Ian CheesemanThe 7 Best Christmas Markets to Explore in Toronto
When ‘tis the season in Toronto and you hear jolly Christmas bells chime, you’ll know it’s time to explore some of the best Christmas markets in the world.
You’ll find stalls that are brightly adorned with twinkling lights and festive wreaths, offering a plethora of festive goodies and souvenirs to choose from. Here are the best Christmas markets to check out!
The 7 Best Christmas Markets to Explore in Toronto
The Toronto Christmas Market
Website: http://www.torontochristmasmarket.com/
Address: 55 Mill Street, Toronto, Ontario M5A 3C4, Canada
Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
- Sunday: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
Ticket prices: Admission is only charged on weekends from 6pm on Fridays. Admission is FREE during the week.
- General admission: $12.00
- Children 5 and under: Free
The Toronto Christmas Market was first held in the popular Distillery District in 2010 and then every year after that (except in 2021), quickly becoming the most famous Christmas Market in the city. In fact, it’s attended by hundreds of thousands yearly!
Here you’ll find over a hundred stalls of vendors selling souvenirs, food, and drinks. There’s also live music and other festive activities, as well as a giant Christmas tree at the centre of the market.
Pro tip:
Don’t miss the Market’s Beer Garden for only $6 on weekends.
Evergreen’s Winter Market
Website: https://www.evergreen.ca/
Address: 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4W 3X8, Canada
Hours:
- Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Ticket prices:
- Free admission
Evergreen is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to foster sustainable cities. One of their seasonal projects is the Evergreen’s Winter Market, which features locally crafted, sustainably produced, handmade, and vintage vendors.
You’ll also get to enjoy filling food from international food trucks that often stick around even after the festive season ends. There are also live performances and fun workshops and activities to explore.
Pro tip:
Try out the outdoor skating rink and enjoy free skate rentals!
Casa Loma Christmas at the Castle
Website: https://casaloma.ca/project/christmas-at-the-castle/
Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8, Canada
Hours:
- Monday – Sunday: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Ticket prices:
- $30 per adult
- $35 for children 14-17 years old, $25 for children 4-13 years old
If you’re looking for a unique and somehow magical Christmas experience, head to Casa Loma Christmas at the Castle. This annual holiday market hosts over 50 vendors selling handmade gifts, food, and a lot of delicious hot chocolate.
The majestic castles are adorned with glistening lights in and out, and there are light shows and live performances to look forward to! There are also a lot of activities and workshops for kids to enjoy.
Pro tip:
Although the castle is open until 5:00pm, admission is only allowed until 4:30. We suggest arriving at 3:00pm at the latest to be able to go around and explore all the stalls and displays.
One-of-a-Kind Winter Show
Website: https://oneofakindshow.com/home/
Address: 100 Princes’ Boulevard, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Canada
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 9:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
- Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Ticket prices:
- $10 for adults
- $8 for seniors and students
The One-of-a-Kind Winter Show is another Christmas Market in Toronto that celebrates the works of over 600 talented artisans from all over Canada. The vendors here sell unique handmade crafts that you won’t be able to find anywhere else!
Pro tip:
There’s a lot to see in this market so make sure to allot a whole day to be able to explore all stalls and don’t forget to set a budget as it’ll be easy to overspend. Or go ahead and splurge, your choice!
Swedish Christmas Fair toronto
Website: https://swedishchristmasfair.ca/
Address: 585 Dundas Street East, Toronto
Hours:
- Saturday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Ticket prices:
- Free admission
Hosted by the Swedish Canadian Club of Toronto, this two-day Christmas market showcases rare Scandinavian food imports, artisan crafts, unique Christmas decor, Swedish design products, and Scandinavian open-face sandwiches and pastries.
The best part is, you can order items in advance via their website and just have them picked up at the venue for a $5.00 processing fee. Make sure to look up the pick-hours though!
Pro tip:
For the full Swedish Christmas experience, skip the hot choco and go for their traditional Glögg (mulled wine).
Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Market
Website: https://www.torontoartcrawl.com/
Address: Bentway, 250 Fort York Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3G4, Canada
Hours:
Saturday – Sunday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Ticket prices:
- Free admission
If you’re looking for a diverse range of unique items such as art, photography, sculptures, jewelry, fashion, home decor, skincare, and more, the Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Market is the perfect spot.
This one-day event showcases the exceptional skills and crafts of 120 of the city’s most talented artists and designers. You’ll definitely go home with a full bag of handmade pieces, a full stomach, and a full heart after choosing to support local vendors!
Pro tip:
Make sure to bring some cash with you as some stalls don’t accept card payments. Also, don’t forget to bring an extra bag for your purchases.
Leslieville Christmas Pop-up Market
Website: https://eastsideevents.ca/
Address: 911 Queen Street East, Toronto
Hours:
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Ticket prices:
- Free admission
Since 2013, the Leslieville Christmas Pop-up Market has been held every weekend in December. You’ll get to explore around 60 vendors or so selling unique Christmas goodies and yummy food and drinks.
This is a great place to score the best vintage, antique, and handcrafted items carefully curated for the event. There’s also a complimentary deluxe hot chocolate bar for you to enjoy.
Pro tip:
The event is pet-friendly so go ahead and bring your fur babies with you! Make sure to dress them up for the event too so you can join the Best Dog Holiday Costume Competition.
