Hello, winter! Hello, holidays! The holiday season is officially here. The Santa Claus parades and holiday markets continue in December, with oodles of performances celebrating the holiday season and family-friendly musicals, plays, concerts, circus events and shows on ice hitting theatres, concert halls, and arenas around the city.
Here are our top picks for kid-friendly events this December in Toronto and the GTA.
For even more happenings in Toronto and the GTA, see our events directory, updated daily.
On this month in Toronto for kids:
Santa Claus Parades
Though the Toronto parade was in mid-November, a few Santa Claus parades continue around the GTA into December:
More Santa parades are taking place throughout the GTA this month:
Whitby Santa Claus Parade December 5
Lake Shore Santa Claus Parade December 5
Burlington Santa Claus Parade December 6
Hannukah Celebrations
Hannukah—or Chanukah, if you prefer!—begins the evening of December 6 this year. On the calendar to celebrate the Festival of Lights are community menorah lightings, sufganiyot baking, fun fairs, and even pool parties.
A few of the fun things to do for families this year include Poolside Chanukah Candle-Lighting and the Chanukah Funukah Fair at the Miles Nadal JCC, Sufganiyot for the Soul community cooking event, and the JRCC Chanukah Wonderland in Vaughan. December 5–12
Family Sundays at the AGO
Every weekend, the Family Sundays program at the AGO has interactive, innovative activities for kids of all ages, with monthly themes based on AGO exhibitions. The December theme is Celebration, with instrument-making all month long. December 6 is a special kazoo and caxixi instrument and “noise-making” workshop. December 6, 13, 20, 27
Children’s Theatre
The cultural calendar is plentiful this month with Christmas-themed shows and non-holiday shows alike.
Holiday Plays for Kids:
Mistletoe Magic dinner theatre November 7–January 2
Soulpepper Theatre’s A Christmas Carol December 3–January 3
It’s a Wonderful Life at Lower Ossington Theatre December 3–24
Krampus The Original Christmas Curmudgeon December 12–January 3
Humber River Shakespeare’s A Christmas Carol at Richmond Hill Centre December 5–20
A Christmas Carol at Papermill Theatre December 4–7
Non-Holiday Plays for Kids:
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang at YPT November 19–January 3
Ross Petty Productions’ Peter Pan November 27–January 3
Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Ed Mirvish Theatre December 1–January 10
Jesus Christ Superstar at Papermill Theatre December 3–27
Buster Canfield and His Circus of Amazing Fleas at Solar Stage December 5–6
The Last Polar Bear at Solar Stage Theatre December 6
Arts MacKenzie Presents Cinderella December 10–11
Pippin at the Mainstage Theatre December 11–13
Concerts and Music
Most of the musical productions for kids this month centre around Christmas, like Solar Stage’s Christmas Concert by the Candy Cane Carolers with lots of yuletide sing-along favourites. A Very Soulpepper Christmas will feature songs and storytelling for kids. And you can hear traditional carols and Christmas concerts at churches throughout the city and special events like the Toronto Christmas Market. The Tafelmusik Handel’s Messiah is a classic event that older kids may enjoy.
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the TSO’s Cirque de la Symphonie, with acrobats and aerialists accompanying the orchestra is bound to be a fun event! And the Music and Truffles classical music for kids series kicks off its 2015/16 season with Christmas songs from around the world on December 13.
Santa Meet-and-Greets
Local malls, holiday markets, and nearly every store in the city roll out the red carpet for Santa this month. You will have to reserve online for popular Santa events like the Santa Experience at Sherway Gardens mall or Santa’s Log Cabin at the Eaton Centre or to take part in a Cruise with Santa or have breakfast with St. Nick.
But you can get your Santa photo op at many other popular holiday events, like the Distillery District’s annual Toronto Christmas Market.
Join the fun at the annual Toronto Santa Speedo Run, where runners don their red Speedos and Santa hats for a charity event to support SickKids.
See Best Places to Meet Santa in the GTA This Year.
Toronto Holiday Markets
Get one-of-a-kind gifts from vendors and at the local shops in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, visit Santa’s House with the kids, take a ride on the merry-go-round, and see performances by carolers and Santa’s elves at the annual Toronto Christmas Market, a fantastic holiday tradition for the photo ops alone! November 20–December 20
See all our favourite Toronto holiday markets.
Skating Rinks
Outdoor skating rinks are open and free skates and DJ skates abound. So lace up your skates and find a City of Toronto rink near you or head to popular rinks like the Natrel Rink at the Harbourfront Centre. Various dates
See 8 Great Toronto Skating Rinks for Families.
Maurice Sendak at the Library
From December 19 through January 31, the Toronto Reference Library will display more than 50 works by Maurice Sendak, beloved author of Where the Wild Things Are, in its “Maurice Sendak: 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons” exhibit. Works on display include set and costume designs, animation cels, posters, and sketches. Guided tours are available on December 21 and January 11 and 25.
Ice Shows & Magic
Magical performances this season include Disney on Ice: Dare To Dream with princesses and Mickey and Minnie taking to the ice. Also on this month: magic with David Ben at Soulpepper Theatre’s Tricks.
Christmas and Winter Festivals
The Navidad is never-ending this month, with back-to-back seasonal festivals in and around the city, including Magical Christmas Forest at the Kortright Centre (Dec. 5–6, 11–13, 18–20), the Fort York Frost Fair (Dec. 5–6) is a historic holiday fair paired with a market—and Christmas at Black Creek (Nov. 21–Dec. 23), with historic events throughout the month.
More history-steeped holiday events on this month: Victorian Christmas at Mackenzie House downtown and Christmas Time at Colborne Lodge in High Park, with special cookie-making workshops and other events for kids.
Not a Christmas festival per-se (but with Santa sightings) is the free Winterfest on Toronto’s Waterfront (Dec. 18–20). Take part in pastry-eating contests, cruise with Santa, and get Christmas pet photos.
And Evergreen Brick Works’ Evergreen Winter Village starts in December and continues through March, with eco-adventures, cooking workshops, hikes, theatre, and more for kids and adults.
Spectacle of Lights
The Spectacle of Lights on Toronto’s waterfront adds some sparkle to the city for the holidays each year. Check out the spiral tree at the Westin Harbour Castle hotel, a fire truck and snowflake display at the Fire Hall, the Tall Ship at the Harbourfront Centre and a brand-new display this year: fully animated music notes, harps, and canopy at the Toronto Music Garden. November 28–January 1
New Year’s Eve Events
At the City of Toronto’s annual New Year’s Eve on Nathan Phillips Square, you can skate on the ice rink surrounded by a festive light display to DJ-spun tunes and live performances. At midnight, the annual fireworks spectacular kicks off. Or go to the Harboufront Centre for the annual New Year’s Eve Skating Party. Both are free!
The Christmas and winter festivals continue through New Year’s Eve, too.
Heading downtown isn’t the only kid-friendly fun to be had on December 31. See fireworks and family entertainment in all corners of the city and the GTA, including at First Night in Richmond Hill, the Ajax Family New Year’s Eve Party, Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Brampton, and Mississauga’s New Year’s Eve on the Square.
Check our events calendar for more NYE events as the end of the month approaches. December 31
READ MORE LIKE THIS:
- Stop by The Best Toronto Holiday Markets 2015 to find gifts for everyone on your list.
- Looking for something Canadian-made this Christmas? See our All-Canadian Kids’ Holiday Gift Guide.
- With these Fun New Year’s Eve Traditions for Kids, make the New Year’s celebration festive without venturing out of the house!
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