By: Nicki Reid, Bilingual BA
With the holidays around the corner, the city and surrounding areas are hustling and bustling with a variety of events and activities for everyone’s entertainment. Continue reading to discover events for your family to attend.
What: A new winter wonderland experience with an array of activities from winter express train rides, outdoor ice skating, marshmallow fire pits, cookie decorating, and other things to explore.
When: Friday November 29, 2024 - Sunday, January 5, 2025. Fridays from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Saturdays from 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM, and Sundays from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Where: Harbourfront Centre located at 235 Queens Quay West Toronto, ON M5J 2G8.
Cost: Free admission; click here for more info.
What: An outdoor event with various activities for everyone to experience whether you're making your own reindeer food, listening to an elf story time, seeing Santa Claus, etc.
When: Saturday, November 30, 2024 - Sunday, December 22, 2024 until 4:00 PM.
Where: Downey’s Farm located at 13682 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon, ON L7C 2J5.
Cost: $21.99 + H.S.T. per person ages 2 years - 92 years. Children 23 months and under are free. Purchase your tickets here.
What: An event held at Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge and Dundas Square) with this year’s theme being: sleighing back into town. There will be holiday lights, games, rides, carnival treats, and (musical) entertainment.
When: Thursday, December 5, 2024 to Sunday, December 22, 2024. Please note that Friday, December 13 to Sunday, December 15 is family weekend where you can expect, “special family-friendly activities, live performances… discounted rides, games, food, and beverages.”
Hours: Mondays to Fridays from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Where: Sankofa Square (formerly known as Yonge and Dundas Square) located at 1 Dundas St E. Toronto, ON M5B 2R8.
Cost: See here for pricing.
What: A magical winter wonderland where you can experience an artisan marketplace, fireside lounge, holiday maze, Santa’s village, food trucks, and various attractions where you can have some hot chocolate and s'mores. There will also be a Lego Brickmas Pop-Up where you’ll build with legos. Note: this is a dog friendly event.
When: December 6 - 23 on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Fridays to Saturdays from 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM, and Sundays from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
The holiday maze opens at 4:00 PM everyday of the fair.
The Lego Brickmas Pop-Up is happening on December 13 - 15 and December 19 - 23.
Where: Mel Lastman Square located at 5100 Yonge Street, North York, ON M2N 5V7.
Cost: Admission is free but an advance donation to support Epilepsy Toronto is welcome. The cost for Holiday Maze is a $5 donation for Epilepsy Toronto. For more information and / or to donate, visit their website here.
What: Holiday Nights of Lights is an immersive walk-through experience…featuring more than 1.5 million LED lights animated and synchronized to everyone’s favourite Holiday tunes. This year’s event is reimagined making it “brighter, better, and more interactive than ever”.
There is plenty to do such as going to the Elf Sugar Factory where you’ll get to do fun activities such as decorate cookies and build gingerbread houses. You can also witness the enchanting light maze, go on rides, play games, enjoy the food trucks, to name a few things to experience.
Where: Upper Canada Mall located at 17600 Yonge St. Newmarket, ON L3Y 4Z1.
When: Saturday, December 7, 2024 - Saturday, January 4, 2025 from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm and the latest you’ll be able to enter is 9:15 pm. Note that this event is open to pets on December 12, 15, 20, 26, 29, and January 3rd and is closed on Christmas Day (December 25).
Cost: While this is a paid event, you can get 20% off your tickets if you attend between Thursday, December 12 - Sunday, December, 15. Buy your tickets here.
What: An event where you can become Santa’s helper and make toys the old fashion way, you can also enjoy some hot cocoa, sweet treats, festive story telling, and make christmas art.
Where: The Village at Black Creek located at 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy, Toronto, ON M3J 2P3.
When: December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, and 23, 2024 from 12:00 pm - 4:00 PM.
Cost: Free for members, there’s a fee for non members. Visit here to purchase your tickets.
What: The AGA Khan Museum is hosting a family arts and craft event. This event is open to all ages.
When: Friday, December 27, 2024 - Sunday, December, 29 from 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm; Monday, December, 30, 2024 from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm; and Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - Sunday, January 5, 2024 from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Where: AGA Khan Museum located at 77 Wynford Dr, North York, ON M3C 1K1.
Cost: Free from Friday, December 27, 2024 - Monday, December, 30, 2024. Free with museum admission from Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - Sunday, January 5, 2025. See their website here for more information and to view their other holiday programs.
What: An evening celebrating Kwanzaa by crafting, enjoying delicious food, supporting vendors, and participating in the various planned entertainment and activities.
When: Friday December 27, 2024 from 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM.
Where: Ajax Community Centre located at 75 Centennial Rd, Ajax, ON L1S 4S4.
What: An evening to embrace the principles of Kwanzaa and honor African heritage by experiencing traditional food, cultural performances, and engage in meaningful discussion.
When: Saturday December 28, 2024 from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Where: Milliken Mills Community Centre located at 7600 Kennedy Road Markham, ON L3R 9S5.
Cost: Free to attend; visit here to register.
In closing, I encourage you to check in with your local libraries and recreation centers to look at which programs they’re running over the holidays. They may have drop in programs or even space left in other programs.
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday season, mama.
Nicki Reid, Bilingual BA
Certified Transformational Coach | Certified Essential Oil Specialist |
Certified ARōMATOUCH Practitioner | 200 YTT , Wholesome Mind Health Coaching