Explore Ontario’s Most Magical Christmas Markets and Celebrate the True Spirit of the Season
Ontario’s Christmas markets are a dazzling celebration of the holiday season, where timeless traditions blend with modern festivity. These events offer something for everyone, from Toronto’s vibrant Distillery Winter Village to the cozy charm of Kitchener-Waterloo’s Christkindl Market. Visitors can shop for unique gifts, enjoy delicious seasonal treats, and bask in the glow of festive lights. Yet, amid the joy and excitement, it’s important to remember the heart of Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ, a symbol of hope, love, and light that guides the season’s celebrations.
Christmas Markets in Ontario
Distillery Winter Village
Location: Distillery Historic District, Toronto, ON
Dates: November 13 – December 21, 2025
Attendees: Approximately 500,000 over season
Theme: European-style Christmas Market
The Distillery Winter Village transforms Toronto’s best-preserved Victorian industrial architecture into the city’s premier holiday destination, where 47 heritage buildings constructed between 1859 and 1927 provide a backdrop for a Christmas market that balances authentic European tradition with contemporary Toronto sophistication.
Advance tickets required, with General Admission at $15, Flex tickets at $18 allowing entry within a four-hour window, Express at $30 for skip-the-line access, and Combo at $39.50 including skating at the adjacent outdoor rink. Children under 9 enter free for most ticket types, acknowledging that premium holiday experiences shouldn’t price families out entirely.
The cobblestone streets that once accommodated horse-drawn carts delivering grain to Gooderham and Worts Distillery now host over 50 wooden vendor chalets displaying artisan goods ranging from hand-blown glass ornaments to alpaca wool scarves, small-batch preserves to contemporary jewelry incorporating Lake Ontario beach glass. The towering Christmas tree anchoring the square achieves Instagram-worthy status through sheer scale and strategic lighting.
Food vendors serve beyond simple hot chocolate, offering preparations like Tartistry’s gluten-free beef bourguignon served in portable containers alongside their cookies and tarts, while mulled wine and spiked cider flow from stalls where servers work in shifts, maintaining cheerfulness despite the December cold.
Live entertainment spans choirs performing on weekends, street performers working crowds for tips, and scheduled concerts at the outdoor stage, where amplified music competes with vendor calls and crowd noise. Spirit of York Distillery Co. operates year-round within the district, offering craft spirits distilled on-site, while Cluny Bistro provides French-inspired dining in an exposed-brick dining room, where reservations become essential during market season.
Toronto Botanical Garden Holiday Market
Venue: Toronto Botanical Garden
Location: 777 Lawrence Ave E., Toronto, ON
Dates: November 22-24 & December 13-15, 2025
Ticket Prices: Free admission
This boutique holiday market blends nature with festive cheer. Over 60 local vendors showcase handmade goods, while outdoor campfires and winter workshops create an intimate holiday experience. Visitors can also enjoy live music and seasonal treats surrounded by the beautiful botanical gardens.
Make your trip complete with a visit to Edwards Gardens or lunch at the nearby Organic Garage, known for its fresh and sustainable offerings.
One of a Kind Winter Show
Venue: Enercare Centre
Location: 100 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto, ON
Dates: November 21 – December 1, 2025
Ticket Prices: $20 for general admission
As one of the largest artisan markets in North America, the One of a Kind Winter Show boasts over 650 vendors offering handmade crafts, fashion, and gourmet goods. Highlights include artisan competitions, live demonstrations, and fashion shows, making it a must-visit for unique holiday shopping.
While at Exhibition Place, consider dining at The Good Son for wood-fired pizza or exploring nearby Liberty Village for additional shopping and entertainment.
Kitchener-Waterloo Christkindl Market
Location: Kitchener City Hall, Kitchener, ON
Dates: December 4-7, 2025
Attendees: Approximately 30,000
Theme: Traditional German Christmas Market
The Kitchener-Waterloo Christkindl Market brings authentic German Christmas tradition to Ontario’s Mennonite heartland, where the region’s substantial German heritage dating to Pennsylvania Dutch immigration in the 1800s creates a natural foundation for celebration honoring Bavarian and Franconian market customs. Free admission reflects a community orientation rather than tourist extraction, though vendor prices reflect artisan quality and imported German goods that command a premium over mass-produced alternatives.
Bratwurst and schnitzel emerge from vendor kitchens operated by organizations like Concordia Club, maintaining German cultural traditions year-round, while glühwein served in ceramic mugs requiring deposits encourages slower consumption and reduces disposable cup waste. Handcrafted ornaments include traditional wooden nutcrackers and smokers imported from Germany’s Erzgebirge mountain region, where such crafts originated centuries ago, alongside contemporary designs from local artisans adapting traditional techniques. The Christkindl Parade, featuring the market’s namesake angel character, draws families to downtown streets normally quiet after business hours.
Carolers perform in German and English, their repertoire spanning traditional hymns like “Stille Nacht” to contemporary holiday standards, while scheduled entertainment includes alpine horn demonstrations and traditional folk dancing. Smile Tiger Coffee Roasters nearby provides cafe refuge for those seeking warmth between market browsing sessions, while Concordia Club’s restaurant serves authentic German meals in a dining room decorated with Old World touches that transport diners beyond strip mall surroundings. The market’s four-day duration concentrated around the first December weekend creates festival intensity that single-day events cannot achieve while remaining manageable for volunteers staffing vendor booths.
London Holly Jolly Holiday Market
Venue: Covent Garden Market
Location: London, ON
Dates: Weekends, November 29 – December 22, 2024
Ticket Prices: Free admission
The Holly Jolly Holiday Market at London’s Covent Garden Market in the heart of the city’s downtown is a festive highlight over three weekends in December 2024: December 6–8, 13–15, and 20–22. This family-friendly market features a variety of local vendors offering unique holiday gifts, artisan crafts, and festive treats. Shoppers can find everything from handmade decorations to one-of-a-kind presents while enjoying the cozy, holiday atmosphere.
In addition to shopping, the market offers a variety of seasonal activities to engage visitors of all ages. Carolers fill the air with classic holiday tunes, creating a warm and nostalgic ambiance. Kids can participate in interactive workshops to craft their decorations or write letters to Santa. Horse-and-carriage rides offer a charming way to explore the market area, while photo opportunities with Santa add to the festive fun.
The event also emphasizes community spirit by showcasing local talent, including live performances by musicians and entertainers. Food vendors serve seasonal favorites such as hot chocolate, cider, and holiday pastries, allowing guests to savor the season’s flavors while browsing. Conveniently located in downtown London, the indoor venue ensures visitors can enjoy the market regardless of the weather.
Ottawa Christmas Market
Location: Lansdowne Park, Ottawa, ON
Dates: November 23 – December 22, 2025 (weekends)
Attendees: Approximately 50,000 over the season
Theme: Local Artisan Market
The Ottawa Christmas Market occupies Lansdowne Park’s historic grounds, where the Aberdeen Pavilion’s 1898 Victorian exhibition hall provides architectural gravitas that modern event spaces lack. Free admission emphasizes accessibility over exclusivity, with local artisans displaying goods that span hand-knit woolens perfect for Ontario winters to maple syrup products showcasing regional agricultural heritage. The market’s weekend-only operation throughout late November and December allows vendors maintaining full-time businesses to participate without requiring a month-long commitment.
Food vendors serve preparations that acknowledge Ottawa’s position as the national capital with a substantial francophone population: poutine, achieving proper Québécois standards with fresh cheese curds and rich gravy, tourtière meat pies maintaining French-Canadian holiday tradition, and maple taffy poured onto snow, creating instant candy that delights children unfamiliar with this simple chemistry. Live music spans local performers grateful for paying gigs during the slower winter season, their acoustic sets providing a soundtrack without overwhelming conversation or creating noise fatigue during extended market visits.
The Rideau Canal, typically frozen into the world’s longest skating rink by late December, lies within walking distance, offering additional winter activity for those willing to bring or rent skates. Chateau Laurier’s copper turrets visible from market grounds provide a landmark for navigation and an upscale dining option for those seeking a refined meal after market browsing.
Christmas Theme Park
Bala’s Trek to Bethlehem (Update: canceled due to snow)
Venue: Bala Community Centre
Location: 1008 Maple Avenue, Bala, ON
Dates: December 7, 202,5 starting at 6pm
Ticket Prices: Free admission
Theme: Biblical Reenactment and Community Celebration
Bala’s Trek to Bethlehem transforms this Muskoka village into a living nativity scene where volunteer actors guide visitors through a recreated biblical village celebrating Christianity’s foundational story.
Operating since 1993 and held annually on December’s first Saturday, this entirely volunteer-run production features locals portraying Mary and Joseph, shepherds tending actual sheep, Roman soldiers in period costume, the Magi bearing gifts, and angel choirs performing under December stars. The outdoor walking tour begins with Christmas carols and concludes at the “Jerusalem Inn” where hot chocolate and cookies provide warmth after the half-hour journey through the first Christmas narrative.
Free admission reflects the community’s mission rather than commercial extraction. However, organizers request that you leave your pets at home, given the live animals and the outdoor setting that require focus on path navigation through December darkness lit only by torches and starlight.
Santa’s Village
Location: Bracebridge, ON
Dates: November 24 – December 16, 2025 (weekends)
Attendees: Approximately 15,000
Theme: Christmas Theme Park
Santa’s Village transforms from summer amusement park into winter wonderland where twinkling lights outline ride structures and pathways, meet-and-greets with Santa himself provide the photo opportunities that justify admission fees of $20 adults and $15 children, and holiday-themed activities like cookie decorating and elf-guided tours create programming beyond simple Santa visit.
The park’s position in Muskoka cottage country means many visitors combine Christmas market experience with a weekend at family cottages, those fortunate enough to own or rent winter-accessible properties discovering that frozen lakes and snow-covered forests provide their own entertainment beyond organized activities.
Holiday rides adapted from summer operations include train rides through light displays, carousel rotations accompanied by Christmas music, and gentle attractions suitable for young children who form the primary demographic. The gift shop stocks ornaments, plush toys, and candy, creating a revenue stream that supplements admission fees, while concession stands serve hot chocolate and seasonal treats that taste better in the cold outdoor air than they would in a climate-controlled indoor venue.
Christmas Light Shows and Exhibits
Huntsville Festival of Lights
Location: Downtown Huntsville, ON
Dates: November 24, 2025 – January 6, 2026
Attendees: Approximately 20,000 over the season
Theme: Community Light Display and Market
The Huntsville Festival of Lights illuminates this Muskoka town’s historic Main Street with displays that grow more elaborate annually as businesses and community organizations compete for attention and civic pride.
Free admission reflects community orientation, with local vendors operating booths on select weekends selling crafts, baked goods, and seasonal items while live music performances draw crowds to an outdoor stage where performers work abbreviated sets acknowledging that the December cold limits audience patience regardless of entertainment quality.
The town’s position as a gateway to Algonquin Provincial Park means outdoor recreation culture runs deep, with shops like Algonquin Outfitters outfitting winter camping expeditions and cross-country skiing adventures into the park’s vast interior. Restaurants like 3 Guys and a Stove serve elevated comfort food in a cozy dining room where reservations become essential during peak festival weekends, while Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. provides a cafe refuge where locals and visitors alike escape the cold between browsing sessions on Main Street.
The festival’s extended duration through early January acknowledges that the holiday season doesn’t end on December 25th for many families, particularly those with children out of school through the first week of January and cottagers extending Christmas visits into New Year’s celebrations.
Cavalcade of Lights
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON
Dates: November 29, 2025 (single evening event)
Attendees: Approximately 50,000
Theme: Tree Lighting Ceremony and Concert
The Cavalcade of Lights marks Toronto’s official holiday season commencement with an illumination ceremony for the City Hall Christmas tree, accompanied by a fireworks display that lights the downtown sky and live musical performances on an outdoor stage, where performers work through the cold with professionalism that falters only during sound checks when technical issues compound weather challenges. Free admission creates accessibility that premium markets cannot match, though crowd density at this single-evening event tests tolerance for humanity pressed close in winter coats.
Over 300,000 LED lights illuminate Nathan Phillips Square and surrounding areas, their energy efficiency enabling spectacular displays without guilt about electricity consumption or the climate impact of older incandescent installations. The skating rink beneath Toronto’s iconic TORONTO sign offers activity beyond passive watching, though rental lines are long and those bringing their own skates gain a significant time advantage. The Eaton Centre mall across Queen Street offers late-night shopping, while restaurants like The Keg Mansion and Bannock provide sit-down dining for those willing to make reservations weeks in advance.
Lights On Stratford – Winter Festival of Lights
Venue: Downtown Stratford
Location: Stratford, ON
Dates: December 13, 2025 – January 19, 2026 (Thursdays – Sundays)
Ticket Prices: Free admission
Now in its fifth year, Lights On Stratford transforms the city’s heritage downtown and park system with luminous art and interactive light installations. The town invites visitors to experience Stratford in a new light, with displays that blend historical charm with modern artistry.
Visitors can explore local eateries like The Red Rabbit, known for its farm-to-table menu, or Balzac’s Coffee Roasters for a cozy café experience. The Stratford Festival Theatre, renowned for its performances, is also nearby for those interested in the arts.
Festival of Northern Lights
Venue: Harrison Park and Downtown River Precinct
Location: Owen Sound, ON
Dates: November 16, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Ticket Prices: Free admission
The Festival of Northern Lights illuminates Owen Sound with nearly 400 displays and kilometers of lights, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the city. Visitors can stroll through Harrison Park and the Downtown River Precinct to enjoy the vibrant displays, a tradition since 1987.
Nearby dining options include The Curry House for Indian cuisine and The European Bakery Café for lighter fare. The Tom Thomson Art Gallery offers cultural enrichment with its exhibits.
Burlington Festival of Lights
Venue: Spencer Smith Park
Location: Burlington, ON
Dates: December 1, 2025, to early January 2026
Ticket Prices: Free admission
From December 1, 2025, to early January 2026, Spencer Smith Park in Burlington becomes a luminous display of festive light sculptures. Alongside the enchanting lights, visitors can enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, and holiday workshops. If you’re looking for something else to do in Burlington while you’re there, visit the IKEA to warm up with some Swedish meatballs, or take your family to the Royal Botanical Gardens to experience more holiday lights and Christmas magic.
Winter Festivals in the New Year
Niagara Icewine Festival
Venue: Various wineries and outdoor venues
Location: Niagara Region, ON
Dates: January 10 – 26, 2026 (weekends)
Ticket Prices: Varies by event; Discovery Passes available for $45
The Niagara Icewine Festival transforms the region into a wintry wonderland, celebrating Ontario’s renowned Icewine. Attendees can indulge in wine and culinary pairings at over 40 wineries, participate in the glamorous Niagara Icewine Gala, and enjoy vibrant outdoor street festivals featuring live entertainment and ice sculptures.
While in the area, dine at Treadwell Cuisine in Niagara-on-the-Lake for farm-to-table dishes, or visit the Shaw Festival Theatre for world-class performances. The nearby Niagara Falls offers breathtaking views, and the Winter Festival of Lights enhances the festive atmosphere.
Winter Festival of Lights
Venue: Niagara Parkway, Dufferin Islands, and surrounding areas
Location: Niagara Falls, ON
Dates: November 16, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Ticket Prices: Free admission; donations appreciated
As Canada’s largest illumination festival, the Winter Festival of Lights features over 3 million lights and 75+ spectacular displays along an 8-kilometre route. Visitors can experience themed illumination areas, interactive exhibits, and weekly fireworks, making it a must-visit during the holiday season.
After exploring the lights, enjoy dinner at AG Inspired Cuisine, known for its locally sourced menu, or visit the Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse for a tropical retreat amidst the winter chill.
Winterlude
Venue: Confederation Park, Jacques Cartier Park, Rideau Canal Skateway
Location: Ottawa, ON, and Gatineau, QC
Dates: January 31 – February 17, 2026
Ticket Prices: Free admission; some activities may have fees
Winterlude is an annual festival celebrating Canadian winter traditions. Highlights include skating on the world’s largest rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway, exploring the Snowflake Kingdom’s ice slides and snow sculptures, and admiring intricate ice carvings at Crystal Garden. Warm up with a visit to ByWard Market for local crafts and eateries like Play Food & Wine, or take a tour of the historic Parliament Hill.
Winterloo
Venue: Waterloo Public Square and surrounding areas
Location: Waterloo, ON
Dates: January 27, 2026 (12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Ticket Prices: Free admission
Formerly known as the Waterloo Ice Dogs Festival, Winterloo offers winter-themed attractions for all ages, including ice carving competitions, free public skating, and food trucks. Nearby, visit the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery for unique exhibits or enjoy a meal at The Bauer Kitchen, offering contemporary comfort food.
The Light of Christmas Shines Bright
As you explore Ontario’s Christmas markets, remember that the holiday season is more than sparkling lights and festive music. It’s a time to reflect on the miracle of Jesus’ birth and the love and hope it brings to the world. Whether you’re savoring mulled cider, marveling at a towering Christmas tree, or enjoying moments with loved ones, let the true meaning of Christmas inspire your heart. Ontario’s markets provide the perfect setting to celebrate the season while embracing the joy and peace that Jesus’ birth represents.
