Toronto Christmas Market 2026: Distillery Winter Village

Poutine with squeaky cheese curds, pierogi and a hot chocolate topped with a torched marshmallow are what most people queue for at the Toronto Christmas Market. The cabins sit among red-brick warehouses that once made whisky, so the setting does half the work. Come hungry, and leave room for chocolate that’s made right there in the lanes.

Toronto Christmas Market 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Toronto dates: 12th November 2026 to 3rd January 2027
Last checked: November 2026

Update: Dates were announced in May. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

Source: Verified by Ultimate Christmas Markets via The Distillery District.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Location: The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill Street
Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday: 10am to 9pm
Friday and Saturday: 10am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 10am to 5pm
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: 10am to midnight. NYE tickets ($30, 7pm to midnight).

Tickets

Tickets: Generally required after 4pm. Check dates and book here.
Prices: From $16, children 9 and under free.

Travel and Accommodation

Recommended tour: Take a Distillery District walking tour to discover more of this historic area.
Public transport: Widely available and accessible.
Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion.
Where to stay: One King West Hotel is a 20-minute walk away or 10-minutes on public transit.

Amenities and Attractions

Tree lighting: 12th November at 6pm. Advance tickets required. Proceeds to charity.
Santa Claus Parade: Sunday, 22nd November. Parade information.

Dietary Options

Vegetarian: Plenty of options.
Vegan: Plenty of options.
Gluten-free: Some options. Ask individual vendors, but beware of cross-contamination.
Food specialties: Swiss raclette, churros, Venezuelan pies, Ukrainian perogies and Portuguese pastéis de nata.
Drinks: Festive cocktails, Ontario-spiced apple cider, blood orange gin and tonic, hibiscus syrup and citrus.

Accessibility

Accessible: Yes
Pet-friendly: No

Convenient Hotels

If you’re travelling to Toronto, I recommend staying in central Old Toronto rather than near the Distillery District, as Old Toronto is more convenient for reaching other attractions. I’d stay at One King West Hotel, as it’s centrally located and well rated.

Interesting Tours

If this is your first time in Toronto, I recommend this city tour, which takes you around to see many of the city’s highlights.

On the other hand, you might prefer this food tour to better understand the local Canadian culture through its cuisine. Food tours are a lot of fun, so definitely consider this one!

Find more places to visit with my guide to the best Canadian Christmas Markets.

Visitor Feedback

What Visitors Loved

• The setting wins people over, with the brick warehouses and cobbled lanes looking their best lit up after dark.
• The giant tree is the photo everyone wants, and the opening night lighting is a favourite with locals.
• The food gets a lot of love, especially the poutine with proper cheese curds, the dumplings and the torched s’mores hot chocolate.
• Daytime visits are free, and regulars say that’s when the market is at its most relaxed.

Common Complaints

• Saturday evenings in December are packed shoulder to shoulder, with barely room to move between the cabins.
• Entry queues on ticketed evenings can run 45 minutes or more in the cold, and the busiest food cabins add even more wait time.
• Food and drink prices feel steep to many locals, and a hot chocolate and a snack add up quickly once you’ve paid for entry.

Location

Distillery District

The Winter Village fills the lanes of the old Gooderham and Worts distillery, where the old warehouses now hold galleries, cafés and independent shops. Wooden cabins line the cobbles, carollers work their way through the crowds and the outdoor holiday bars fill up as soon as it’s dark. The tree has a new look this season, kept under wraps until opening night. Santa’s Village sits indoors at Soulpepper Theatre, styled as a vintage European department store, while the Fermenting Cellar hosts an immersive Nutcracker show with its own ticket. The narrow lanes turn into a wind tunnel after dark, so dress for it.

• Historic Architecture: The district is North America’s largest collection of Victorian industrial architecture, with more than 40 heritage buildings across 10 cobbled lanes and its trademark green street signs.
• Art Galleries: Galleries such as Thompson Landry show Canadian and international artists, and they’re warm places to duck into between cabins.
• Performing Arts: Soulpepper Theatre Company is based at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, so you can make a night of it with a show.
• Distillery Tours: Spirit of York runs tours and tastings in one of the old buildings, bringing distilling back to the site that made Gooderham and Worts whisky famous.

Food Specialties

• Torched s’mores hot chocolate: Cluny’s rich Belgian hot chocolate topped with a scorched marshmallow, the drink you’ll see in everyone’s photos.
• Poutine: Fries, squeaky cheese curds and hot gravy. It’s Canada’s own comfort food and the dish visitors rate most highly here.
• Pierogi: Potato and cheese dumplings from the Polish and Ukrainian kitchens that run deep in Toronto.
• Raclette: Swiss cheese melted and scraped over potatoes and bread, a nod to the market’s European look.
• Mini doughnuts: Fried to order and shaken in cinnamon sugar, a Canadian fairground classic sold by the bag.
• Hot spiced cider: Ontario apple cider served warm, the local answer to mulled wine.
• Chocolate made on site: SOMA Chocolate Maker roasts its own beans in the district, and its bars and hot chocolate are worth the detour from the cabins.
• Local beer: Mill Street Brewery started life in the Distillery, and its brew pub is still the place for a pint.

Cabins and Vendors

• Ontario crafts: Craft Ontario stocks pottery, glass, jewellery and textiles by makers from across the province.
• Craft sake: Izumi Sake Brewery, Toronto’s own sake maker, brews in the district, and a bottle makes an unexpected gift from Canada.
• Beeswax and honey: Bee & Co makes candles and beauty products from beeswax and honey.
• Toronto-made clothing: Peace Collective’s Toronto and Canada sweatshirts are a souvenir you’ll actually wear.
• Vintage finds: Blackbird Vintage Finds is full of antiques, vintage decor and retro accessories.
• Herbal teas: Fika Herbal Goods blends teas and herbal remedies.
• Fine pens: Toronto Pen Shoppe has fountain pens, stationery and inks for anyone who still writes cards by hand.
• Artwork: The district’s galleries sell paintings, sculpture and limited-edition prints by local and international artists.

Responsible Travel Ideas

• Ride the 504A King streetcar: It runs east from King Station straight to Distillery Loop, and the 121 Esplanade-River bus runs from Union Station to Mill and Trinity streets.
• Come in by GO train: A GO Weekend Day Pass gets you to Union Station from across the region, and from there it’s about a 25-minute walk along the Esplanade.
• Cycle in: Bike Share Toronto has docking stations on Trinity, Mill, Cherry and Parliament streets, right at the edges of the market.
• Buy from the makers: Nearly all of the district’s permanent businesses are Canadian-owned, and several make what they sell on site, from chocolate to sake and gin.
• The tree gets a second life: Last season’s tree went to Habitat for Humanity GTA after the market closed, where it was turned into mulch and reclaimed wood for new homes.