Top Five Things to do in Toronto this Winter 2019

As winter approaches and Toronto is covered in a blanket of snow, there’s a great variety of seasonal events and things to do around the city for the winter holidays of 2019. 

Go Ice Skating at Toronto’s Beautiful Outdoor Rinks

The city of Toronto has a selection of beautiful outdoor skating rinks to enjoy during the winter season. We’ve selected four great outdoor rinks around the city where you can skate to your heart’s content.

Nathan Phillips Square is where you can skate in front of city hall, join in on the DJ skate party every Saturday night, and enjoy a delicious mug of hot chocolate afterwards. Before Christmas you’ll also find a mini holiday market at Nathan Phillips Square with a fun carousel to ride, a selection of tasty snacks, arts and crafts, and winter games for people of all ages. Skate rentals start from $5. 

Every winter, The Bentway Trail under the Gardiner Expressway overpass is transformed into a truly unique outdoor skating rink. More than a kilometre long, the figure-eight skate trail offers rentals and skating lessons from 12pm – 9pm, along with a winter village with warming lounges, fire pits, and tasty food and drink options on select dates.

Natrel Rink is another great location where you can enjoy scenic outdoor skating along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. One of Toronto’s top skating destinations for more than 30 years, Natrel rink offers skate and helmet rentals so that anyone can have a fantastic view of the city while skating right by Harbourfront Centre. 

Sherbourne Common is another great outdoor skating area that’s suitable for more experienced ice skaters. With gorgeous views of the city’s skyline and an award winning architectural design, this location is definitely one to visit if you enjoy urban outdoor ice skating. This skating rink is open 24 hours a day, but since this location is not staffed skaters won’t be able to rent skates and will need to bring their own. 

Visit the Aurora Winter Festival at Toronto’s Ontario Place

The Aurora Winter Festival transforms the West Island of Ontario Place into a magical winter wonderland of attractions and events for people of all ages. With four distinct magical worlds for visitors to explore, the Aurora Winter Festival features breathtaking light installations, delicious food experiences and exciting amusement rides. With a Frozen Pond at the centre of the festival, visitors can bring their own skates or rent them from the Skate Shack to ice skate alongside holiday-themed tunes.  

Perfect entertainment for kids and families, inside the festival’s mystical worlds you’ll find various characters across themed areas like the Hidden Hilltop and the Luminous Gardens. The Aurora Winter Festival also features a collection of rides and games like a ferris wheel and carousel, along with a 170 foot Tube Park to ride down. Children will be able to visit the North Pole and meet Santa Claus, listen to Santa and his Elves’ stories, and create lovely holiday letters and gifts in the North Pole’s Craft Tent. 

Opening up on November 22nd, 2019 until January 5th, 2020, the Aurora Winter Festival also features a village of vendors where you’ll be able to find a small treat or full meal, purchase the perfect Christmas gift, and enjoy performances of live music with some mulled wine or hot chocolate. You can find more information about the events and purchase tickets at the Aurora Winter Festival’s website. 

Light Up The Beach with Santa on November 29th

One of the last places people expect to visit during Toronto’s winter season is the boardwalk and the beach, however DeClute’s Light up the Beach event attracts many visitors despite the chilly weather! Decking out the boardwalk with more than 80,000 individual Christmas lights, the Light up the Beach event celebrates the beginning of the holiday season on November 29th. 

Follow Santa as he strolls down Toronto’s boardwalk and counts down to light each tree in sequence from the Leuty Lifeguard House to the Balmy Beach Club. With plenty of hot chocolate and Christmas carols, this event brings Toronto’s residents together to celebrate the start of the festive season as the beach lights up with Christmas lights. The Light up the Beach event is organised by DeClute Real Estate, which prepares the lights and encourages visitors to support and make a donation to the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation. 

Visit the Toronto Light Festival at the Distillery Historic District

While many of us associate winter’s festive lights with Christmas, the Toronto Light Festival takes place after the Christmas festivities to give us something bright to look forward to after the holidays. Each year, the walking streets of Toronto’s Distillery District are kitted out in an explosion of lights and artistic exhibitions and decorations, featuring both local artists from the greater Toronto area along with international artists from all around the world. The historic neighbourhood is turned into an enthralling open-air gallery for anyone to visit and celebrate various light-based artistic sculptures and creations.

Taking place from January 18th until March 3rd, the Toronto Light Festival also partners with local businesses and musicians in order to provide live music, free alcohol sampling, and various drink specials on weekends. You can find more information about the Toronto Light Festival along with information on how to get there on their website.

Visit the Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District

Opening up on November 14th until December 22nd of 2019, the Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District is a must-visit for residents and visitors to Toronto alike. With various artisanal vendors taking part, you’ll find all kinds of handmade Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, tasty treats and lovely decorations all around the majestically decorated Ontario-grown Christmas tree at the centre of the market. The markets also have various other activities, from walking tours of the Distillery District to the Nespresso Nordic Garden Boutique which features a photo booth, lounge space, and deliciously hot coffee. 

Toronto’s Christmas Market features a full stage with performances and events every single day of the markets starting in the early evenings. From carolers and choirs you can sing along with renowned Canadian artists and performers, the stage will be rocking all kinds of Christmas songs for the duration of the markets. For families visiting the market, children will love Santa’s House, which is open for select hours and lets anyone meet Santa Claus, tell him their Christmas wishes, and get a photo with Santa and his elves.  

Be aware that the Toronto Christmas Market is not active on Mondays, and that cash is not accepted for ticket purchases. You can find out more information about the Toronto Christmas Market and how to purchase tickets on their website.