Things To Do in Toronto This Winter

The colder season is upon us, and Toronto is about to be decked out with festive cheer! In this article, we’ll share some of the most festive events happening this winter to help you make the most of the season. This winter you can look forward to twinkling lights, holiday markets, and fun events for the whole family. The best part? With 9 Workhaus locations placed conveniently throughout downtown, you’re never far from the action. From the signature events that define winter in Toronto, to the future-classics kicking off this year, you’re only ever steps away! So get ready to explore the best of what Toronto has to offer over the holiday season!

See the Holiday Lights:

Over the next few months, light installations will be opening up all around the city. Just south of our Dundas office, the Cavalcade of Lights returns to Nathan Phillips Square on November 30th. This yearly installation, which runs until January 7th, includes a giant Christmas tree and an array of other holiday lights. If you enjoy the tree lighting in the square, you can also swing by the Eaton Centre next door to see their multi-story Christmas tree. The iconic tree returned this month as part of CF Winterville. Swing by the mall at the turn of the hour on any afternoon from now until December 30th, you can catch one of their dazzling animated tree light shows.

The magic doesn’t stop there, though! There will be whole neighborhoods decked out in lights this year. The holiday shopping hotspot of Bloor-Yorkville will be beautifully illuminated with festive lighting through the end of December. Meanwhile, in Mississauga there’s a whole new world of holiday lights (20 million of them, actually!) to explore with Illumi. 

Finally, just a short drive away, Toronto’s renowned gothic castle will soon be lighting up for the season. From December 5th until January 4th, you’ll be able to take a Holiday lights tour of Casa Loma. The grounds will be decked out with spectacular lighting displays, live performances, and even a chance to bring the little ones by Santa’s workshop!

Visit Winter Festivals and Markets:

If holiday shopping is on your list, you’re in luck with all the winter markets opening up around the city. Holiday Fair in the Square will take over Mel Lastman Square, just south of our 2 Sheppard Ave space, from December 6th to 23rd. Elsewhere in the city, swing by the famed Stackt Market (the largest shipping container market in Canada) for Holiday Hills. From November 15th to December 29th, Stackt will become a winter wonderland featuring over 100 local vendors, entertainment and more!

Of course, Toronto’s most iconic annual winter markets are back for another year! The legendary Distillery District Winter Village opened for the season on November 13 and will be open until December 31. There will be ample shopping, incredible decor, and no end of photo opportunities, so be sure to check it out! Evergreen Winter Market at Brick Works Park will be open for the first four Sundays in December. 

The city is also home to some of the best winter and holiday festivals around! If you’re looking to make a day (or night) of seeing the lights, the annual Winter Festival of Lights has just kicked off in Niagara Falls. With weekend and holiday GO train rates of only $10 round trip, it couldn’t be easier to get there before things wrap up on January 5th. The best part? There’s no admission price for the festival, and there’s a fireworks show every night! Winterfest has also just started at Canada’s Wonderland and runs until January 4th. Winterfest will feature shopping, rides, festive food and entertainment, making it a definite must see!

More Winter Events and Activities to Explore:

Skating rinks around the city will open up at the end of this month. The free-to-use rink in Nathan Phillips Square, opened in tandem with this year’s Cavalcade of Lights on November 30th. This season, skaters can also enjoy free skate rentals on Saturdays for the month of December! Lastly, for those who prefer to stay out of the cold, the Union Station Roller Rink is back for it’s second season! You can also enjoy the beautiful lights along with live music as the Candlelight Christmas concert series returns to Toronto from December 19th to 29th. Or register for one of the city’s many winter recreation programs, ranging from indoor sports, to visual arts, to cooking and technology classes.

Celebrate the Season with Workhaus:

Over the past two weeks, to celebrate the season and our community, we have been hosting mixers across all of our locations. These special holiday edition socials were all about good times, and had a little something for everyone! This year, we treated our members to a variety of cold drinks, including a host of new non-alcoholic options. We had a delicious spread of light refreshments, some friendly competitions, creative activities, and ample opportunity to chat, network, or just relax. We want to thank our members for making these events so special! We can’t wait to see you all at the next ones!

We hope this helps you make the most of your winter in downtown Toronto! Feel free to drop a comment on our instagram with your favorite things to do after work in the colder months!