We did it! We made it to the end of another uh, interesting year and our reward is a number of awesome, and often sparkly, family-friendly events happening in and around Toronto in December. Below we round up 16 of those events. While the bulk of them have a festive and often Christmas-y theme, we have included a few ideas that have nothing to do with the holidays. We’ve also included whether Santa will be making an appearance at the listed events since we know that’s a crucial question this time of year.
We hope that your family can wrap this year off with smiles on your faces and laughter on your lips! And don’t delay on getting your real Christmas tree in Toronto if you’re planning on that this year. And outsource your Christmas dinner too!
Family Fun Things to Do in Toronto in December
Holiday Hills
STACKT Market, 28 Bathurst St., Toronto
Now until December 31
Is Santa There: Several inflatable Santas will be there
Nothing says Christmas like a trip on a Ferris wheel! Okay, fine, Ferris wheels have very little with the holiday season but so what, they’re fun and your family can ride one this December over at the STACKT Market. You can also try your hand at playing crokicurl, a winter spot that combines curling with crokinole; enjoy lots of yummy food and take in live performances and various festive activities. Access to Holiday Hills is free but certain activities, such as that Ferris wheel, do have an additional cost.
Snow White
Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front St. E., Toronto
November 26 to January 7
Is Santa There: No
Described as “a playful re-imagining” of the classic tale of Snow White, this theatrical performance features only two very talented actors taking on the roles of 14 characters! While the whole family will enjoy this show, it’s particularly ideal for kids in grades one through six. The run time is around 85 minutes and show times include such kid-friendly times as 1pm and 2pm. “Relaxed” performances are also available on select dates, offering a more casual atmosphere. Tickets start as low as $10.
Interactive Storytime Experience with Santa
Gerrard Square, 1000 Gerrard St E., Toronto
November 25 to December 23
Is Santa There: Yes!
Here’s a new Santa experience that combines a visit with St. Nick with a holiday story. The 45-minute-long experience also includes the chance to take photos with Santa (on your camera) and to mail a letter to the North Pole. All this fun will be set against a festive backdrop that will include Christmas trees, snowmen and even reindeer. All time slots must be pre-registered, and tickets start at around $25 per kid (adults are free).
Journey Into Enchantment
November 25 to December 31
Richmond Hill GO Station, 95 Newkirk Rd, Richmond Hill & Meadowvale GO Station, 6845 Millcreek Drive, Mississauga
Is Santa There: Not in person
Returning for another year, Journey Into Enchantment is an outdoor light show that takes place at two locations. Each spot features over two million lights, including interactive 3D displays, spread along a two-kilometer path. While this is primarily a drive-through event, certain dates and times are available as a walk-through experience. In order to better control the flow of traffic, all tickets must be pre-purchased online and for a specific time slot. Pricing for the drive-through experience is charged per vehicle (with a maximum of eight people) and runs around $25 per car. Meanwhile the walk-through experience starts at $10.
Magical Christmas
November 25 to December 23
Kortright Centre, 9550 Pine Valley Dr., Woodbridge
Is Santa There: Yes!
Looking for a festive event that incorporates nature? Then pack up the car and head over to the Kortright Centre. Its Christmas-themed experience involves a wagon ride, crafts, and plenty of time in Kortright s scenic woods. There’s even a meeting with Santa in his cabin. This three-hour event runs 5pm to 9pm on Wednesdays to Saturdays and 3pm to 8pm to Sundays. Tickets must be pre-purchased and start at $26, with kids under one being free.
Glow
Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, 1020 Martin Grove Rd., Toronto
November 30 to December 31
Is Santa There: Yes!
As its tagline, “Canadas Premium Indoor Christmas Festival,” boldly states, this attraction aims to go above and beyond your usual holiday festival. First there are the lights, which promise to take you on an enchanted tour of the world with displays highlighting six countries. Then there’s the wide range of tasty food and drink items, as well as a local makers’ market where
you can grab gifts or maybe something for your family. And let’s not forget Glen the Glow-comotive, a light-encrusted train that your kids will love. There’s also a variety of other features including live entertainment and making cookies with Ms. Claus. Tickets start at $18, with a weekday family pass costing $86.
Northern Lights
Grand Bizarre, 15 Saskatchewan Rd., Toronto
December 1 to January 8
Is Santa There: Yes!
The holiday spirit takes over the grounds of the Grand Bizarre at Exhibition Place to create over 80,000 square feet of festive magic. There you’ll find “larger-than-life décor” including a 30-foot-long light tunnel, a 25-foot-tall Christmas tree and a “boreal forest.” There will also be Santa’s workshop, games and all kinds of drinks and tasty treats that will appeal to both kids and adults. Tickets start at around $18, and kids two and under are free, with a portion of sales being donated to SickKids.
Christmas at the Castle & Holiday Lights
Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto
December 2 to December 31
Is Santa There: Yes, at the Christmas at the Castle event
Toronto’s only castle plays host to two different festive events this holiday season. Christmas at the Castle is Casa Loma’s indoor event and will let you and your family explore this historic home in all its holiday splendor (there’s even a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree). Your kids will also have the opportunity to visit Santa’s workshop, meet other holiday mascots and take in live performances.
Holiday Lights is an outdoor-only event that takes place in the evening, once it’s dark enough for Casa Loma to show off its thousands of beautiful lights. Take a roughly two-kilometer-long self-guided walk that also includes love performances. Note that strollers are not allowed on this walk. Both events require the purchase of timed tickets, which start at $45 for online purchases (kids three and under are free).
Peter’s Final Flight
Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St., Toronto
December 2 to January 7
Is Santa There: No
For over 25 years, Ross Petty’s holiday pantomimes have entertained local families. Now these productions are coming to an end but not without one last music and laughter-filled show. The adeptly named Peter’s Final Flight re-imagines the story of Peter Pan in a clever way that will entertain patrons of all ages. This production, which features both afternoon and early evening shows, is best suited for children who are comfortable staying seated for at least 45 minutes. Tickets start as low as $32 and if you’re interested, be sure to get your tickets ASAP as some dates have already sold out.
Santa at the Village
December 3 to December 18, weekends only
Will Santa be there: Yes
Toronto’s historic village is eager to welcome your family into its old-timey holiday festivities. Your kids can attend elf school, try their hands at toy making and participate in the Jingle Bell Jam Session. And of course, there will be reindeer (carnival) games. Tickets start at $18, and kids under three are free.
Elf In Concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., Toronto
December 9 & 10
Is Santa There: No
Over the last few years, Elf has shown itself to be a timeless holiday movie so it’s no surprise that the Toronto Symphony Orchestra has decided to showcase the film as the December entry in its Film with Live Orchestra series. While Buddy the elf takes on New York on a giant screen, the TSO will perform the movie’s upbeat score. Fun and filled with visual interest, this is a kid-friendly experience, so long as your child is okay with staying seated for at least 40 minutes. A total of three performances are scheduled, two at 7:30pm and one at 2pm. Tickets start at around $104 per seat.
A Very Frozen Grinchmas!
December 10
Kidz At Play, 6991 Millcreek Dr. #Unit 2, Mississauga
Is Santa There: Yes!
Indoor playground Kidz at Play is the setting for this holiday event that features a meet-and-greet with the one and only Grinch! Kids will get the chance to party with Frozen’s Anna, Elsa, and Olaf, enjoy a hot cocoa station and pose for a photo with Santa (complete with a printed souvenir image). A 90-minute-long morning and afternoon time slot are available as is a VIP package that includes an extra hour of fun and a few other offerings including glitter face painting. Tickets start at $10 for toddlers and a general ticket for one adult and one child is $39.
Jurassic Quest
Enercare Centre, 1-Princes’ Blvd., Toronto
December 16 to 18
Is Santa There: No
Dino-loving children will flip over this festival of all things prehistoric! See life-size, realistic animatronics of dinosaurs and other creatures from long ago, including a 50-foot-long megalodon. There are also tons of hands-on activities, including crafts, dinosaur-themed bounce houses, and even ride-on dinosaurs. A standard ticket starts at $27.50 and there’s also an unlimited kid’s ticket that gives unlimited access to the rides, inflatables, and fossil dig.
WonderPhil Holiday Magic Show
Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St., Toronto
December 17 & December 18
Is Santa There: No
Toronto’s best known children’s magician is back at the Wychwood Barns for another series of shows filled with laughter, learning and of course magic. This brand-new production focuses on the holidays and touches on such appropriate topics as the North Pole, the Christmas spirit, and magical gifts. We hear that a few of WonderPhil’s puppet friends, including a certain sassy parrot, might also join in the fun. The December 17 show takes place at 10am while the December 18 production starts at 1pm. Tickets for both performances are $25 each.
Disney Animation Immersive Experience
Lighthouse Artspace, 1 Yonge St., Toronto
December 21 to March 19
Is Santa There: No
The magical world of Disney is the next theme to be projected onto the towering walls of the Lighthouse Artspace. Custom-designed moments will give you a new look at some of your favourite Disney films including Aladdin, Moana, Frozen, and more. And yes, of course there will be plenty of music, and singing along to those beloved Disney tracks is encouraged. Timed tickets start at $49 per person and family packs are available, which drop the starting price to $34.99. A couple of upgrade packages are also an option.
Winter Wonderland
Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd, Markham
December 23-January 8
Is Santa There: We don’t think so
There’s a little bit of everything that kids love at this mostly indoor event. Expect carnival rides, bouncy castles, live entertainment, ice sculptures and even animatronic dinosaurs. There will also be lots of tasty food. Admission, which includes unlimited rides, starts at $15. Kids under two are free and there’s also a family pack available, which covers two adults and two kids for $75.
Tagged under: December,Toronto in December,december in toronto,things to do in December
Category: events,attractions
