet
Ballet companies all over the world perform The Nutcracker during the holiday season.
Each performance has a special take on Marius Petipa’s beloved classic.
The National Ballet of Canada has one of the finest performances of The Nutcracker. This is a definite must when experiencing Christmas in Ontario.
With its non-stop dancing and magnificent sets and costumes, I always find The Nutcracker to be an unforgettable and magical experience for the whole family.
Where: Four Seasons Centre – 145 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
When: December 8th until December 30th, 2023.
Cost: $55 – $375
More Info: www.national.ballet.ca
9. Holidays at illumi
If you love Holiday light displays, then head to illumi Mississauga for one of the largest light, sound, and multimedia shows on the planet.
At illumi’s A Dazzling World of Lights, you will feel like you stepped straight into a storybook, with 14 magical universes to explore including the new Holiday Universe.
From snowmen to candy canes, reindeer, giant snowflakes, and more, you will watch as more than 20 million brilliant LED lights transform the night sky.
As you explore illumi’s 600,000-square-foot site, enjoy delicious holiday-inspired treats, a red carpet, holiday tunes, and a magical walk under the stars.
Where: 7174 Derry Crest Dr., Mississauga, ON
When: November 24, 2023, To January 8, 2024
Cost: $14.95 to $34.95 per person
Website: mississauga.illumi.com
10. Enjoy a Unique Outdoor Ice Skating Experience
During the winter months, the reflecting pool at Nathan Phillips Square becomes one of the most popular and largest outdoor skating rinks in the city.
This rink has been a quintessential Toronto experience for generations. My dad used to take my sister and me ice skating at Nathan Phillips Square on Christmas Eve when we were kids.
Located right outside Toronto’s City Hall, the rink has a unique urban backdrop of sparkling lights and a large holiday tree.
It truly is a magical holiday experience!
The rink is extremely family-friendly, with a change room facility, public washrooms, and skate rentals available. In fact, we have taken our kids skating there many times.
And the best part is, that admission to the rink is free.
Where: 100 Queen St W, Toronto
When: November 2023 – March 2024. Hours: Daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
Cost: Free
Website: www.toronto.ca
11. Go for a Wagon Ride at Downey’s Farm
Head over to Downey’s Farm this season to see Santa and his Elves!
Christmas at the Farm is an outdoor experience perfect for families with younger children.
Enjoy a wagon ride scavenger hunt, visit with the farm animals or warm up by the fire with a hot chocolate and cookie.
Then round out your day with a visit to the Elves Workshop as well as the Reindeer Flight School.
Of course, your experience at Downey’s Farm would not be complete without a visit with Santa!
Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Timed visits will be approximately 60 to 75 minutes in length.
Where: Downey’s Farm Market, 13682 Heart Lake Road (north of Brampton)
When: November 25 to December 17, 2023. Check the website for time slots available.
Cost: $23.95 per person + HST
More Info: www.downeysfarm.com
12. Elf at the Zoo!
Do you have a mischievous elf that visits your home around Christmas? If so, head to the Toronto Zoo’s Front Courtyard where the kids can meet the beloved Elf on the Shelf!
Come and spend time with this iconic holiday character in a festive setting. Elf on the Shelf will be posing for photos and spreading holiday cheer, so bring the whole family for a fun and unique experience.
Where: 2000 Meadowvale Road (north of Highway 401). Accessible by car and public transit.
When: November 25th and 26th, 2023
Cost: Free with Zoo admission
More Info: www.torontozoo.com
13. Head to the North Pole on Santa’s Countryside Ride
A Christmas in Ontario is not complete without Santa’s Countryside Ride! This was one of my all-time favourite Christmas activities to do when the kids were younger.
Hop onboard one of Waterloo Central Railway’s historic steam and diesel-electric locomotives at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Station. And let it whisk you and your family away to the North Pole!
As the train heads north, sit back and enjoy contests, music, and a narrated presentation by a talented group of professional actors.
Once you arrive at the North Pole, Santa will come aboard so that he can spend some wonderful time with all of the families on the train.
The Waterloo Central railway offers both daytime Santa’s Countryside Ride and evening Santa’s Countryside Ride – The Christmas Lights Experience, where holiday magic comes to life at night
Of course, no trip to the North Pole is complete without wearing your Christmas attire and bringing your letters to Santa.
Where: St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Station, 330 Farmers Market Road, Waterloo, Ontario
When: Santa’s Countryside Ride: Saturdays, Sundays, November 25 to December 23, 2023 – 10 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm
Cost: Coach Seats • Adults Ages 12+: $29.99 – $54,99
More Info: www.WaterlooCentralRailway.com
Final Thoughts on All the Festive Things to Do During Christmas in Ontario
Christmas in Ontario can be a wonderful time for families.
With so many seasonal and fun things to do, it won’t be difficult to fill in your social calendar!
Try new experiences, make some memories, and share in the magic of the season.
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